SCOTT: IT WILL BE RED-HOT v BULLS
the resultant corner Rogic had a shot blocked after a sublime touch and Odsonne Edouard had appeals for a penalty waved aside.
One ball dropped over Mikael Lustig and a cross when Sinclair and Christie were shrugged aside apart, it was a virtual procession for the opening 45 minutes.
Forrest was twice unlucky not to get a shot away, Rogic had a snapshot touched wide by Hansen and there were more spot-kick shouts for handball against home defender Even Hovland.
There was a nagging feeling Celtic were going to have to make their superiority count as Hansen again came to the rescue when he tipped Forrest’s strike over.
But the crucial moment came four minutes from the interval with a goal of brilliant creation and execution. Forrest was at his magnificent best as he squared up full-back Birger Meling before searing past him and standing a delightful cross up to the far post.
Sinclair was unmarked and made no mistake with the header past Hansen. It was no more than they deserved.
Former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner played despite facing a 50-day jail sentence but it was Celtic who had kept the hosts prisoners in their own half and the task was now to ensure the back door stayed bolted.
They managed it although not with total comfort.
Any notions it would be simple were quickly dispelled when Filip Benkovic was forced to scramble a Meling cross to safety and Rosenborg sub Djordje Denic steamed into a shocking tackle on Forrest. Rini Coolen’s team weren’t going down without a fight and Denic was lucky to avoid a red for flooring Tierney.
Lustig limped off to be replaced by Cristian Gamboa and Leigh Griffiths took over from Edouard as Celts eyed a clinching goal.
But as it edged to a conclusion the anxiety began to build. Tore Reginiussen and Samuel Adegbenro caused worrying moments with headed chances.
Brown was sent on to help shore things up and the Hoops saw it through. PAGES 88&89