Uefa Europa League league phase, matchday four results on Thursday:
Basel 3 FCSB 1
Dinamo Zagreb 0 Celta Vigo 3
Malmo 0 Panathinaikos 1
Midtjylland 3 Celtic 1
Nice 1 Freiburg 3
Red Bull Salzburg 2 Go Ahead Eagles 0
Red Star Belgrade 1 Lille 0
Sturm Graz 0 Nottingham Forest 0
Utrecht 1 Porto 1
Aston Villa 2 Maccabi Tel Aviv 0
Bologna 0 Brann 0
Ferencvaros 3 Ludogorets 1
PAOK 4 Young Boys 0
Rangers 0 Roma 2
Real Betis 2 Lyon 0
Braga 3 Genk 4
Stuttgart 2 Feyenoord 0
Viktoria Plzen 0 Fenerbahce 0
CELTIC’S REVIVAL under Martin O’Neill came juddering to a halt in Jutland after they were thumped 3-1 by FC Midtjylland.
The Hoops’ hopes of prolonging their Europa League campaign into the knockout stages suffered a major blow as the Danes hammered in three goals in eight first-half minutes.
Teenage substitute Callum Osmand won a late penalty, which Reo Hatate converted, but the 19-year-old was then taken off on a stretcher in tears after suffering what appeared to be a hamstring injury on a horrible evening for the Scottish champions.
O’Neill had seen how dangerous Midtjylland can be first-hand just last month when they beat Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest, before the 73-year-old answered the call to return to Celtic after Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation.
They had travelled to the Danish city of Herning with a sense of optimism, too.
Back in the Hoops dug-out after 20 years, O’Neill had already led them to a morale-boosting 4-0 league win over Falkirk, followed by Sunday’s rousing victory over Old Firm rivals Rangers to reach the Premier Sports Cup final.
But good vibes and a retro tracksuit can only take you so far, and Celtic were ruthlessly taken apart at the MCH Arena as Midtjylland made it four wins out of four to stay top of the 36-team league.
Celtic actually had the first shot on goal after just 25 seconds, with Irish striker Johnny Kenny firing straight at home keeper Elias Rafn Olafsson.
It was the Hoops’ only effort on target for the next 80 minutes. They were quickly under the pump, first when Callum McGregor was robbed in midfield and Dario Osorio fired narrowly over.
Auston Trusty then had to make a last-ditch block from Osorio, with Franculino Dju blasting the rebound over.
Former Rangers right-back Kevin Mbabu was denied twice by Kasper Schmeichel, and Mads Bech Sorensen, the ex-Brentford defender, guided Osorio’s free-kick over the crossbar.
The hosts came even closer when former Bournemouth midfielder Philip Billing dummied a low cross for Cho Gue-sung, who forced a point-blank save from Schmeichel, with Anthony Ralston taking the rebound right in the face.
Schmeichel, back on home soil a day after his 39th birthday, was at full stretch to tip a 20-yard volley from Pedro Bravo wide.
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But he could only hold back the tide for so long, and the dam finally burst following the resulting corner.
Celtic cleared the initial cross, but Mikel Gogorza reached the byline again and his chip across goal was nodded in by Croatian defender Martin Erlic.
Less than two minutes later, Midtjylland doubled their lead when Arne Engels and Ralston let Gogorza squirm in between them and whip a low drive past Schmeichel.
It was three by half-time from a Sorensen long throw, exciting Guinea-Bissau forward Dju collecting the second ball and curling his 18th goal of the season inside the far post.
Schmeichel protested that he had been unsighted by offside Midtjylland players, but a quick VAR check concluded otherwise.
O’Neill threw on Osmand at half-time, and the 19-year-old earned his side a penalty when he was brought down by Erlic.
But Hatate’s spot-kick could not mask what was a chastening evening for Celtic, while Osmand’s late injury dampened the mood even further.
Rangers' Mikey Moore reacts following the Europa League match at Ibrox Stadium. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
Elsewhere, Rangers’ Europa League troubles continued with a 2-0 defeat by a superior Roma side at Ibrox.
Head coach Danny Rohl’s tenure began with a 3-0 loss away to Brann last month, and it was a similar story against the Italian heavyweights to make it four defeats out of four in the competition.
Following the 3-1 Premier Sports Cup semi-final defeat by Celtic at Hampden Park on Sunday, the Gers’ limitations were again laid bare as Matias Soule and Lorenzo Pellegrini had the visitors two up after 36 minutes of Roma control.
The gap in quality could not be bridged as Gers fans again turned their ire on sporting director Kevin Thelwell and chief executive Patrick Stewart in the second half, which was shorn of real intensity.
Rangers remain bottom of the 36-team group with four fixtures remaining and, with hopes of qualification for the knockout stages looking over, they need to focus on domestic matters.
