Four-goal Celtic win one-sided encounter

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Sinclair scores twice as Celtic sail into third qualifying round

CELTIC 4 LINFIELD 0 (CELTIC WIN 6-0 ON AGG)

Brendan Rodgers believes Celtic will again have to take the initiative when Rosenborg travel to Parkhead for the Champions League third qualifying round next week.

The Hoops ensured their meeting with the Norwegians after beating Linfield 4-0 at Celtic Park to go through 6-0 on aggregate.

Rodgers’ side led 2-0 from the first leg against the Northern Irish part-timers at Windsor Park on Friday night and the return encounter was even more onesided with Scott Sinclair’s fourth-minute goal no reflection on the first 45 minutes.

Midfielder Tom Rogic added a second two minutes after the restart before Sinclair grabbed his second with another strike.

Substitute Stuart Armstrong added a fourth in added time to book the Scottish champions’ place against Eliteserien league leaders, who overcame Dundalk after extra time.

Asked if Rosenborg would be a step up in quality, Rodgers said: “We have watched some of their games already.

“They are pretty stable, they play 4-33, they are midway through their season so they are going to be at a good level of fitness.”

He continued: “We know whoever we get in the qualification campaign it is never going to be easy.

“But if we want to get to where we want to get to we have to go into these games and work well.”

Linfield boss David Healy praised Rodgers and was impressed by his side.

He said: “Brendan was a class act as he always is off the pitch.

“He came into the dressing room after the game and shook every person’s hand – that meant a lot to the staff and players.

“Celtic are a quality side, we knew that.

“They had a right go (in the second half), they came out 100 miles per hour and I think 4-0 was probably fair.

“I patted the players on the back for their effort, attitude and discipline.”

He continued: “Celtic are an incredible team, especially these days.

“They have won six league titles in a row, but that at the moment it is the best squad of players Celtic have seen in probably a long number of years.”

Celtic: Gordon, Brown, Sinclair, Rogic, Simunovic, Lustig, Dembele, Tierney, Ntcham (Armstrong 67), Forrest (Hayes 68), McGregor (Benyuat 74). Subs not used: Bitton, de Vries, Sviatchenko, Kouassi.

Referee: Stephan Klossner (Switzerland)

Pictures: Getty. Linfield keeper Roy Carroll watches on as Scott Sinclair opens the scoring after four minutes; Olivier Ntcham skips away from Mark Haughey’s challenge; Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, right, shakes hands with Linfield boss David Healy.

Stuart Armstrong, who came on as a substitute, celebrates adding a fourth late on.