Sporting Cp Stuns Bodø/Glimt With Incredible Comeback To Reach Quarters
Sports Updated: 18 March 2026 08:27 EAT
Photo Credit:Uefa Champions League on X
Sporting CP completed one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent European competition on Tuesday, overturning a three-goal first-leg deficit to eliminate Bodø/Glimt in dramatic fashion. Trailing 3‑0 from the away leg in Norway, Sporting powered to a 5‑0 victory after extra time at Estádio José Alvalade to win 5‑3 on aggregate and book a place in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The Portuguese side looked to be heading for elimination early in the tie after being beaten convincingly in the first leg by the Norwegian visitors. Bodø/Glimt had taken a commanding lead through a 3‑0 win in Bodø, putting them in a strong position to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
Sporting’s response in Lisbon was emphatic. They attacked from the outset, and their persistence paid off in the 34th minute when Gonçalo Inácio headed home, giving the hosts a lifeline in the tie. That goal ignited the stadium and gave Sporting belief they could overturn the deficit.
In the second half, Sporting continued to press and added to their tally through goals from Pedro Gonçalves and Luis Suárez, setting up an aggregate tie as the match approached the closing stages of normal time.
Despite Bodø/Glimt’s spirited defending, the Portuguese side refused to relent, forcing extra time as they pushed for the decisive breakthrough that would complete their comeback.
Just 83 seconds into extra time, Maxi Araújo scored to give Sporting the aggregate lead for the first time, sending the home crowd into raptures and putting the Norwegian outfit on the brink of elimination.
Late in extra time, Rafael Nel added the fifth goal, sealing a historic victory and sparking wild celebrations among supporters. The result marked Sporting’s first comeback from a three-goal deficit in the Champions League knockout rounds.
For Bodø/Glimt, the defeat ended a memorable European campaign that had seen them reach the knockout stages and secure surprise results against major opponents earlier in the tournament. The Norwegian side’s run captured global attention and was hailed as one of the season’s great underdog stories.
Sporting’s dramatic progression adds to a night of high drama in the Champions League, with several heavyweight clubs also securing quarter-final berths as the competition’s knockout phase intensifies.
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FELIX MAKONA
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