Europa League - Draw not enough for Celtic

Eurosport - Wed, 04 Nov 20:00:00 2009

Celtic's chances of qualifying for the next phase of the Europa League are even more precarious after a goalless draw at Hamburg.

Celtic's Robson challenges Hamburg SV's Jansen during their Europa League match in Hamburg - 0

Their hopes, which remain barely smouldering, would have been extinguished entirely on Bonfire Night had Tony Mowbray's side suffered defeat in Group C.

Still, after Hapoel Tel Aviv's victory against Rapid Vienna, the Hoops must at the very least win both of their final games to qualify and even then another victory for Hamburg would have Celtic pursuing in vain.

Their German hosts had the better of the first half, but Celtic arguably had the two best chances within it as Scott McDonald was twice denied by Frank Rost.

Those misses were to prove costly because the visitors were able to fashion precious few openings in the second period, with a Georgios Samaras shot straight at Rost the nearest they came.

Hamburg began the match like a house on fire - helped in no small part by the poor preventative measures of Celtic.

Marcus Berg was left all alone eight yards out and it was only the sharp reactions of Lukasz Zaluska that prevented the Hoops falling a goal behind inside two minutes.

Barry Robson then fired over for the visitors before McDonald wasted the first of two glorious opportunities to give his under-the-cosh side the lead, as the Australian shot straight at Rost following a breakaway.

Ze Roberto then fired a free-kick narrowly wide of Zaluska's left-hand post before the keeper was called upon to deny Marcell Jansen.

Despite the home side possessing more menace, the visitors passed up another wonderful opportunity to score against the run of play - and again it fell to McDonald. The striker was once more denied by Rost.

The second half began at a more leisurely pace than the first but nevertheless Hamburg came within the width of a crossbar of taking the lead four minutes after the interval when Joris Mathijsen's unorthodox header flicked off the top of the woodwork.

A poor ball from Landry N'Guemo was then seized upon by Eljero Elia who ran forward before getting a shot away that was spilled by Zaluska - the keeper grateful that Andreas Hinkel was on hand to clear the residual danger.

N'Guemo made a more positive contribution two minutes later, sending Samaras away but the Greek's shot was tame and straight at Rost.

As the match entered its dying embers, Hamburg appeared a team who had run out of ideas. As the shooting of Ze Roberto became increasingly wayward, a set-piece seemed the home side's best hope of a goal.

So it was a quarter of an hour from time when David Rozehnal rose high to meet a corner but, fortunately for the visitors, Zaluska was equal to the effort.

The draw, insufficient for Celtic, suited their increasingly conservative hosts better, and the final 10 minutes were controlled by Hamburg to agonising effect.

His team now looking certain to exit this Europa League campaign at the group stage, Mowbray is unlikely to remember remember this fifth of November with any fondness.

Chris Stanton / Eurosport

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  1. I agree with everyone on this blog, CELTIC should now­ join the FAROE ISLANDS where they will fit in­ comfortable,it will save a lot of embarassment to­ SCOTTISH football which is in a mess right now and has­ been for a number of years, I mean you have to feel for­ the older firms as they have no money and their­ supporters dont work anyway, doll scroungers.

    From Shwaiunshaba, on Sat 7 Nov 5:41AM

  2. hamburg supporters ( NO SURRENDER ) pure class !!

    From aztectrooper35, on Sat 7 Nov 12:00AM

  3. WOOHOO. Get Celtic and Rangers out of Europe, they are­ an embarrassement. Thinking they can join the EPL,­ with that 'quality' they would be playing in­ League 1. Supporters are a bunch of low life bigots­ anyway.

    From The M, on Fri 6 Nov 4:49PM

  4. when are Celtic fans going to realise MacDonald and­ McGeady are awful, some people just seem to think your­ brilliant if you pull on a Celtic jersey, your not,­ MacDonald has hardly scored a decent goal in all his­ time at Celtic Park, and as for McGeady, he just­ doesn't know where the goal is, head down and away­ he goes, wherever that is.

