EUROPA LEAGUE GROUP B A GREAT LEIP FORWARD

It looked like they’d let it slip but 14 seconds later the Bhoys were back in business

ODSONNE EDOUARD gave Celtic a massive Europa League boost with a dramatic winner against RB Leipzig at Parkhead.

A spectacular light show before kick-off set up another firecracker of a European night in the east end of Glasgow.

Constant rain meant the ball zipped about the pitch quicker than normal and the visitors refused to let Celtic settle – but only for so long.

In the seventh minute Craig Gordon had to save a long-range drive from Marcel Sabitzer after the Hoops goalkeeper had given up possession with a slack clearance.

However, four minutes later it was Celtic who took the lead with their first real effort on goal.

Callum Mcgregor’s quick free-kick to James Forrest set the Scotland winger free down the right and his pass sped across the penalty area untouched until it reached Kieran Tierney.

The 21-year-old left-back took a touch before drilling low past keeper Yvon Mvogo and into the far corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

Leipzig lost their earlier composure as Celtic, imbued with confidence, went for a second and came close when Scott Sinclair set up Tom Rogic, with the Australia midfielder firing over the bar from the edge of the box.

Ryan Christie then did the same minutes later as the Bundesliga outfit struggled to contain the exuberance, pace and power of Celtic, who ended the half comfortably on top.

The second half saw play race from end to end and the tension grew by the minute. Bruma’s deflected strike caused Gordon little trouble but moments later Sinclair raced on to an Edouard flick and into the box but took too long to get his shot away and was crowded out, before Edouard’s drive from 12 yards was stopped by Mvogo.

Leipzig slowly increased the pressure but Gordon did well in the 70th minute to parry a close-range effort from Sabitzer following another corner.

A swift Celtic attack moments later ended with Edouard’s deflected drive from a tight angle speeding across the goal.

Then came a minute of madness. After Augustin headed in a Konrad Laimer cross from six yards to stun the home crowd, Celtic restarted play. Just 14 seconds later and Edouard had the easiest of tasks tapping in a pin-point Christie pass to send Parkhead wild with delight again.

In the fraught final minutes Leipzig sub Kevin Kampl rattled the bar with a ferocious drive but the home side held on.

Celtic now travel to Trondheim to play Rosenborg, already eliminated, on November 29 before hosting Salzburg, who have maximum points, in the last game.

Celtic last night ODS AND ENDS Odsonne Edouard slots home the winning goal for quality. The Frenchman found the winner 14 seconds after the restart as Leipzig were still celebrating Jean-kevin Augustin’s equaliser.Some teams would have been left sickened by that body blow but the Celtic boss knew his players had the steely determination to find a famous winner.Rodgers said: “We spoke about that before the game, to show yourself as top players you have to respond to things going negatively in the game.“I believe the players are very good players and sometimes when it’s gone against us we’ve maybe not been as aggressive.“But that’s the mark of really good players.“I think it’s a proper win against an outstanding European team sitting fourth in the Bundesliga, in A TOP TIER TALENT Kieran Tierney sends a left foot rocket into the Leipzig net to open the scoring last night a top, top European league.”Rodgers also detailed how his side emerged victorious on the night as his side combated the diamond formation preferred by Ralf Rangnick which caused so much problems in the first game in Germany.The likes of Ryan Christie and Tom Rogic were able to wreak havoc breaking the lines.Rodgers said: “We coped well with the pressure as they pressed the ball really well but we got out of the pressure well and took it out to the sides.“They played a diamond which can be a complicated system to play against but we worked our way through it, got it out to the sides and we created some good chances to maybe score another couple.”