FC Midtjylland 2-1 Celtic (AET): Ange Postecoglou's side are out of the Champions League

Add this to a growing list of embarrassing Celtic defeats in Champions League qualifiers. 

Where recent exits to AEK Athens, Cluj and Ferencvaros placed a target on the manager’s back, a fourth consecutive failure to reach the group stage can be laid squarely at the feet of the Parkhead board.

Celtic’s decline at this level has become a staggering business. After years of lording it over Scottish football, the impact of complacency, downsizing and abysmal recruitment was there to see even before a gutless extra-time defeat to a mediocre Midtjylland side.

Celtic are out of the Champions League after being beaten 2-1 by FC Midtylland in extra-time

 Raphael Nwadike scored the winning goal in extra-time after a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes

After a 1-1 draw in their home leg last week, Ange Postecoglou's side had it all to do in Denmark

After a 1-1 draw in their home leg last week, Ange Postecoglou’s side had it all to do in Denmark

Callum McGregor put Celtic ahead with a sensational volley in the 48th minute

 Callum McGregor put Celtic ahead with a sensational volley in the 48th minute

In his second competitive match, after a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Glasgow, new manager Ange Postecoglou was sent into battle in Jutland with a squad desperately short of numbers and quality. The Australian was handed a back line more suited to the Irn-Bru Cup than the Champions League.

Last season’s second-choice keeper Scott Bain was back in goal in place of the hopeless £5million Greek Vasilis Barkas.

In Anthony Ralston, they played a right-back so far out of the picture they preferred to sign a loanee from Everton last season. Doubts over left-back Greg Taylor were so great they signed a hopeless Uruguayan loanee from AC Milan instead.

Stephen Welsh was elevated from fourth-choice centre-half in a Covid crisis and kept his place because there was no one else.

Dane Murray, an 18-year-old most fans couldn’t have picked out in an identity parade, was thrown in at the deep end last week.

Odsonne Edouard, an £18million striker with one eye on the exit, showed no interest whatsoever in putting his big move in jeopardy.

Two new players signed for £8m spent the night isolating in a London hotel under Covid rules.

And the substitutes’ bench was so lightweight they had to name two goalkeepers. Even Boli Bolingoli got a seat.

Celtic travel to Tynecastle to face Hearts on Saturday in their opening game of the Premiership. Swede Carl Starfelt will be ready to come in, but the pace and ineptitude of the recruitment is now a ridiculous business.

Supporters who spent last season in a state of blind rage are entitled to feel now that they weren’t nearly angry enough.

The midfielder took one touch on his chest before firing the ball into the top right corner

The midfielder took one touch on his chest before firing the ball into the top right corner

Awer Mabil pulled the home side level when he headed home Sisto's looping cross

Awer Mabil pulled the home side level when he headed home Sisto’s looping cross

MATCH FACTS 

MIDTJYLLAND (3-5-2): Lossl; Dalsgaard, Sviatchenko, Andersson (Cools 106); Juninho (Nicolaisen 113), Charles (Nwadike 59), Evander, Paulinho (Dyhr 89), Mabil (Lind 89); Jnr Brumado (Mads Hansen 77), Sisto.

Subs not used: Hoegh, Olafsson, Thompson, Madsen, Fraulo, Simsir. Booked: Evander, Brumado, Sisto.

CELTIC (4-2-3-1): Bain; Ralston, Welsh, Murray, Taylor (Montgomery 106); Soro (Rogic 98), McGregor; Abada (Forrest 59), Turnbull (Ajeti 106), Christie; Edouard. 

Subs not used: Barkas, Bolingoli, Urhoghide, Shaw, Robertson, Doohan. Booked: Welsh, Soro, Edouard, Ajeti.

Man of the match: Callum McGregor.

Referee: Bartosz Frankowski (Pol).

 

Twice in this tie Celtic led. Twice they threw the lead away to one of the poorest teams they’ve lost to at this level; a bold claim in itself.

Callum McGregor’s 13th goal in Europe came three minutes into the second half and was a glorious strike.

A bad miss from substitute James Forrest should have finished the game. Just 35 seconds later, Midtjylland took advantage of slack defending from Taylor to equalise through the winger Awer Mabil. Their winner came three minutes into extra-time, by which point Celtic were a spent force.

Comfortable winners in the end, Midtjylland really were no great shakes. In truth, the likes of Ralston and Murray couldn’t be blamed. Word has it that major shareholder Dermot Desmond is pushing to sign former England keeper Joe Hart. Too little, too late, was the cry.

Celtic had countless chances to win this game and put the tie out of sight. The lack of firepower killed them.

Brighton are casting covetous eyes in Edouard’s direction. Half-hearted and lacklustre in so much of what he did, the problem was obvious. Even a halfcocked Edouard is the best they have. And in a dogged battle with Erik Sviatchenko, the former Celtic defender was a comfortable winner.

The tone of the Frenchman’s night was set when he missed a terrific chance after six minutes.

A rising David Turnbull 20-yard drive was tipped over the bar by Danish international keeper Jonas Lossl. The resulting corner saw Edouard peel off in a crowded area, volleying a fine opportunity over the bar from 12 yards. He should have scored.

Brighton target Odsonne Edouard was unable to find a spark as Celtic lacked ideas

Brighton target Odsonne Edouard was unable to find a spark as Celtic lacked ideas

Midtjylland manager Bo Henriksen celebrates after his side progressed to the next round

Midtjylland manager Bo Henriksen celebrates after his side progressed to the next round

If inspiration was coming, it had to stem from somewhere else. It came, in stunning fashion, from the captain. Celtic’s first corner of the second half was headed out to the edge of the area, dropping on to the chest of McGregor.

It needed an outstanding piece of technique to bring it down and, with Midtjylland closing down, volley the ball into the top corner of the net from 20 yards. The goal was no more than Celtic deserved. They had been the better team and should have been further ahead.

The inexperience in defence was never far from the surface. It came back to haunt them during a painful 60 seconds when Forrest missed a glorious chance to make it 2-0 – and the Danes took advantage by equalising.

The signs of fragility were there when Raphael Onyedika smashed a speculative ball across the face of goal and Bain allowed it to slither under his body.

The Danish team will now hope to progress to the group stage after the final qualifying round

The Danish team will now hope to progress to the group stage after the final qualifying round

Yet the game should have been done when Edouard’s pass inside was dummied by Turnbull, falling into the path of Forrest. With more time on the pitch he might have scored. At the second attempt, he managed to screw it inches wide of the post. 

How damaging that miss became when Midtjylland finally managed to pose a threat – and scored when Mabil ran off Taylor and guided a downward header into the bottom corner past a helpless Bain. Capped 17 times for Australia, Postecoglou knew all about the winger’s threat.

Both teams had chances to win it in the 90 minutes. A sweeping Celtic counter saw Forrest denied again by a fine Paulinho block. Midtjylland sub Victor Lind blew a wonderful chance to snatch it in the third minute of added time.

The momentum had switched in the direction of Midtjylland. They looked fresher and claimed the lead in the tie for the first time in the third minute of extra-time.

The Celtic defence switched off completely when Evander’s dinked ball over the top was slotted into the path of Onyedika by Henrik Dalsgaard and the 20-year-old Nigerian smashed the ball high into the net for 2-1.

For the Danes, a third qualifying round meeting with PSV Eindhoven now awaits. For Celtic, a path to the play-off round of the Europa League now hangs on a tie against the Czechs of Jablonec. On current evidence, you wouldn’t stake your last tenner on their chances.

source: dailymail.co.uk