"It feels very heavy right now," midfielder Patrick Berg tells Norwegian TV2.
During their fairytale journey in club football's biggest tournament, Bodø/Glimt have beaten, for example, Manchester City, Atlético Madrid and Inter, but now their run came to an end on a rainy evening in Lisbon.
"It's been fantastic fun playing in the Champions League for the first time. It's the first time for everyone, so we've performed far above expectations," Berg said, according to news agency NTB.
When the Norwegians won 3-0 at home in Bodø last week, Portuguese A Bola described it as Sporting being hit by a "big yellow avalanche".
Dominated greatly
At home in Lisbon, it was the other way around in the first half - the green-and-white home team overwhelmed the visitors from the city north of the Arctic Circle in the second leg of the round of 16.
Sporting had 16 shots to Bodø/Glimt's three during the first half, but it was away goalkeeper Nikita Haikin who stood in the way.
It took a set piece to find a way through him. In the 34th minute, centre-back Gonçalo Inácio headed in a 1–0 lead for Sporting, reducing the score to 1–3 on aggregate.
After just over an hour at Estádio José Alvalade, Bodø/Glimt's progress hung by a thread.
Then Pedro Gonçalves put Sporting 2–0 up, reducing the deficit to one goal on aggregate. With barely a quarter of an hour left in regular time, it was level on aggregate.
Sporting was then awarded a penalty - after video review - after the ball hit Fredrik Bjørkan's arm and Luis Suárez could have put the Portuguese side 3-0 up.
Two goals in extra time
Shortly afterwards, substitute Nuno Santos hit the post - with the Portuguese team's 34th shot. At that point in the match, Bodø/Glimt had managed five shots.
No more goals were scored during regular time, but extra time was not even 90 seconds old before the decision came. Then Maximiliano Araújo was able to make it 4–0 and Bodø/Glimt were beaten.
In the final stages, Rafael Nel also scored to make it 5–0 and Sporting advanced 5–3 on aggregate.
"They are playing a very good match, but first and foremost we have to examine ourselves and what we could have done better. We are performing far below our normal level," said Patrick Berg.
