Wednesday August 29, 2012 Play-off round Finished Celtic Park
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Champions League play-off was 'hell' for Lennon
Neil Lennon claimed he had "been to hell and back" before guiding Celtic past Helsingborgs and into the group stage of the Champions League. More
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Live Commentary
Time:90'- Celtic
- Helsingborgs IF
90+3' Another break, and again Forrest with a chance to score. He hits high, but the full time whistle blows and that is that. Celtic are back in the Champions League for the first time in four years.- 90+3' Awesome atmosphere here tonight and Celtic should really reward them with a final goal as they have a four on three. Commons is caught offside though, but no matter.
90+1' Celtic substitution: Paddy McCourt gets a run out for the last couple of minutes as Hooper comes off.- 90' Wanyama is straight back up the other end to slide in on Accam as he darts into the area. An absolutely brilliant tackle that.
89' Goal! Celtic 2-0 Helsingborgs - The corner is played short then whipped in at pace by Commons and Wanyama is there at the near post to nod in. All over. Celtic are in the Champions League proper!
88' A fantastic double save from Hansson as Celtic put together a lovely move...- 86' Nordmark sizes it up, but he's too close to get enough dip on the ball and it sails over the bar.
85' Accam goes to ground as he goes for the return ball on the edge of the area and it's Wilson who brings him down with a sly boot. Yellow card and a very dangerous freekick.- 84' Andersson with some vital defending to clear the ball from Hooper. Bedoya does fantastically to get to the byline and draw the keeper out. His cutback is so inviting, but there's no one there to stick it away.
- 83' Helsingborgs win the corner, but Forster claims and quickly throws out. The break is on until Hooper is caught offside.
- 82' Hooper follows it up, but can only hit the other post as the linesman flags for a dubious offside.
- 81' Forrest turns back onto his left foot from the edge of the area and unleashes a ferocious drive that hits the far post square on!
- 80' Again swung in from Commons and Watt has a free header that he should at least get on target. Another ball comes in and this time he does, but it's straight at Hansson.
- 79' Commons cleverly wins the freekick in another dangerous area as Atta is the latest player to pull up with a problem.
- 78' Commons floats a central freekick into the box, but it's easily cleared. Watt now has the ball down the right and pulls back for Brown, who can't quite bring it under control.
- 77' Celtic substitution: Matthews off, the Swedish Lustig on.
- 76' Helsingborgs substitution: Lindstrom is on for Wahlstedt. A last desperate throw of the dice here.
- 75' Hooper chases down a Wilson punt, but can't get there before it bounces out. Watt then does brilliantly to get the cross in from the left for Hooper, but the striker is inexplicably caught on his heels.
- 74' Izaguirre does brilliantly in a tight spot to get the move underway. It ends with a shot from Hooper that's well blocked.
- 73' Baffo stays forward and leaves a space fo Celtic to counter. Watt call for it, but there's too much on it and Helsinborgs can clear their lines.
- 72' Dangerous corner from Andersson, but it's well cleared at the near post, though the pressure remains on the Celtic defence.
- 71' Andersson with a weak cross come shot and Wilson clears out for a corner.
- 70' Exciting talent this kid and what a chance this is for him.
- 69' Celtic substitution: Samaras is replaced by 18 year old Tony Watt.
- 68' Bedoya caught offside, and Celtic will make that substitution....
- 67' Samaras win the foul, but goes down holding his back and indicates to the bench. Helsingborgs will be glad to see him go off...
- 66' Dangerous freekick here...Commons swings it in, Mulgrew heads back, but there's no hooped shirt to get on the end of it.
- 65' Wanyama loses the ball too casually, but wins it back excellently and releases Commons. He wins the freekick as he's caught with an arm.
- 63' Izaguirre is not in any hurry to get up here, but it looks like he'll be alright as he trudges back on from the sidelines.
- 62' Accam has been on for 10 seconds and he picks up a yellow card as he trips Izaguirre, who had darted past him.
- 61' Helsingborgs substitution: Sorum is replaced by teh youngster Accam.
- 60' Great play from Mahlangu as he breaks through the middle and spays wide to Bedoya. It breaks down though and Celtic have a chance to break, but can't make the most of it.
