MARTIN O’NEILL WROTE a memorable final postscript in his history with Celtic in Europe as the interim manager led his team to a win over Feyenoord.
Goals from Yang Hyun-jun and Reo Hatate saw Celtic come from behind before half-time and substitute Benjamin Nygren added a late third as the Scottish champions kick-started their Europa League campaign.
It was their first away win in Europe since victory over Ferencvaros under Ange Postecoglou four years ago and first in the Netherlands since a 3-1 win over Ajax in O’Neill’s maiden Champions League qualifier in charge in 2001.
O’Neill went on to lead Celtic to the 2003 UEFA Cup final and wins over the likes of Juventus, Liverpool and Barcelona during five years in charge.
Martin O'Neill. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
The 73-year-old is expected to make way for Wilfried Nancy before Roma visit Celtic Park on 11 December and will leave them with a platform to enjoy another run in the competition. The Hoops now have seven points and also play Bologna and Utrecht in the league phase.
Celtic started with Luke McCowan and Yang either side of Daizen Maeda in their front three and the former was guilty of an extraordinary early miss, hitting the bar from a yard out after an Arne Engels corner. The offside flag went up but VAR might have overturned that decision as it appeared the flick-on came from a Feyenoord player.
Advertisement
Celtic were caught out by a ball over the top in the 11th minute with centre-back Auston Trusty on his way back from a solo run deep into the Feyenoord half. Sem Steijn laid the ball off for Ayase Ueda to finish. The goal sparked a flurry of red flares flying in from outside De Kuip, which had a stand closed as UEFA punishment for fireworks use.
The former Dundee player McCowan made up for his missed chances by playing a key role in Celtic’s 31st-minute equaliser.
His lofted pass found Hatate, who hooked the ball to the far post where Yang netted from close range.
Celtic had two major let-offs before going ahead. They were firstly caught on the break, this time with Liam Scales out of position but Ueda’s shot was saved by Kasper Schmeichel.
Another Ueda shot appeared to hit the hand of Callum McGregor but penalty appeals were waved away.
Celtic profited from pressing Feyenoord back to their goalkeeper two minutes before half-time when Maeda charged down Timon Wellenreuther’s attempted pass and the ball broke for Hatate, who finished first time from 22 yards.
With Feyenoord’s most vocal fans locked out and Celtic in front, the travelling fans were making all the noise and their team controlled the opening stages of the second half.
Engels had a free-kick well saved before the hosts forced some sustained pressure, hitting the bar through Gaoussou Diarra’s header.
The home side were growing increasingly confident until some positive play from a limping Colby Donovan set up the 82nd-minute clincher.
Maeda once again disrupted Wellenreuther as the keeper tried to collect the right-back’s low cross and the ball broke for Nygren, who fired in off the bar from eight yards.
*****
James Tavernier scored a penalty as Rangers earned their first Europa League point of the season with a 1-1 draw at home to 10-man Braga.
Danny Rohl’s side recovered from a slow start to claim a first-half lead but conceded a soft goal to Gabri Martinez in the second period, shortly after Rodrigo Zalazar had been sent off for violent conduct.
Rangers’ Mohamed Diomande was also shown a red card in stoppage time for a second bookable offence.
The point lifts Rangers off the foot of the 36-team league but leaves them up against it if they are to qualify for the knock-out stages with just three matches left to play.
Aberdeen’s hopes of remaining in the Conference League beyond Christmas suffered a major blow after they were held to a 1-1 home draw by Armenian champions Noah.
In what was arguably the most winnable of their six league-phase fixtures on paper, Aberdeen looked on course to notch their first victory in the competition when they took the lead just before half-time through Kevin Nisbet’s first goal of the season.
But Jimmy Thelin’s side were pegged back seven minutes into the second half by a header from Nardin Mulahusejnovic, leaving them 33rd in the 36-team table with just two points from their four matches.
Aberdeen will likely require victories in their final two games at home to Strasbourg and away to Sparta Prague to have any chance of finishing in the top 24 and surviving in the competition.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
4 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Martin O’Neill enjoys winning European farewell as Celtic overcome Feyenoord
Celtic 3-1 Feyenoord
MARTIN O’NEILL WROTE a memorable final postscript in his history with Celtic in Europe as the interim manager led his team to a win over Feyenoord.
