GROUP B
Celtic stumbled unconvincingly into the knockout phase of the Europa League with an error-strewn and leaden display which did nothing to back up assertions that the Scottish champions are capable of enjoying an extended run in the tournament in the second half of the season.
Anderlecht, requiring a three-goal victory to snatch third place in Group B of the Champions League from Celtic, will struggle to come to terms with how Jozo Simunovic’s own goal was all they had to show for their superiority in this contest.
The Belgian champions were unrecognisable from the team beaten 3-0 by Celtic in Brussels back in September, especially in a remarkably one-sided first half.
Brendan Rodgers’ wait for hisfirsthomewininthechampions League group stage continues and this was not the evidence of progress at this level from his team he had hoped to see. The consolation of a place in next Monday’s draw for the last 32 of the Europa League remains a valuable one for Celtic but even in European football’s secondary competition, they will be punished for any repeat of the performance produced last night.
Anyone who arrived at Celtic Park harbouring the sense that this would be a relatively straightforward evening for the hosts were quickly forced to think again.
Anderlecht’s task may have been daunting but they approached it with relish, vigour and a belief that it was not beyondthem.theydominated possession and were by a distance the more threatening side in a first half which the Scottish champions were fortunate to survive unscathed.
But for Craig Gordon, Celtic would have fallen behind after just two minutes. Setting the tone for what was to follow, Anderlecht knocked the ball around with pace, precision and confidence to stretch the home defence.
Much of it was orchestrated by their captain Sofiane Hanni, the Algerian midfielder catching the eye time and time again with his deftness of touch, intelligent movement and accurate passing. He shrugged off a challenge by his Celtic counterpart Scott Brown to create that first opening, picking out Henry Onyekuru on the left.
The Nigerian striker, previously linked with a move to Celtic, drilled in a low cross to pick out Sven Kums whose firm shot from around 12 yards out was brilliantly kept out by Gordon’s instinctive save.
From the corner which followed, a rattled Celtic defence were unable to clear their lines and were grateful to see Onyekuru miscue a shot wildly off target.
Rodgers’ side were struggling to make any attacking headway of their own with Anderlecht closing them down effectively and regaining possession all too easily.
Gordon was called into action again when Dennis Appiah and Pieter Gerkens combined cleverly down Anderlecht’s right to set up a chance for Adrien Trebel, but the midfielder’s halfvolley was too close to the Celtickeeper,whomadeafairly comfortable save.
As Anderlecht continued to control the tempo and direction of the contest, much to the growing agitation and concern of the home fans, Trebel tried his luck from 22 yards, but once again his shot went straight at Gordon.
Frank Boeckx had little to do in the Anderlecht goal as Celtic failed to put him under pressure even from any set pieces they managed to force in an attacking position.
The visitors finished the first half as they had started it, firmly on the front foot, and it needed a superbly-timed penalty area interception by Celtic defender Jozo Simunovic to deny Leander Dendoncker a clear sight of goal as he was poised to get on the end of a Kums corner.
Rodgers had seen quite enough and made a double substitution at the start of the second half. Stuart Armstrong and Scott Sinclair, who had both been well off the pace, were replaced by Olivier Ntcham and Tom Rogic.
Ntcham certainly made the desired impact. The French midfielder brought energy and direction to Celtic’s play and posed a goal threat of his own, sending a 20-yard shot just wide as he helped his side finally gain some sustained attacking momentum.
Moussa Dembele, isolated