Celtic misery as hopes of keeping seat at top table are shattered
CELTIC’S Champions League hopes were ended af ter a 2-1 qualif ying defeat by AEK Athens in Greece saw them lose 3-2 on aggregate. Brendan Rodgers, who had taken the Hoops to the group stages of the competition in his first two years in charge, had admitted that the third qualifying round tie in the Olympic Stadium was his biggest qualifying challenge to date following the 1-1 draw in the first leg at Parkhead last week.
Within six minutes his side were trailing to a Rodrigo Galo strike, and it looked a forlorn task for the visitors when Croatian striker Marko Livaja headed in a second five minutes after the break.
Bhoys substitute Scott Sinclair pulled a goal back in the 78th minute but, despite a grand finale, the Scottish champions could not fashion a second which would have put them through on away goals.
Dropping down to the Europa League play-offs, where they will play Latvian side Spartaks Jurmala or Lithuanian side Suduva, is a huge blow for Celtic, who will miss out on the prestige — not to mention the vast sums of money — to be earned in the Champions League.
Suduva hold a 1- 0 lead and an away goal advantage going into tomorrow’s third qualifying round deciding leg.
AEK, meanwhile, will play Hungarian outfit MOL Vidi in the Champions League play-off round.
There were ominous signs for Celtic beforehand.
Pre-match speculation about the fitness of Odsonne Edouard proved well- f ounded as t he French striker and record signing missed out with a knock, with Leigh Griffiths keeping his place.
Fit-again striker Moussa Dembele returned to the bench, however, but with Kristoffer Ajer suspended and fellow defender Dedryck Boyata missing through injury amid speculation about his future, Rodgers paired Jozo Simunovic with Jack Hendry in central defence.
The 70,000-capacity stadium was only around half-full, but the home fans roared when Niklas Hult, at the second attempt, got his cross past fellow Swedish defender Mikael Lustig to Brazilian midfielder Galo, who swept
AEK ATHENS WIN 3-2 ON AGGREGATE
AEK: Barkas, Bakakis, Oikonomou, Lampropoulos, Hult, Brito (Albanis 82), Dos Santos Saldanha, Gomes Simoes, Bakasetas (Cosic 90), Klonaridis (Mantalos 73), Livaja.
Subs not used:
Ponce, Moran.
CELTIC: Gordon, Forrest, Lustig (Dembele
Giakoumakis, Tsintotas,
it past keeper Craig Gordon from 12 yards.
It was the start the Parkhead side had feared, and moments later they almost conceded a second when Victor Klonaridis, who scored in Glasgow last week,
60), Hendry, Simunovic, Tierney, McGregor, Brown, Ntcham, Griffiths, Rogic (Sinclair 76).
Subs not used: Gamboa, Hayes, Bain, Johnston, Kouassi.
Match Rating: 7/10
Man of the Match: Marko Livaja (AEK) Referee: Vladislav Bezborodov (Russia)
burst into the Hoops box but toepoked a shot wide of the target from eight yards.
Having taken the lead, however, the Greek side simply sat back to defend it.
Celtic took control, with Tom Rogic and Griffiths both having luckless efforts on goal before the latter sent a fine Callum McGregor cross inches past the post from eight yards.
Hendry headed a Griffiths corner over the bar just before the interval, but any positivity Celtic’s response elicited evaporated early in the second half when Galo’s free-kick to the back post was headed back across goal by Vassilis Lampropoulos for Livaja to head past Gordon.
Again Celtic responded positively and only a brilliant save by AEK keeper Vassilis Barkas prevented Simunovic’s header from a Kieran Tierney cross speeding in at the near post.
Rodgers brought on Dembele for Lustig in the 60th minute, but Klonaridis missed a great