Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt continued their impressive record against Europe's top teams with a 1-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in Wednesday's Champions League encounter at their compact Aspmyra Stadium.
The decisive moment came seven minutes into the second half when Fredrik Sjovold converted a low delivery from Sondre Auklend at the near post to give the hosts a deserved lead. Despite Dortmund's improvements in the final 30 minutes, they were unable to find an equalizer.
Bodo dominated proceedings from the outset, with Sondre Fet and Ole Blomberg coming close to breaking the deadlock in the first half. The hosts maintained their superiority after the interval before Sjovold's clinical finish proved to be the difference.
Dortmund manager Niko Kovac made four substitutions around the hour mark in an attempt to salvage the game. Substitute Felix Nmecha came closest to equalizing, forcing an excellent save from Bodo goalkeeper Nikita Haikin. The German side increased their pressure in the closing stages but failed to breach a resolute home defense.
'We have nothing to complain about, we deserved to lose,' Kovac admitted after the match. 'We didn't bring enough passion today - that's something Bodo did much better. They took the lead and after that we woke up, but by then it was too late.'
Captain Waldemar Anton echoed his coach's assessment: 'Each of us needs to ask ourselves what the problem was. In several areas we were missing our intensity today and without this intensity you won't win a game.'
The result extends Bodo's remarkable home form against European heavyweights. Their 8,200-capacity stadium, the smallest venue in this season's competition, has witnessed victories over Manchester City, Inter Milan, and Sporting in recent campaigns. That strong home record was crucial to their run to the round of 16 last season.
For Dortmund, runners-up in last season's Champions League final, this represents their first defeat since losing the German Super Cup at the start of the campaign. They had been unbeaten in their previous seven matches before traveling to the Arctic Circle.
