Champions League - Celtic bumped out of Europe

Eurosport - Wed, 26 Nov 07:59:00 2008

Celtic crashed out of Europe after a heartbreaking late 2-1 defeat to AaB Aalborg at the Energi Nord Arena in Group E of the Champions League.

FOOTBALL Stephen McManus upset Celtic v Aalborg Champions League 2008 - 0

Gordon Strachan's side took a thoroughly deserved second half lead through Barry Robson, before a cruelly deflected Lucas Caca shot beat Artur Boruc and Gary Caldwell netted an own-goal to send the Scottish side out of the competition in the dying moments.

Celtic dominated a first half which should have yielded a healthy lead, with Georgios Samaras missing two glorious opportunities to reflect his side's possession in the scoreline.

The first period was otherwise distinctly devoid of quality, with Shunsuke Nakamura's wing play providing the only source of creativity or guile. Samaras failed to convert two Nakamura crosses from inside the Aalborg area, failing to make meaningful contact with either.

Indeed, the Greek striker looked laboured throughout and was sluggish in his all-round play leaving Strachan no choice but to replace him after the hour mark.

But it was the Japanese midfielder himself who squandered the best chance in the ninth minute, ballooning his shot over the bar when through on goal with just Karim Zaza to beat.

Robson demonstrated the conviction needed to score the opener in the 53rd minute with a header guided with such precision from the edge of the box, that Zaza was left rooted to the spot.

To their cost, Celtic sat back on their lead and Aalborg, whose only dangerous outlet was Caca, equalised in the 73rd minute when the midfielder was allowed to advance and unleash a shot which took a wicked deflection off Stephen McManus.

And the Bhoys experienced even worse luck in the 87th minute with the ball rebounding off Caldwell's thigh after Boruc had parried Andreas Johansson's speculative cross.

The Scottish side's European dream ended in disappointment once again with Strachan unable to believe his luck; the post-match inquest, however, will have to be focused on the numerous first-half chances which went awry.

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport

Comment 127 - 146 of 206

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  1. And no i still think its a shame they didnt get some more European football, but then again, they obv didnt deserve it.

    From Tom, on Wed 26 Nov 1:25PM

  2. Well said 131 + 134 pat_maclaine

    Good tae see a true Scot showin b@lls by g'in his name and location!
    I entirely agree yer comments aboot 'auld liverpool supporters'
    Time changes fella. Ppl change mate.
    We, Scots + Celtic suppos remain the same admired team which brought the 1st europčan cup tae 'the Isles' ;)
    BTW, have yi heard the p*pe forgives the beatles for tha past sins!
    HAHAHAA , well done p*pie! let's see if John Lennon forgives ya!
    HAHAHA, cant yi see:
    Not All the Celtic supporters are c@tholics.
    Tae all these insulting comments t/ C F C and Scotland + C F C playing in the EPL
    Please: DON'T LET ME DOWN! (Lennon-McCartney)
    Gers: How do you sleep? (Lennon)
    Tae that scouse: Ob La Di - Ob La Da life goes on..AH!
    Tae Englund: you'll never give me your money /(Lennon McCartney)
    Tae m utd : Dark Horse (G Harrison)
    Tae Villareal: WE all live in a yellow submarine!
    HAHAHA
    Again, well said Macca pat_ maclaine. A true educated Scot yi are!

    CELTIC!

    From willflet, on Wed 26 Nov 1:24PM

  3. Gerry Ah yes got ya! forgot about that. Thanks. And Gary if youre gonna make a point, please read what i wrote again. Who said anything about rivalry being a bad thing or something that aint going to happen? You can quote anything i wrote. I dig rivalry, its what makes the sport twice as entertaining for the fans. All i was saying was the religious division used in the rivalry between the Rangers and Celtic fans is spouted by undeducated, nob jockeys full of hate and piss, its totally irrelevent to the game itself, and the people spouting it should grow up and quit holding on to an irrelevent past.

    From Tom, on Wed 26 Nov 1:11PM

  4. Let's be honest - Celtic are s***e and scottish football is mickey mouse. Scottish football is going downhill and fast. I think there are maybe two or three players if that in the premiership. They are never going to win anything as clubs or as a nation. Simple as that. Try curling or something like that but I hear the Candians are the best now at that as well.

    From neil, on Wed 26 Nov 1:08PM

  5. Let's be honest - Celtic are @#$% and scottish football is mickey mouse. Scottish football is going downhill and fast. I think there are maybe two or three players if that in the premiership. They are never going to win anything as clubs or as a nation. Simple as that. Try curling or something like that but I hear the Candians are the best now at that as well.

    From neil, on Wed 26 Nov 1:08PM

  6. Let's be honest - Celtic are @#$% and scottish football is mickey mouse. Scottish football is going downhill and fast. I think there are maybe two or three players if that in the premiership. They are never going to win anything as clubs or as a nation. Simple as that. Try curling or something like that but I hear the Candians are the best now at that as well.

