Celtic secured a place in the Champions League knockout stage for the first time in 12 years as Loris Benito’s late own goal earned a dramatic 1-0 win over Young Boys.
The Scottish champions saw a saved penalty in the first half, three goals disallowed and finished with 10 men after Daizen Maeda was shown the red card, but held on and finished in the top 24 of the 36-team table and reached the play-offs.
Celtic climb to 18th ahead of next week’s trip to Aston Villa.
“It’s a little bit of history created, we haven’t been in the knockout stages for a long time. For the supporters it’s an amazing night,” said Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers.
“We’re going to fight, we believe and we score points. “
The Hoops failed to win a single Champions League game for seven years prior to last season but have won three and lost just one of their seven matches in the new format of the competition.
“Having 12 numbers at the moment is for the club. The idea is to be able to maintain this point in the coming years,” added Rodgers.
The Young Boys arrived in Glasgow with the chances of progression they had been missing for a long time after the first six games in which they conceded 22 goals.
It is possible that much more than one has been added to that account, since Celtic had the ball on the net three times in the first half, but none of them scored in a first frustrating minute for Rodgers’ men.
– Kyogo frustration –
Kyogo Furuhashi scored the first of the targets was slightly denied six minutes later, but lost offside before hanging on the lob on Arne Engels.
The Japanese foreigner stroked the moment of his triplet of efforts refused to interfere with a mcGregor callum failure in construction.
A few seconds later, Kyogo received a cross from Maeda and both were offside.
The Celtic strain rewarded with a 40-minute penalty for pulling Greg Taylor.
Arne Engels had scored five of five kicks in a Celtic shirt, however, the club’s record firm chose the worst imaginable moment not to locate the network since its domesticated penalty was gently stored through Marvin Keller.
It is another story at the time when Celtic got tired in his 14th game since December 4, in marked contrast with his parties at war that had just returned to domestic action after a winter break.
Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel extended his contract until 2026 earlier in the day and showed his value with a very good double prevention when playing to repel the Darius men twice.
Rodgers turned to his leg bank when Adam Idah replaced Kyogo.
The Irish international’s 14-goal drought continues, but he played a major role in the winning goal as his shot went past Keller after a rushing Benito, who could only convert it into his own goal.
Moments later, Maeda lost his mind due to the mistreatment he had received, won his expulsion and obtained his order to leave after a VAR review.
Celtic, however, held strong under an aerial bombardment for five minutes of maximum time to ensure they have at least three more games on Europe’s most sensible table this season.
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