AN OPEN AND SHUT CASE
Ange’s Bhoys back in the frame as attack pays off and defence keeps a clean sheet
ANGE Postecoglou was as good as his word. His approach didn’t change. Celtic remained on the front foot. The crucial difference this time was that the back door remained locked. A European clean sheet felt almost as rare as the early kick-off time. But it provided a platform for the Parkhead side to make a belated start in putting points on the board in Europa League Group G.
After opening with two defeats and eight goals conceded, it was now or never in terms of remaining in the picture for a top-two finish. Celtic duly delivered. It wasn’t perfect, but it was convincing. The scoreline could easily have been greater.
Come full-time, a remarkable crowd of 50,427 was able to reflect on what they’d seen with satisfaction. That in itself felt like progress.
Certainly, a repeat of the Champions League success Ferencvaros enjoyed here last August never really felt on the cards. Not from the moment Kyogo Furuhashi provided a merited lead for Postecoglou’s side early in the second period.
Under pressure from David Turnbull, Balint Vecsei’s own goal nine minutes from time confirmed the win but that security should have arrived earlier. In between times, Callum McGregor missed a penalty.
Turnbull and Jota also spurned chances to add some polish before full-time but in the case of the Portuguese winger it shouldn’t be considered too harshly. His long-range assist for Furuhashi was utterly sublime.
The upshot of it all is that Celtic know a repeat triumph in Budapest on November 4 will give them a fighting chance of progression. At the very least it would nail down third place in the group and the consolation prize of a Conference League play-off.
It will be tougher in Hungary but the resilience shown here offered hope. This wasn’t a completely error-free 90 minutes, but Anthony Ralston, Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers did creditable jobs at the back. Joe Hart wasn’t overworked. Ferencvaros are not Real Betis or Bayer Leverkusen but nor are they pushovers.
The 3.30pm start was caused by factors including the COP26 climate conference and UEFA’s refusal to conflict with their Champions League schedule. A banner in the Green Brigade section made the feelings of the fan group clear. The letters FCUKUFEA lay beneath a Countdown mock-up and the message ‘Conundrum clue: Fans before TV’. European football’s governing body may not need the powers of Rachel Riley to decide whether to open a disciplinary case.
On the pitch, Celtic simply got down to business. Postecoglou’s satisfaction with recent performances was borne out by a selection that showed one enforced change from Saturday’s success over Motherwell. Adam Montgomery stepped in at left-back to replace Boli Bolingoli, who isn’t part of the Europa League squad.
Back-to-back away wins have emboldened hope in the Premiership, but continental football provides a far harsher examination of Postecoglou’s aims.
His team started with intent. Tom Rogic and Turnbull put together a lovely interchange on the fringe of the area before McGregor stepped in to slide a through ball for Jota.
The Benfica loanee advanced to fire in an angled, near-post strike that Ferencvaros keeper Denes Dibusz blocked at his near post.
There are occasions when Jota could shift the ball a fraction quicker, yet his talent has become glaringly apparent ever since he moved to Glasgow. A delicate, curling attempt from 22 yards was expertly tipped over the top by Dibusz at full stretch.
The Portuguese was in the mood. An inswinging cross from the left picked out Furuhashi for a mistimed header that was misdirected. The Japanese forward slapped his hands together in frustration.
For all the focus on Celtic’s transformation since last season — with McGregor the only figure to have also started the previous meeting between these clubs — Ferencvaros have also been through a summer of change.
Austrian coach Peter Stoger replaced Sergei Rebrov. Five of the team Stoger named here had been part of the victory last August and, sitting deep, they offered flickering signs of their threat.
Exploiting space behind Montgomery was their preferred early route. One early low delivery from the right couldn’t quite be converted by Ryan Mmaee at the front post. A more sustained period of pressure later led to Myrto Uzuni hammering in a shot that Hart parried behind.
Celtic were dominating possession but were finding it difficult to get Furuhashi into the game. He was back at the halfway line when a little flashpoint sparked.
Visiting defender Samy Mmaee was too aggressive when getting involved with a prone Furuhashi, aiming a sly kick at him. Ralston charged in to push Mmaee away and both ended up being booked by Danish referee Jakob Kehlet.
The first half contained just about enough to entertain a very healthy crowd that included Albanian president — and well-known Celtic fan — Ilir Meta. A few of those sitting near him queued for pictures at the interval.
Twelve minutes after the restart, the visiting statesman got what he wanted as the Parkhead side hit the front with an exquisite goal.
Jota and Montgomery combined to play out from the back, giving the former space to advance and get his head up. Spotting Furuhashi’s movement was the easy bit. Picking him out required excellence.
Jota produced. Drawing back his right foot, he sent a laser-guided 50-yard pass into precisely the right position. An excellent first touch was still needed, but then Furuhashi can be relied upon there. Taking all the pace off the ball, he was able to coolly stroke a low finish beyond the advancing Dibusz and hare off in celebration.
The joy was nearly tempered when Ferencvaros immediately sought a response. An excellent covering challenge from Ralston was needed to stop Ryan Mmaee levelling.
Celtic, though, should have doubled their advantage within five minutes. Montgomery was taken down by a sliding challenge from Henry Wingo inside the area, prompting referee Kehlet to point to the spot. McGregor took responsibility but was unusually found wanting.
A strike to Dibusz’s left was at a nice height for the goalkeeper and he dived to push away.
Emboldened by that escape, the Hungarians again pushed back to draw a save from Hart through an Eldar Civic free-kick.
Postecoglou threw on Nir Bitton and Giorgios Giakoumakis for the tiring Rogic and underwhelming Liel Abada. Montgomery then retired hurt, with Liam Scales introduced. For once, Parkhead was desperate to avoid a frantic finale. The necessary comfort arrived in scrappy style nine minutes from the end.
Jota forced the ball across goal, with Turnbull taking a swipe and missing. He recovered sufficiently to be in the way when Vecsei tried to clear, with the ball cannoning into the net.