Bodø/Glimt Defeat Inter to Advance in Champions League Dream

Bodø/Glimt achieved their most significant milestone yet in Norwegian football history on Tuesday, securing a 2-1 victory over Inter Milan and progressing to the Champions League knockout stage with a 5-2 aggregate score.

After taking a 3-1 lead from the previous week's opening match in the Arctic Circle, second-half strikes from Jens Petter Hauge and Hakon Evjen shocked the San Siro crowd, paving the way for a showdown against either Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon in the upcoming round.

Over 3,000 supporters made the journey to Milan to witness their side extend their extraordinary first campaign in Europe's top club tournament, an impressive turnout for a team hailing from a town of approximately 50,000 residents.

The San Siro hosted 20,000 more attendees than the entire population of Bodø that evening, yet most departed in dismay as Inter, who netted a late goal via Alessandro Bastoni, could not stage the recovery that manager Cristian Chivu had anticipated.

This exit compounded the difficulties for Italian clubs in European competitions, with all four Serie A teams poised to exit the Champions League by Thursday.

Juventus and Atalanta are behind Galatasaray and Borussia Dortmund respectively, and slim hopes remain for progression ahead of their Wednesday fixtures.

Nevertheless, the evening marked a landmark for Bodø/Glimt, who have claimed the Norwegian title in four of the past six years and promise to challenge any opponent they meet next month.

As anticipated, Inter dominated possession early, with Pio Esposito nodding over an excellent opportunity in the third minute from a Federico Dimarco delivery.

Dimarco's curling corner was parried away by Nikita Haikin, while Marcus Thuram's forceful shot from distance was cleared off the line after a deflection.

However, as the game progressed, Inter's repetitive wide attacks and crosses were routinely neutralised by Bodø/Glimt's backline.

Hauge capitalised in the 58th minute amid a chaotic sequence where Inter's Manuel Akanji, fresh from treatment for a bloody brow, inadvertently passed the ball to Ole Didrik Blomberg near the penalty area.

Though Blomberg missed his one-on-one with Yann Sommer, Hauge slotted in his sixth Champions League goal of the season, igniting the travelling supporters.

Akanji struck the upright ten minutes later, but Evjen sealed Bodø/Glimt's qualification in the 72nd minute with a precise finish from Hauge's incisive through ball.

Bastoni bundled the ball in soon after, yet it proved inconsequential for Inter, who now focus on clinching the Serie A crown, bolstered by a 10-point advantage over city foes AC Milan.