THEPROMIS Oh Bhoy did they run it close... but Bren’s men hold out to secure a £25m payday in Israel

ball as he tripped Davidzada just inside the box. Dutch referee Bas Nijhuis pointed to the spot, Maharan Raid went for power from 12 yards and Gordon guessed right and got his body be - hind the ball. That blessed relief for Celtic lasted until the 21st minute when the old failings reappeared as a simple corner was not dealt with. Raid floated a ball into the six-yard box and substitute Ben Sahar found it far too easy to get up and head the ball home.

There were quite a few players from the visitors who looked uncomfortable, none more than Janko, who was all over the place. Hapoel are no great shakes but they can pass the ball well and were able to find so much space when last week there was none.

AT LEAST Leigh Griffiths got a shot on target after 33 minutes, the first time the ball had spent any time in the Israeli’s half. Then Janko made a good run from deep and for once put his cross into the box where Scott Sinclair got the ball but his effort was tame.

After some decent Hapoel pressure, the impressive Anthony Nwakaeme tested Gor- don with a shot from outside the area. Celtic then broke on 38 minutes, with the ball played from Sinclair, to Griffiths, to McGregor and eventually Forrest, who put his shot from close in over when a cross was the better option.

Rodgers would have welcomed half-time. Many of his players needed a not-so-gentle reminder what was at stake and that they had to up their games. Forrest was replaced by Tom Rogic. Janko stayed on and three minutes into the half was