Goals from Yang Hyun-jun and Reo Hatate saw Celtic come from behind before half-time and substitute Benjamin Nygren added a late third as the Scottish champions kick-started their Europa League campaign.
It was their first away win in Europe since victory over Ferencvaros under Ange Postecoglou four years ago and first in the Netherlands since a 3-1 win over Ajax in O’Neill’s maiden Champions League qualifier in charge in 2001.
O’Neill went on to lead Celtic to the 2003 UEFA Cup final and wins over the likes of Juventus, Liverpool and Barcelona during five years in charge.
The 73-year-old is expected to make way for Wilfried Nancy before Roma visit Celtic Park on 11 December and will leave them with a platform to enjoy another run in the competition. The Hoops now have seven points and also play Bologna and Utrecht in the league phase.
Celtic started with Luke McCowan and Yang either side of Daizen Maeda in their front three and the former was guilty of an extraordinary early miss, hitting the bar from a yard out after an Arne Engels corner. The offside flag went up but VAR might have overturned that decision as it appeared the flick-on came from a Feyenoord player.
Celtic were caught out by a ball over the top in the 11th minute with centre-back Auston Trusty on his way back from a solo run deep into the Feyenoord half. Sem Steijn laid the ball off for Ayase Ueda to finish. The goal sparked a flurry of red flares flying in from outside De Kuip, which had a stand closed as UEFA punishment for fireworks use.
The former Dundee player McCowan made up for his missed chances by playing a key role in Celtic’s 31st-minute equaliser.
His lofted pass found Hatate, who hooked the ball to the far post where Yang netted from close range.
Celtic had two major let-offs before going ahead. They were firstly caught on the break, this time with Liam Scales out of position but Ueda’s shot was saved by Kasper Schmeichel.
Another Ueda shot appeared to hit the hand of Callum McGregor but penalty appeals were waved away.
Celtic profited from pressing Feyenoord back to their goalkeeper two minutes before half-time when Maeda charged down Timon Wellenreuther’s attempted pass and the ball broke for Hatate, who finished first time from 22 yards.
With Feyenoord’s most vocal fans locked out and Celtic in front, the travelling fans were making all the noise and their team controlled the opening stages of the second half.
Engels had a free-kick well saved before the hosts forced some sustained pressure, hitting the bar through Gaoussou Diarra’s header.
The home side were growing increasingly confident until some positive play from a limping Colby Donovan set up the 82nd-minute clincher.
Maeda once again disrupted Wellenreuther as the keeper tried to collect the right-back’s low cross and the ball broke for Nygren, who fired in off the bar from eight yards.
*****
James Tavernier scored a penalty as Rangers earned their first Europa League point of the season with a 1-1 draw at home to 10-man Braga.
Danny Rohl’s side recovered from a slow start to claim a first-half lead but conceded a soft goal to Gabri Martinez in the second period, shortly after Rodrigo Zalazar had been sent off for violent conduct.
Rangers’ Mohamed Diomande was also shown a red card in stoppage time for a second bookable offence.
The point lifts Rangers off the foot of the 36-team league but leaves them up against it if they are to qualify for the knock-out stages with just three matches left to play.
Aberdeen’s hopes of remaining in the Conference League beyond Christmas suffered a major blow after they were held to a 1-1 home draw by Armenian champions Noah.
In what was arguably the most winnable of their six league-phase fixtures on paper, Aberdeen looked on course to notch their first victory in the competition when they took the lead just before half-time through Kevin Nisbet’s first goal of the season.
But Jimmy Thelin’s side were pegged back seven minutes into the second half by a header from Nardin Mulahusejnovic, leaving them 33rd in the 36-team table with just two points from their four matches.
Aberdeen will likely require victories in their final two games at home to Strasbourg and away to Sparta Prague to have any chance of finishing in the top 24 and surviving in the competition.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Celtic Europa League Happy Hoops Soccer