- 59' Sorum is caught offside, but Forrest was tracking him all the way anyway.
- 57' Commons loses the ball, but Forrest wins it back. He has a chance to run at the full back, but decides against it and elects to just keep possession.
- 56' Sadiku has a dig from 30 yards. It's struck firmly, but straight at Forster who can palm it down with ease.
- 55' Mulgrew now intercepts, but he gives the ball straight to Baffo. Good hassling from Celtic as the away side try and fail to penetrate the backline.
- 54' Djurdjic has a snap shot from a tight angle and it's into the side netting. Looked close for a second, but he really didn't have anything to work with.
- 53' Wilson nicks the ball of Djurdjic's toes and out for a throw. Helsingborgs work the corner though as all 11 Celtic men pour back into the area.
- 52' Baffo loses the ball deep in his own half to Samaras. They're getting poorer and poorer as the match wears on.
- 51' It wasn't too far for a shot and Uronen slaps one towards the near post. It's a decent effort, but well saved by Forster who palms it out for a corner.
- 50' Forrest loses out to Gashi and Brown fouls Djurdjic about 40 yards from goal. Too far for a shot surely...
- 49' Uronen loses the ball weakly. Samaras jinks down the right touchline and whips in a dangerous ball that is chested back to Hansson, though it looks for a second as if it might sneak in at the near post.
- 48' Wanyama does very well in a tight spot on the halfway line. Good feet for a big man as the cliche goes.
- 47' Helsingborgs have got not long to save this tie. Surely if they don't score in the next 15 minutes that'll be that.
46' The second half is underway with Helsingborgs kicking off. Straight out for a Celtic goal kick...- 45+2' It's half time at Celtic Park and they've now done three quarters of the job.
- 45+1' Very dangerous free kick...it's a woeful attempt by Andersson as he hits low and weekly to the man at the near post.
- 45' Andersson takes the ball beautifully, skinning Matthews who has to bring his man down at the expense of a yellow card.
- 44' Samaras has looked dangerous all night. At his best he's like a cut-price Ibrahimovic, and he's playing some of his better stuff here.
- 43' Wilson with an excellent double challenge and the ball eventually gets to Samaras. He turns his man inside the area, but takes too long releasing the ball and it's cut out.
- 42' Izaguirre hasn't had the best of games so far today as he tries to win a corner, but sees the ball bounce off his ankle last.
- 41' That would have been an absolutely lovely goal as Forrest plays a one-two with Samaras, but his first time shot is blocked.
- 40' Bedoya loses out to Wanyama and he plays neatly out of defence to sart a counter...
- 39' Celtic fans are doing the Poznan. How original. It does to be fair though seem pretty much over as a contest here.
- 38' Commons aims for the head of Wanyama, but there's not enough on the header and Helsingborgs clear it all the way to Forster.
- 37' Hooper wins a corner off Baffo as the ball is played long over the top...
- 35' Hooper was definitely offside as he tucked that ball away for the goal. There wasn't much in it, but he was ahead of the ball. It makes it an almost impossible task for the away side.
- 34' Uronen swings the ball in, but it's a real waste as it goes straight out for a goal kick.
- 33' Wanyama with a pretty wild looking challenge on Mahlangu. He gets plenty of ball, but even more of the man...
- 32' Commons plays one over the top for Hooper and the defender only just manages to get enough on it to scramble it back to the keeper.
- 31' Samaras tries to play Hooper in again, but it's smuggled out for a corner, which comes to nothing. The volume has just been turned up at Celtic Park though.
- 29' Goal! Celtic 1-0 Helsingborgs - It's a corner, played short. Forrest drives the ball into the box. It's half cleared, but driven back in. Samaras plays an excellent first time square ball to Hooper who has a simple putaway! Shades of offside though.
- 28' Samaras loops in a cross, but it turns into a decent shot as it very nearly arcs over the goalkeeper into the top corner.
- 27' It looks like one of those that can be given, but replays show a clear dive. Well done that ref, but why no yellow card?
