UEFA Champions League - Celtic slump to defeat

Eurosport - Thu, 30 Jul 10:24:00 2009

Tony Mowbray's first competitive match in charge of Celtic ended in a 1-0 defeat by Dynamo Moscow in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie at Parkhead.

Dynamo Alexander Kokorin www.fcdynamo.ru - 0

The Russian side clearly reaped the benefit of the Champions League qualifiers coming midway through their season as they beat a rusty-looking Celtic team to take control of the tie.

The match was Celtic's first competitive outing while Dynamo have played 15 league games so far and the difference was evident throughout.

Dynamo looked more lively from the start and scored their goal after seven minutes when Alexander Kokorin reacted quickly to turn in a low cross from close range.

The visitors remained the livlier team and though Celtic striker Marc-Antoine Fortune had several good chances to level, the hosts looked disjointed and will need to find some quick improvement if they are to turn things round in the return leg on August 5 and earn a place in the group phase play-offs.

Olympiakos look to have avoided a repeat of last year's early exit when they secured a 2-0 lead from the away leg at Slovan Bratislava.

Last season Olympiakos lost 3-1 on aggregate to Cypriot outsiders Anorthosis Famagusta at the same stage and missed out on the Champions League group phase for the first time in 12 years.

In their first competitive outing of this season, Olympiakos settled their nerves when Avraam Papadopoulos put them ahead after two minutes and Brazilian Leonardo got the important second after 21 minutes.

This year's "toast of Cyprus" could be Apoel Nicosia after they beat visiting Partizan Belgrade 2-0 with second-half goals from former Partizan striker Nenad Mirosavljevic and Marcin Zewlakow.

Sporting, who reached the knockout stage last season only to be humiliated 12-1 on aggregate by Bayern Munich, were held to a goalless draw in Lisbon by 10-man Twente Enschede, managed by former England boss Steve McClaren.

The Dutch side had goalkeeper Sander Boscher sent after 24 minutes for bringing down Helder Postiga but Joao Moutinho missed the subsequent penalty and Sporting could not make their numerical advantage pay.

UEFA Cup holders Shakhtar Donetsk twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at home to FC Timisoara, with Fernandinho getting their second equaliser four minutes from time after Gheorghe Bucur got both for the visitors.

Two goals for Marcos and one for Zoran Pavlovic gave Maribor a 3-2 win at FC Zurich while Cesar Santin also got two, one a penalty, after Jesper Gronkjaer's opener in FC Copenhagen's 3-1 home win over Stabaek and Debrecen claimed a 1-0 success at Levadia Tallinn.

The second legs take place next Wednesday August 5.

Reuters

Comment 237 - 256 of 256

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  1. there are reported sightings of thugs in balaclavas­ trying to intimadate muscovites. It aint working. Just­ as it didn't work i the UK.

    From Paul, on Wed 5 Aug 2:17AM
  2. and now it's goodnight from Celtic..

    From Paul, on Wed 5 Aug 2:06AM
  3. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA CANT STOP­ LAUGHING UR OUT HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

    From css, on Tue 4 Aug 1:59PM
  4. Point 177. There are at least 11 typing errors in your­ post!

    From frederick s, on Fri 31 Jul 7:38PM
  5. 250... Under Mowbray??

    Promoted then relegated. What­ is your point?

    Celtic cannot be promoted and he­ didn't get Hibs relegated so what's this­ record????

    From GEORGE, on Fri 31 Jul 7:18PM
  6. Real Madrid - have you ever thought about getting­ help?
    You usually find that it all stems from an abused­ childhood.

    From roberts.william22, on Fri 31 Jul 1:40PM
  7. I HATE THE RANGERS FANS....SO STUPID AND­ HELPLESS.......WHO COULD LOVE THESE PLAYERS....THESE­ FANS...AND OF COURSE THE STUPID INTERNET COMMENTATORS­ LIKE THEM

    From Elie, on Fri 31 Jul 1:32PM
  8. George - what do you think happened to WBA?

    From roberts.william22, on Fri 31 Jul 1:30PM
  9. again, what record?

    Only record here is your posts­ which are like a broken record.

    From GEORGE, on Fri 31 Jul 1:08PM
  10. What a load of excuses.
    Lets face it Celtic were­­ rubbish last season and will be rubbish again this­­ season.
    Maybe Mowbray will keep his record going and­­ Celtic will be relegated?

    From roberts.william22, on Fri 31 Jul 12:57PM
  11. We didn't think we were world beaters Allan, but­ while you were playing wee didy 4th division German­ teams, we actually won a trophy with a reserve team.­ We'll compare the cabinets at the end of the­ season...

    From NokturnalKelt, on Thu 30 Jul 11:58PM
  12. ha ha ha ha, after winning sum friendly games thought­ yous were world beaters ... welcome back 2 the real­ world ha.

    From Allan, on Thu 30 Jul 11:47PM
  13. Aye ok so we got beat shocking result and now a­ mountain to climb next week,not imposable though.
    To­ the rangers fans having a banter,fair play.The vile­ comments and nuggets coming out with shy@t n the­ rest...get a life and be constructive.
    As NokturnalKelt­ said a short memory you all have and with the players­ at your disposal do you really think you will hump any­ side??When you "do" get beat over and over­ think back and will you show your face on here??To­ many...doubt it.

    From tommygunn...Scotlands Elite, on Thu 30 Jul 4:44PM
  14. celtic f'#cking sh#te

    From michael, on Thu 30 Jul 3:01PM
  15. n.haig123: I (and anyone else) can ONLY answer­ questions NOT points.....dipshyte! Comment on them yes­ but answering a point is impossible.
    One more thing.­ Can you not write a sentence that makes ANY sence at­ all? You type worse than a child. Enjoy the dole you­ illiterate fool.

    From crispyduck, on Thu 30 Jul 2:58PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    hahahahahah Fail Fail!.

    Champions League = Scottish­ Champions

    Europa Cup = Runners up, world record­ second-best fail failers.

    Mon the Dynamo :D

    From ali k, on Thu 30 Jul 1:28PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    PT 235 U DID NOT ANSWAR THE VALID PT SIDESWIPED IT­ FUNNY OLD THING THAT GO AND DIE YA PIECE A S..TE

    From n.haig123, on Thu 30 Jul 1:11PM
  18. PT 243 THEN U WOKE UP YA FEEKIN EEJIT

    From n.haig123, on Thu 30 Jul 1:10PM
  19. Champions league your havin a larf.........Champions­ league your havin a larf.........

    From Wayne, on Thu 30 Jul 11:58AM
  20. All these crowing orcs just noo eh... Wait to we see­ how you lot fair soon enough with no new signings and a­ bunch of reserve players brought in. You have short­ memories when you were gubbed by Kaunas this time last­ year... Dinamo Moscow are a quality side and their pace­ and strength showed last night. For a Celtic side that­ was playing it's first competitive game, they still­ had chances to get something from the game against a­ good team... We won't be calling for Mowbray to get­ sacked Jobby so you are spouting pish there... He did­ something that wee Chesney never done and changed the­ formation to get something from the game... So his­ ideas are sound... The team just lacked sharpness.

    From NokturnalKelt, on Thu 30 Jul 11:04AM
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