Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Striker as Norwegians frustrate Hoops
they just hadn’t made it work offensively.
The Norwegians had a focal point, as shown when Nicklas Bendtner gave them something to hit and flicked on a throw-in which gave Milan Jevtovic a chance to shoot.
Not that they were all about that. One rapier counter-attack cut Rodgers’ team open and Ajer had to make a fine block.
Celtic just didn’t have Bendtner’s presence.
They had to try to worm their way into gaps with energy and guile.
That’s hard enough at any time. When facing a solid wall it’s even tougher.
Rosenborg were not going to leave spaces and Celtic couldn’t find the craft to create them.
Forrest had a couple of digs from inside the area but he was well marshalled on both occasions and the shots were charged down.
Vegar Eggen Hedenstad whipped in a free kick which Craig Gordon had to fist clear and the keeper also grabbed a shot from Mike Jensen. Forrest rifled one too high from an
Armstrong corner in rapid response but as the hour mark ticked past, the tension had been cranked up.
When Yann-erik Lanlay missed an absolute sitter from the edge of the six-yard box and Gordon had to grab a Bendtner effort, the seriousness of it all was crystal clear.
Rodgers kept a clear head. He sent Jonny Hayes on for Ntcham and put him into the striker role.
Hayes’ introduction sparked Celtic. It brought life to Rogic. He was now facing the Rosenborg goal instead of his own.
Forrest fizzed one just wide, Rogic over from 20 yards.
Kundai Benyu was given the last 10 minutes in a final lob of the dice but it was the Norwegian champions who almost won it when Gordon stuck out an injurytime leg to thwart sub Elbasan Rashani.