The Ibrox club are fourth in the William Hill Premiership, five points behind Celtic and 14 points behind leaders Hearts, ahead of a trip to second-bottom Dundee on Sunday.
Sunday’s loss was a setback for Rohl, and he freshened up his side, with Max Aarons, Mikey Moore, Djeidi Gassama and Connor Barron coming in as Derek Cornelius, Mohamed Diomande, Danilo and Thelo Aasgaard dropped out.
Roma, who had lost their last two Europa League fixtures, were without key players Evan Ferguson, Paulo Dybala, Angelino and Leon Bailey, but it did not have a detrimental effect on Gian Piero Gasperini’s side.
Ukraine striker Artem Dovbyk came in to lead the line, and the Serie A outfit took the lead after 13 minutes following sloppy play from Gers defender Jayden Meghoma, which led to a Roma corner.
Pellegrini delivered from the right, captain Bryan Cristante flicked on, and Soule stole in at the back post to net.
It was too easy.
Moments later, Rangers’ much-maligned striker Youssef Chermiti fired wide from an angle after a Roma mix-up before Soule tested goalkeeper Jack Butland with a powerful drive, Mario Hermoso heading over from the corner.
The Italian side added a second when Dovbyk collected a pass from Gianluca Mancini and, under little pressure from defender John Souttar, laid the ball off to Pellegrini, who assuredly side-footed it past Butland.
A quick-fire Gers retort saw Mancini block a shot from Moore after Roma keeper Mile Svilar had spilt a Gassama cross.
When Aasgaard replaced Meghoma for the start of the second half and went to a back four, Gers fans chanted against Thelwell and Stewart, both men getting more criticism as the game continued.
In the 58th minute, Moore drove just wide of the far post from the edge of the box, while Chermiti hit the side-netting with another effort, and Aasgaard fired a shot wide.
Roma launched a quick-fire attack in the 69th minute, but from two yards out, Zeki Celik somehow managed to hit the bar from a Kostas Tsimikas knockdow,n and Butland gathered.
There was no more drama as the game fizzled out on what was another sobering night for Rohl and his Rangers side.
Aberdeen's players salute supporters at the end of the Conference League opening phase soccer match Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
Elsewhere, Aberdeen got off the mark in the Conference League following a disciplined display against AEK Larnaca but will rue a stoppage-time miss in Cyprus.
A goalless draw earned Jimmy Thelin’s side their first point of the tournament following defeats by FCSB and AEK Athens, the latter a 6-0 thrashing on the road two weeks ago.
Nicolas Milanovic missed an excellent chance 30 seconds into stoppage time after being set up by good work from fellow substitute Topi Keskinen following a counter-attack.
The Finn’s cross bounced in front of winger Milanovic, but the goalkeeper was out of position and the Australian swept his shot off target.
However, there was a bigger let-off for Aberdeen with the last action of the match when Karol Angielski headed wide with Dimitar Mitov stranded.
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Celtic suffer first defeat of Martin O'Neill's second stint
Updated at 22.46
Uefa Europa League league phase, matchday four results on Thursday:
CELTIC’S REVIVAL under Martin O’Neill came juddering to a halt in Jutland after they were thumped 3-1 by FC Midtjylland.
The Hoops’ hopes of prolonging their Europa League campaign into the knockout stages suffered a major blow as the Danes hammered in three goals in eight first-half minutes.
Teenage substitute Callum Osmand won a late penalty, which Reo Hatate converted, but the 19-year-old was then taken off on a stretcher in tears after suffering what appeared to be a hamstring injury on a horrible evening for the Scottish champions.
O’Neill had seen how dangerous Midtjylland can be first-hand just last month when they beat Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest, before the 73-year-old answered the call to return to Celtic after Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation.
They had travelled to the Danish city of Herning with a sense of optimism, too.
Back in the Hoops dug-out after 20 years, O’Neill had already led them to a morale-boosting 4-0 league win over Falkirk, followed by Sunday’s rousing victory over Old Firm rivals Rangers to reach the Premier Sports Cup final.
But good vibes and a retro tracksuit can only take you so far, and Celtic were ruthlessly taken apart at the MCH Arena as Midtjylland made it four wins out of four to stay top of the 36-team league.
Celtic actually had the first shot on goal after just 25 seconds, with Irish striker Johnny Kenny firing straight at home keeper Elias Rafn Olafsson.
It was the Hoops’ only effort on target for the next 80 minutes. They were quickly under the pump, first when Callum McGregor was robbed in midfield and Dario Osorio fired narrowly over.
Auston Trusty then had to make a last-ditch block from Osorio, with Franculino Dju blasting the rebound over.
Former Rangers right-back Kevin Mbabu was denied twice by Kasper Schmeichel, and Mads Bech Sorensen, the ex-Brentford defender, guided Osorio’s free-kick over the crossbar.
The hosts came even closer when former Bournemouth midfielder Philip Billing dummied a low cross for Cho Gue-sung, who forced a point-blank save from Schmeichel, with Anthony Ralston taking the rebound right in the face.
