Advertisement
Dedryck Boyata celebrates at Celtic Park. Jeff Holmes
oh bhoy

Relief for Celtic as late goal gives them slender Champions League advantage

There were some interesting results around Europe tonight.

DEDRYCK BOYATA’S LATE goal earned Celtic a valuable 1-0 win over Qarabag in the first leg of their Champions League play-off on Wednesday.

Ronny Deila’s side had progressed through the second round with a comfortable 6-1 aggregate win over Icelandic side Stjarnan, but they were given a much sterner test by Azerbaijan’s champions.

Nadir Ciftci failed to get in on the act against Stjarnan and the summer signing again failed to find the net, spurning a host of chances throughout the 90 minutes.

Qarabag goalkeeper Ibrahim Sehic was impressive, denying Ciftci and Virgil van Dijk sharply after the interval as the hosts looked to dictate terms, but he was at fault for Boyata’s 82nd-minute header – the Belgian scoring his second Champions League goal since joining Celtic from Manchester City.

Celtic’s task is far from complete ahead of next week’s second leg in Baku, however, with Qarabag enjoying a fearsome record at home, with only finalists Dnipro beating them on their own turf in last season’s Europa League.

Ciftci will miss the first six games of Celtic’s Scottish Premiership campaign after being found guilty of biting last season and played like a man with a point to prove, regularly pulling out of position in an attempt to be involved in the game.

The Turkish striker’s efforts helped open up the first chance of the game for Gary Mackay-Steven, whose low shot was gathered by Sehic at the second attempt.

It was as close as either side came in a cagey opening half, but Celtic returned with renewed purpose for the second period and were well on top early on.

Ciftci headed narrowly wide from Emilio Izaguirre’s left-hand cross before the ball fell kindly for him from Stefan Johansen’s set-piece, but the former Dundee United man could only lash his shot straight at Sehic.

Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Third Round Qualifying - First Leg - Celtic v Qarabag - Celtic Park Scott Brown takes a tumble during tonight's clash in Glasgow. Jeff Holmes Jeff Holmes

Sehic was becoming Celtic’s nemesis as he reacted sharply to keep out Van Dijk’s header from another probing Johansen delivery before the Dutch defender sent a long-range piledriver narrowly over the crossbar.

That chance prompted Deila into a change as Leigh Griffiths came on to widespread approval from the Parkhead crowd and Kris Commons also emerged from the bench.

And Commons was involved in the goal as his delivery found an unmarked Boyata in the six-yard box, with the defender’s powerful header leaving Sehic no chance after the goalkeeper rushed off his line.

Champions League third qualifying round, first leg results:

  • HJK Helsinki 0-0 Astana
  • Salzburg 2-0 Malmo
  • Steaua Bucharest 1-1 Partizan Belgrade
  • Celtic 1-0 Qarabag
  • Lech Poznan 1-3 Basel
  • Rapid Vienna 2-2 Ajax

The42′s Virtually Impossible Premier League Table Quiz

The Community Shield has thrown up some memorable moments down the years

Your Voice
Readers Comments
21
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.