    From neil, on Wed 26 Nov 1:07PM

  7. Let's be honest - Celtic are @#$% and scottish football is mickey mouse. Scottish football is going downhill and fast. I think there are maybe two or three players if that in the premiership. They are never going to win anything as clubs or as a nation. Simple as that. Try curling or something like that but I hear the Candians are the best now at that as well.

    From neil, on Wed 26 Nov 1:07PM

  8. Let's be honest - Celtic are @#$% and scottish football is mickey mouse. Scottish football is going downhill and fast. I think there are maybe two or three players if that in the premiership. They are never going to win anything as clubs or as a nation. Simple as that. Try curling or something like that but I hear the Candians are the best now at that as well.

    From neil, on Wed 26 Nov 1:07PM

  9. Point 130: Celtic are out of Europe as head to head scores matter in the CL not goal difference.

    From Geester, on Wed 26 Nov 12:02PM

  10. 129 LOL! Nice one mate!

    From World Record 52 Champions, on Wed 26 Nov 11:44AM

  11. 130 The headline should have read "Septic bumped out of Europe by an @#$% called Caldwell" but if you bothered to read the previous comments,you would know that Septic are out of Europe altogether because of the head to head with the fishermen & farmers of Aalborg which roughly translates as getting what they deserve and being kicked out on their arse...Wonderful isn't it??

    From World Record 52 Champions, on Wed 26 Nov 11:03AM

  12. Steve J & Tommihew,you both talk one utter load of @#$%,of course when one half of the old firm suffer a humiliating defeat the other lot are gonna revel in their misery,its called rivalry and you're being very naive if you think it wouldn't happen if the ball was on the other foot.Stop whining & greeting & have another Danish bacon sarnie...mmmmmmmm

    Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha...GIRFUY!!! YOU'LL NEVER WIN AWAY...YOU'LL NEVER WIN AWAY...(Repeat)

    From World Record 52 Champions, on Wed 26 Nov 10:50AM

  13. Just a humble comment;
    I think that 'wee Strachan' era is over.
    Looking for changes.

    C F C - gu brath!

    From P M, on Wed 26 Nov 10:26AM

  14. Steven J *120

    'to call you animals would be degrading to animals you are nothing but...'
    Wise comment indeed.

    *121
    I'm a Celtic suppo and I support the Reds since I was a kid... Anfield - like Parkhead- has that...MAGIC!
    The Kop...Dalglish, Fowler, Rush &co...

    A pity indeed. True Kopites used to give me a great welcome every single time I visited your lovely city.... Aye, like 90% of the whole world I grew up listening to Beatles and as a humble musician I got a great tuition from the fab four too.

    Alan Williams, Pete Best, Gerry Marsden, Tony Jackson,... to name but a few... all good friends of mine.

    Why don't you 'Give peace a chance' man?

    Life is very short and there's no time...(Lennon-McCartney)

    Think on that man.

    Cheers from Scotland

    From P M, on Wed 26 Nov 10:22AM

  15. Wilsonbroxy (101) - 12 million would also buy us the entire Rangers team, and we'd still have £11,999,999.99 left! Maybe Celtic would've done better if we had Barry Ferguson, the world's greatest footballer, playing for us last night!!.. Then again, perhaps not!! LOL!!

    From Singin' Ginger!!, on Wed 26 Nov 9:57AM

  16. Billy "James&quot * 114

    Shake hands with you fellow.

    From P M, on Wed 26 Nov 9:48AM

  17. tommihew 125 & 126

    I entirely agree your wise comments.
    I'm a Celtic supporter and don't follow any religion in particular but the priceless 'Peace & understanding' between all sort of religions, etc etc.
    We are still living in a violent world... It's just a shame. And it's just a shame to see all this people posting poisoned comments... it seems they still enjoy feeding the flame of hate...
    It's just a shame... don't you think we had enough already?

    Peace.

    Pat Maclaine - Edinburgh.

    From P M, on Wed 26 Nov 9:31AM

  18. And this headline says Celtic bumped out of Europe...looking at the table, Man U will no doubt beat Aalborg, and Villareal at Celtic Park is not going to be an easy game for them so theoretically Celtic could still win the UEFA cup spot on goal diff no? That would mean they arent out of Europe yet...:)

    From Tom, on Wed 26 Nov 9:16AM

  19. What a result! that is now the beggers been PUMPED more time on location than Jenna Jamieson!:L

    From mark k, on Wed 26 Nov 9:05AM

  20. Question: how does the bigorty keep scottish football alive? And if you think Scotland is a nation of Politicians and rubbish collectors then you need to do some research and find out about "your" country...?

    From Tom, on Wed 26 Nov 9:03AM
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