CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Sinclair sparks a rout

CeltIC marched confidently towards the Champions league group stage last night as Scott Sinclair’s double set up a rousing victory.

winger tom Rogic went on a slaloming run into the right of the penalty area on 32 minutes to get Celtic going. the Australian’s goal attempt was curling wide of the far post but evgeni Postnikov, attempting to clear the danger, dangled a leg at the ball and diverted it haplessly into his own net.

Postnikov went close to repairing the damage moments later when his powerful downward header from a corner flashed just past Celtic’s left post.

But home nerves were settled three minutes before half-time when Sinclair seized on a loose back-pass and fizzed a shot home via the hands of goalkeeper Aleksandr Mokin. Sinclair made it 3-0 on the hour at rain-lashed Celtic Park, exchanging passes with lee Griffiths and shooting through Mokin’s legs with defenders appealing in vain for a non-existent offside.

James Forrest slid home the fourth goal from an acute angle on 79 minutes and Griffiths quickly added the fifth as Celtic built a healthy lead going into tuesday’s second leg.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers said: ‘I’m really proud. It was a great demonstration of the progress the players have made. It was very complete in many aspects, a brilliant performance.’