Schmeichel, back on home soil a day after his 39th birthday, was at full stretch to tip a 20-yard volley from Pedro Bravo wide.
But he could only hold back the tide for so long, and the dam finally burst following the resulting corner.
Celtic cleared the initial cross, but Mikel Gogorza reached the byline again and his chip across goal was nodded in by Croatian defender Martin Erlic.
Less than two minutes later, Midtjylland doubled their lead when Arne Engels and Ralston let Gogorza squirm in between them and whip a low drive past Schmeichel.
It was three by half-time from a Sorensen long throw, exciting Guinea-Bissau forward Dju collecting the second ball and curling his 18th goal of the season inside the far post.
Schmeichel protested that he had been unsighted by offside Midtjylland players, but a quick VAR check concluded otherwise.
O’Neill threw on Osmand at half-time, and the 19-year-old earned his side a penalty when he was brought down by Erlic.
But Hatate’s spot-kick could not mask what was a chastening evening for Celtic, while Osmand’s late injury dampened the mood even further.
Elsewhere, Rangers’ Europa League troubles continued with a 2-0 defeat by a superior Roma side at Ibrox.
Head coach Danny Rohl’s tenure began with a 3-0 loss away to Brann last month, and it was a similar story against the Italian heavyweights to make it four defeats out of four in the competition.
Following the 3-1 Premier Sports Cup semi-final defeat by Celtic at Hampden Park on Sunday, the Gers’ limitations were again laid bare as Matias Soule and Lorenzo Pellegrini had the visitors two up after 36 minutes of Roma control.
The gap in quality could not be bridged as Gers fans again turned their ire on sporting director Kevin Thelwell and chief executive Patrick Stewart in the second half, which was shorn of real intensity.
Rangers remain bottom of the 36-team group with four fixtures remaining and, with hopes of qualification for the knockout stages looking over, they need to focus on domestic matters.
The Ibrox club are fourth in the William Hill Premiership, five points behind Celtic and 14 points behind leaders Hearts, ahead of a trip to second-bottom Dundee on Sunday.
Sunday’s loss was a setback for Rohl, and he freshened up his side, with Max Aarons, Mikey Moore, Djeidi Gassama and Connor Barron coming in as Derek Cornelius, Mohamed Diomande, Danilo and Thelo Aasgaard dropped out.
Roma, who had lost their last two Europa League fixtures, were without key players Evan Ferguson, Paulo Dybala, Angelino and Leon Bailey, but it did not have a detrimental effect on Gian Piero Gasperini’s side.
Ukraine striker Artem Dovbyk came in to lead the line, and the Serie A outfit took the lead after 13 minutes following sloppy play from Gers defender Jayden Meghoma, which led to a Roma corner.
Pellegrini delivered from the right, captain Bryan Cristante flicked on, and Soule stole in at the back post to net.
It was too easy.
Moments later, Rangers’ much-maligned striker Youssef Chermiti fired wide from an angle after a Roma mix-up before Soule tested goalkeeper Jack Butland with a powerful drive, Mario Hermoso heading over from the corner.
The Italian side added a second when Dovbyk collected a pass from Gianluca Mancini and, under little pressure from defender John Souttar, laid the ball off to Pellegrini, who assuredly side-footed it past Butland.
A quick-fire Gers retort saw Mancini block a shot from Moore after Roma keeper Mile Svilar had spilt a Gassama cross.
When Aasgaard replaced Meghoma for the start of the second half and went to a back four, Gers fans chanted against Thelwell and Stewart, both men getting more criticism as the game continued.
In the 58th minute, Moore drove just wide of the far post from the edge of the box, while Chermiti hit the side-netting with another effort, and Aasgaard fired a shot wide.
Roma launched a quick-fire attack in the 69th minute, but from two yards out, Zeki Celik somehow managed to hit the bar from a Kostas Tsimikas knockdow,n and Butland gathered.
There was no more drama as the game fizzled out on what was another sobering night for Rohl and his Rangers side.
Elsewhere, Aberdeen got off the mark in the Conference League following a disciplined display against AEK Larnaca but will rue a stoppage-time miss in Cyprus.
A goalless draw earned Jimmy Thelin’s side their first point of the tournament following defeats by FCSB and AEK Athens, the latter a 6-0 thrashing on the road two weeks ago.
Nicolas Milanovic missed an excellent chance 30 seconds into stoppage time after being set up by good work from fellow substitute Topi Keskinen following a counter-attack.
The Finn’s cross bounced in front of winger Milanovic, but the goalkeeper was out of position and the Australian swept his shot off target.
However, there was a bigger let-off for Aberdeen with the last action of the match when Karol Angielski headed wide with Dimitar Mitov stranded.
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Martin O'Neill Soccer Aberdeen Celtic Midtjylland Woe