Celtic crashed out of the Europa League last night after a stunning collapse against FC Copenhagen at Parkhead. Neil Lennon’s side conceded two late goals to lose 3-1, 4-2 on aggregate. Dame N’doye is pictured scoring the Danish side’s third goal. Report

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CELTIC 1 FC COPENHAGEN 3 (2-4 ON AGG)

Sloppy Celtic conceded two late goals to exit the Europa League at the hands of FC Copenhagen, the Hoops crashing out 4-2 on aggregate.

The last-32 tie was finely balanced at 1-1 following last week’s first leg at the Parken stadium and Neil Lennon’s side passed up several chances in a goalless first half in the second leg before helping the Danish side take the lead.

Michael Santos, a late first-half substitute for Mikkel Kaufmann, took advantage of a bad mistake in the 51st minute by Hoops defender Jozo Simunovic to fire the visitors ahead.

Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard scored a Var-awarded penalty to level in the 82nd minute and, at 2-2, extratime beckoned.

However, three minutes later midfielder Pep Biel restored the visitors’ lead before striker Dame N’doye, who scored last week, added a third in the 87th minute to seal a 3-1 win on the night and send FC Copenhagen through to the last 16.

Lennon told the BBC: “We basically shot ourselves in the foot. We didn’t manage the game after getting back into it. We had a great opportunity and we let it go.

“We were the better team for huge parts of the game. We did all of the forcing but we gave away cheap goals.

“These players have been absolutely brilliant for me, so I’m not going to criticise. They know they’ve let themselves down. Basic, individual mistakes have cost us.

“It’s not what I expect from my players. They’ve been magnificent for me and I’m sure they will be again.

“We’re not here to scapegoat anyone, we win as a team and lose as a team.”

It was Celtic’s first loss of 2020 and it was a defeat that looked so unlikely in the first half last week when they dominated.

Celtic have no chance now of facing Old Firm rivals Rangers, who sealed their place in today’s last-16 draw in Nyon with victory over Braga on Wednesday night.

The Light Blues’ 4-2 aggregate triumph over the Portuguese side added extra spice to Celtic’s match which saw the return of skipper Scott Brown and winger James Forrest from injury, with Mohamed Elyounoussi taking over from suspended Ryan Christie.

The visitors looked more sprightly than they had at the start of last week’s game. However, in the 22nd minute Elyounoussi began a swift attack down the left which ended with him flashing a drive over the bar from 14 yards when he should have hit the target.

In the 31st minute, following an overlapping cross from Hoops leftback Greg Taylor, FC Copenhagen goalkeeper Karl-johan Johnsson tipped a header from Tom Rogic on to the post and behind, although the Australian midfielder knew little about it as the ball came off him from Victor Nelsson’s clearance.