Union bow out after extra time against Bodø/Glimt

Union will play in the Europa League again this season. Last season’s Belgian runners-up were eliminated by Bodø/Glimt after extra time. The match in Norway ended 3-2.

Union started with Zorgane back in the starting XI. Zeneli also made his first start of the season. Havenaar replaced the injured Sykes, while Guilherme and Olaru returned to the starting line-up.

The home side had the better of the opening stages, creating danger particularly from corners. Havenaar and Sylla, however, dominated in the air. Following an open-play attack, Bodø/Glimt’s striker saw his header come back off the post. After 15 minutes, Union responded when Promise was played in by Patris, but the striker’s effort went just wide.

The game then became more closed. After half an hour, Zorgane found himself free after receiving Chambaere’s goal kick. The midfielder played in Promise, whose effort was saved by the goalkeeper. Just before half-time, Olaru delivered another dangerous corner into the box. It did not immediately lead to a chance, but the ball fell back to Olaru, who struck directly at goal. The goalkeeper just managed to keep out the low effort.

The Norwegians struck quickly after the break. Blomberg was found on the edge of the box and fired in off the underside of the crossbar to make it 1-0. It was now up to Union to fight back, as they had done in recent matches. And they responded immediately: with their first counter-attack, Patris hit the post after being played through with a wonderful pass from Zorgane.

On the hour mark, Union finally drew level. Guilherme cut inside in his trademark fashion and curled a wonderful effort into the far top corner, 1-1. The game then became closed once again. There were several substitutions, but it took until the 75th minute for the home side to regain the lead. Chambaere initially made an excellent save from a close-range effort, but on the rebound, the ball ended up in the net off Hauge’s foot.

Union threw everything forward in the closing stages. Substitute Biondic found himself in a promising shooting position, but his effort went wide. Biondic remained a threat, and a few minutes later he fired just over from the same position. Union kept pushing and were eventually rewarded. Another substitute, Fuseini, curled a wonderful effort from the left side into the top corner to make it 2-2 and send the game into extra time.

Chambaere also played a key role, making two excellent saves from close-range Norwegian efforts. Union had to start extra time with ten men, however, as Van de Perre received an unfortunate second yellow card just before the final whistle.

During extra time, the initiative once again belonged to the home side. Union occasionally managed to break forward dangerously, but the final pass from Fuseini or Patris was lacking. At the other end, Chambaere produced another outstanding save from an effort following a corner. At half-time in extra time, the score was still 2-2.

The second half of extra time followed the same pattern, with Union, down to ten men, waiting for an opportunity to break forward. Patris made his way down the left and cut the ball back to Schoofs, but his shot lacked power. Chambaere was once again strong in a scramble in front of his goal, twice managing to keep out close-range efforts. In the dying seconds, however, he could not prevent the ball from being bundled into the net from close range. 3-2 to Bodø/Glimt, and that was how it finished.