    From inverkenny, on Fri 6 Nov 2:29PM

  5. PILE OF SHIYT

    From LEEROY, on Fri 6 Nov 9:08AM

  6. that apart from tel aviv was a diabolical performance­ from celtic tonight the sooner we get rid of some of­ the sh... the better samaras must go what a waste of­ space a striker couldn,t score in a brothel i wont­ watch celtic again this season until the players decide­ to start playing instead of pandering about like­ fairies overpaid prima donnas at present

    From williamjohnkeenan, on Fri 6 Nov 8:06AM

  7. right am joe la toff got one heavy day tomorrow catch­ you all later....ciao for now......ps gerry you know­ who i mean i still think you're gerry mcnee in­ disguise and by the way i do my singing at celtic park­ hail hail the celts are here la de da da

    From the azzurri, on Fri 6 Nov 8:01AM

  8. Not a bad idea azzurri, I'm always up for something­ that will expand the horizons..

    From lysdexic, on Fri 6 Nov 7:51AM

  9. hey lysie maybe we could start up the good food guide­ on here lol

    From the azzurri, on Fri 6 Nov 7:43AM

  10. skippy's heart not at celtic the now maybe his time­ is up and move on but hey all you guys out there who­ slagged sammy you are going to eat your words big man­ coming on to a game now and if mogga finds the right­ partner for him mmmm watch this space

    From the azzurri, on Fri 6 Nov 7:42AM

  11. #44 exactly what I was thinking tonight mash!!! I think­ though that big Fortune will be a better foil for­ McDonald; that said, the wee man really has to start­ cashing in on some of the gifts he's getting­ presented with.

    From lysdexic, on Fri 6 Nov 7:40AM

  12. Don't get me started again tonight azzurri...heh­ heh... the thumbdowners and vegans'll be out in­ force again!!!

    From lysdexic, on Fri 6 Nov 7:36AM

  13. Have to say that Skippy was a waste of time­ tonight.........he only needed to lift the ball over­ the goalie for the 2nd chance and after that he gave­ the ball away at every opportunity...........how are­ Samaras and Skippy ever going to link up if they are­ playing in different halves of the park ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?­ ?

    From offmymash, on Fri 6 Nov 7:35AM

  14. lysie for a tenner a head what a nosh and the food is­ GOOD as well f.... could go a king prawn tandoori just­ now

    From the azzurri, on Fri 6 Nov 7:34AM

  15. Nice one on the restaurant azzurri, I'll deffo try­ it soon!

    From lysdexic, on Fri 6 Nov 7:30AM

  16. gary i've been following the hoops in europe for­ donkeys and it doesn't take much for police to get­ steamed in especially the spanish and where do the gers­ go next seville now these guys see it on the tv and­ they will be waiting that's for sure this game in­ sevilla could be the straw that broke the camels back­ if the gers fans start trouble and the spanish cops­ dont hold back

    From the azzurri, on Fri 6 Nov 7:27AM

  17. Rangers at this point in time are on a decidedly sticky­ wicket, I feel genuinely sorry for the club because­ despite all the efforts and no little money put in by­ SDM to encourage and cajole a section of the fans into­ abandoning their hive mentality, we still have the­ brigade who have no respect for the club or it's­ future ambition. I hope I'm wrong, but I have the­ feeling that this latest little sortie into anarchy is­ just about the last straw for UEFA. Too many excuses­ too often, I would guess.

    From lysdexic, on Fri 6 Nov 7:20AM

  18. azzurri, well i think (hope) it be a fine again, a see­ what your saying and you could be bang on with it, just­ depends what UEFA decide is best way to deal with it,­ things seem to be going from bad to worse, i was going­ to go to Romania to the game once draw was made, thank­ god i never.

    From Gary S, on Fri 6 Nov 7:15AM

  19. # 36 chic not as SAD as you !!!

    From the azzurri, on Fri 6 Nov 7:09AM

  20. lysie got the name of that resturaunt in hamilton­ MUSHTAQS top of almada st

    From the azzurri, on Fri 6 Nov 7:05AM
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