Brennan Johnson created Europa League history on Thursday evening when he headed Tottenham Hotspur into the lead after just 38 seconds of their semi-final first leg against Bodo/Glimt.
The ex-Nottingham Forest youngster nodded a Richarlison delivery into the back of the net inside the first minute at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and it proved to be a historic moment in the competition.
Johnson now holds the record for the quickest goal in the semi-finals of the Europa League, surpassing the previous record of 50 seconds, which occurred when Ansgar Knauff scored for Eintracht Frankfurt against West Ham United in August 2022.
The 23-year-old has also become just the second Tottenham player to score in the opening minute of a match in a major European competition, joining Martin Peters, who struck in a UEFA Cup win against Rapid Bucharest back in 1971.
James Maddison and Dominic Solanke were also on the scoresheet on Thursday night, but Bodo/Glimt struck back late on through Ulrik Saltnes to make it 3-1, leaving the door slightly ajar ahead of the second leg next week.
Johnson scored after just 38 seconds against Bodo/Glimt
“We’re pleased,” Johnson, who now has 17 goals in all competitions this season, told TNT Sports after the match. “If before the game you would have said that we’d have a two goal cushion then we’d be happy with it. They are a tough team.
“There is a reason why they have beaten other teams in the past. Disappointed to concede at the end but we are happy with the performance.
“I didn’t realise it (the goal) was that early. They are a team that build in confidence with time to play so we knew that we had to be onto them straight away.
“Getting the early goal really set the tempo and I thought we started really well. Maddison has scored a few goals like that this season and makes the run really well.
“[Pedro] Porro has the quality to find that pass and when it comes off it works really well. So when they get the timing right and Madders can finish it off it is a really well worked goal.”
Postecoglou wants repeat performance in second leg
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has said that a repeat performance in the second leg of their semi-final next week will see the team advance to the final against either Manchester United or Athletic Bilbao.
“I think it puts us in a good position. I thought the players were outstanding today, I thought our performance was everything it needed to be, really well organised and disciplined defensively and really calm going forward and created good opportunities for ourselves and maintaining pressure,” Postecoglou told reporters after the match.
“Obviously they scored the goal late, which doesn’t I think reflect our dominance in the game, but if we repeat that performance next week it’ll be enough for us to get through.
“I thought we were similarly dominant against Frankfurt and we ended up with 1-1 (in the first leg), but I think when you perform like we did tonight and like we did against Frankfurt at home, it gives you that belief that you can go away and win there as well.
“I think that is the most important thing. I certainly don’t think the scoreline reflects our dominance in the game today, but we have to accept that. We’re still in a really good position and it’s about now replicating what we did today on Thursday.”
Tottenham will return to Premier League action away to West Ham United on Sunday afternoon before switching their attention back to the Europa League and a trip to Norway to play on an artificial pitch.
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