RC Celta de Vigo got here from behind to register their first victory of this season’s UEFA Europa League with a 2-1 away win over Celtic, a consequence which additionally secured Celta’s first-ever victory in Scotland.
The guests started the sport in constructive style and handed the ball round properly however struggled to create a clear-cut alternative as soon as contained in the field.
In response, the Bhoys managed the primary shot on the right track within the recreation after 20 minutes when Camilo Duran’s 12-yard header pressured a routine save from Ionut Radu.
This probability appeared to offer the hosts a lift and their attacking play all of a sudden had a bit extra chew to it, however this fizzled out after the half-hour mark.
What adopted was a disappointing spectacle for the final quarter of an hour of the primary half, wherein each groups cancelled one another out in a disjointed encounter.
Celta would have been inspired, although, that Ferran Jutgla was capable of check Sam Johnstone in objective simply earlier than the whistle was blown for the interval.
Martin O’Neill’s facet displayed an actual sense of urgency after half-time, they usually have been rapidly rewarded for this. The ball fell kindly in the direction of Mika Baur in a really promising place contained in the field, and his right-footed effort from 15 yards discovered the again of the online to offer Celtic the lead and safe his second Europa League objective of the season.
With momentum behind them, Benjamin Nygren got here near doubling the Bhoys’ lead 10 minutes later, however his shot from an acute angle was fantastically saved out by Radu at his close to submit.
The Bhoys continued to push laborious for a second objective, and that was virtually achieved when Liam Scales’ looping header from inside the realm bounced off the bar.
Os Celestes desperately wanted somebody to kickstart their European marketing campaign, and it was Javi Rodriguez who answered the decision.
Firstly, after 68 minutes, a wonderful supply into the field from Hugo Alvarez was met by the pinnacle of Rodriguez and his effort levelled the competition.
He wasn’t completed there although, as simply three minutes later, his excellent strike from simply over 20 yards discovered the underside nook to edge Celta in entrance for the primary time within the recreation and deflate the Celtic Park environment.
Rodriguez’s second objective actually knocked the stuffing out of the hosts, and the Scottish champions couldn’t get better in time to earn a last-gasp draw.
Celtic will probably be determined to revive their European marketing campaign in two weeks’ time after they host Besiktas, with the Bhoys at present languishing within the backside three of the league section with out a level to their identify.
Meanwhile, Celta Vigo will intention to file back-to-back Europa League victories to spice up their hopes of qualifying for the knockout section after they tackle Royale Union Saint-Gilloise at dwelling.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Javi Rodriguez (Celta Vigo)
