Celtic suffer fright in seven-goal thriller on way to group stages
Celtic progressed into the Champions League group stages with an aggregate win, but they were made to sweat in Kazakhstan.
Progress was never in serious doubt following the 5-0 win at Parkhead last week, but there were nervy moments as Celtic slipped to their first defeat of the season in a pulsating encounter.
Defender Kristoffer Ajer deflected a shot from defender Dmitri Shomko past goalkeeper Craig Gordon in the 26th minute to give Astana the merest glimmer of hope, quashed, it appeared, eight minutes later when Scott Sinclair curled in the equaliser.
Two goals in a minute at the start of the second half from Serikzhan Muzhikov and Patrick Twumasi brought the home side back to life and, when Ghanaian Twumasi grabbed his second, the visitors were on the ropes.
However, late goals from Olivier Ntcham and Leigh Griffiths sealed Celtic’s safe passage. Manager Brendan Rodgers said: “The players were shocked with the goals we conceded but once we got the second goal the calmness came back and that leads into the third goal and we defended much better then.
“In the end, we had 19 attempts at goal and the domination of possession but I still want us and expect us to be better.
“I am very happy and pleased to come though the six qualification games, especially against a team like Astana who are a good side.”
Muzhikov’s early second-half goal came after an uncharacteristic mistake by Scott Brown in giving away possession then heading a cross on to the Astana player who poked the ball in from close range.
Two more goals caused bedlam among the home fans before Ntcham steered a shot home and then Griffiths scored with a fine angled drive.