- 26' Samaras does brilliantly to bring the ball down under pressure from two defenders. He works the ball to Forrest who darts across the box and claims a penalty as he trips.
- 25' Sorum is caught offside and Forster will punt it long. Samaras challenges but loses out to the defender. Baffo looks to have recovered now as he brings the ball out of defence.
- 24' Celtic have finally settled down now into a rhythm. Hooper plays in Forrest behind the left back, but he delivery isn't great and Samaras eventually fouls.
- 23' Poor delivery from Commons in a promising position. Izaguirre plays the ball to Wanyama who is under all sorts of pressure and it's out for a throw.
- 22' It's suddenly end to end as Mahlangu almost gets on the end of a threaded ball, but Forster races off his line to claim.
- 21' It's a fantastic counter though as Samaras beats two players on the halfway line and charges towards goal. It's a weak effort from the edge of the area though and Hansson gets down to save with ease.
- 20' Mulgrew stays alert with Djurdjic lurking behind him, but he can only clear for a throw level with the edge of the area.
- 18' Mulgrew clears the ball under pressure from Sorum out for a throw. Celtic just need to try and get their foot on the ball here as they're being dominated possession wise.
- 17' Bedoya can't quite get to the long ball and Andersson just fails to keep it in as it goes out for a goal kick.
- 16' Izaguirre loses out to Bedoya just 35 yards from goal, but Wilson is on the cover as the shot comes in and it goes comfortably wide.
- 15' Celtic have been beaten only five times in 40 games at home in the Champions League, but they're being matched here....
- 14' Forster hits his clearance straight out for a throw as the Swedes continue to apply the pressure.
- 13' A vital, but risky challenge from Wilson in the box as he gets both ball and man. Helsingborgs looking dangerous here though.
- 12' Djurdjic gets on to the knockdown from Sorum and smacks a half volley from 25 yards well wide. Should have done better.
- 11' The long throw up the line goes straight out for a corner and Helsingborgs have it back with Baffo.
- 10' Brown clears the corner well and Samaras races away on the break. Eventually the pass for Hooper is overhit and it's through to Hansson.
- 9' Djurdjic releases Andesson down the inside-left channel. His low centre is dangerous but well covered. He swings in another and this time cleared for a corner.
- 7' Helsingborgs carry on in the meantime...but Baffo does come back on. That would really be bad news for the Swedish side if he had to come off.
- 6' Hooper out muscles the young Baffo, but the attack comes to nothing. Baffo now goes down and it looks like his shoulders popped out!
- 5' Helsingborgs are holding a really high line, but applying no pressure to Celtic's backline when in possession - a dangerous game indeed.
- 4' A very good start from Celtic here. Samaras and Izaguirre combine and smuggle the ball to Brown, whose shot from the corner of the area is high and wide.
- 3' Mulgrew floats the ball long down the line and Hooper forces Mahlangu to overrun it out for a throw.
- 2' It's a frenetic first couple of minutes as Helsingborgs apply a lot of pressure. Gashi picks up the ball and passes long, but Commons slides in aggressively to win the ball.
1' So Celtic get us underway....and oh how so important the first goal is going to be. Either utter relaxation or unbelievable tension for the home side.- 19:40 So we’re almost ready to go...Celtic bid to reach the group stages of the Champions League for the first time since 2008-09 in what Lennon describes as his most important game since he’s been in management.
- 19:35 Age Hareide: "To be honest, I thought we had a fair chance to beat Celtic before we played them in Helsingborg. I was disappointed that we gave them the chances to score goals and we didn't score ourselves. But I seen all the stats in that game and we were better than Celtic at everything, in possession, we ran more than the Celtic players, and we actually played really well apart from the beginning and the end of the game. But the vital thing in football is to score goals."
- 19:30 Neil Lennon: "It is a possibility that Helsingborgs could score first and it’s something we have to factor into the preparations for the game. We have to be able to react to that in the right way if it happens. You can go out with the best-laid plans and then, like we did last week, the away team scores inside the first couple of minutes. But I’d rather be sitting here 2-0 up, than going into the second leg at 0-0, 1-1 or even 2-1 down."
- 19:25 So Thomas Rogne only makes the bench after being rated 50/50 for this match. However Commons and Brown have overcome knocks in what is a pretty strong side.
- 19:20 The teams are in – Celtic: Forster, Matthews, Wilson, Mulgrew, Izaguirre, Forrest, Brown, Wanyama, Samaras, Commons, Hooper Subs: Zaluska, McCourt, Lustig, Rogne, Murphy, Watt, F. Twardzik ///Helsingborgs: Hansson, Andersson, Wahlstedt, Atta, Sadiku, Uronen, Gashi, Bedoya, Mahlangu, Sorum, Durdic Subs: Alvaro Santos, Accam, Andersson, Nordmark, Baffo, Lindstrom, Bouaouzan.
- 19:15 Helsingborg made three changes from the first-leg clash at the weekend but went down 3-1 at Djurgarden. One encouraging sign for the Swedish side however was that new striker Nikola Djurdjic, who impressed on his debut against Celtic last week, scored his first goal for the club in the league game in Stockholm.
- 19:10 You feel they really need the Champions League in the absence of Rangers in the SPL this season. The league will be a parade so Europe is absolutely vital to their ambitions. It’s not only important for Celtic, but for Scottish football.
- 19:05 So Celtic hold a formidable advantage over their opponents going into this second leg after winning 2-0 out in Sweden. It would take something remarkable for Helsingborgs to turn this round.
- 19:00 Good evening and welcome to Eurosport UK’s live minute-by-minute coverage of the Champions League Play-Off Second Leg between Celtic and Helsingborgs from Celtic Park.
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Summary
- 89' Goal! Celtic 2-0 Helsingborgs - The corner is played short then whipped in at pace by Commons and Wanyama is there at the near post to nod in. All over. Celtic are in the Champions League proper!
- 88' A fantastic double save from Hansson as Celtic put together a lovely move...
- 84' Andersson with some vital defending to clear the ball from Hooper. Bedoya does fantastically to get to the byline and draw the keeper out. His cutback is so inviting, but there's no one there to stick it away.
- 81' Forrest turns back onto his left foot from the edge of the area and unleashes a ferocious drive that hits the far post square on!
- 51' It wasn't too far for a shot and Uronen slaps one towards the near post. It's a decent effort, but well saved by Forster who palms it out for a corner.
- 41' That would have been an absolutely lovely goal as Forrest plays a one-two with Samaras, but his first time shot is blocked.
- 29' Goal! Celtic 1-0 Helsingborgs - It's a corner, played short. Forrest drives the ball into the box. It's half cleared, but driven back in. Samaras plays an excellent first time square ball to Hooper who has a simple putaway! Shades of offside though.
- 28' Samaras loops in a cross, but it turns into a decent shot as it very nearly arcs over the goalkeeper into the top corner.
- 21' It's a fantastic counter though as Samaras beats two players on the halfway line and charges towards goal. It's a weak effort from the edge of the area though and Hansson gets down to save with ease.
- 19:20 The teams are in – Celtic: Forster, Matthews, Wilson, Mulgrew, Izaguirre, Forrest, Brown, Wanyama, Samaras, Commons, Hooper Subs: Zaluska, McCourt, Lustig, Rogne, Murphy, Watt, F. Twardzik ///Helsingborgs: Hansson, Andersson, Wahlstedt, Atta, Sadiku, Uronen, Gashi, Bedoya, Mahlangu, Sorum, Durdic Subs: Alvaro Santos, Accam, Andersson, Nordmark, Baffo, Lindstrom, Bouaouzan.
Team Line-up & Ratings
CelticManager: Neil Lennon
Helsingborgs IFManager: Åge Hareide
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Line-up
Live Team Line-Up
Starting line-up
- F. Forster
- A. Matthews
- K. Wilson
- C. Mulgrew
- E. Izaguirre
- V. Wanyama
- S. Brown
- K. Commons
- J. Forrest
- G. Samaras
- G. Hooper
Subs
- D. Murphy
- P. McCourt
90′ - M. Lustig 76′
- L. Zaluska
- T. Rogne
- F. Twardzik
- T. Watt 70′
Starting line-up
- P. Hansson
- E. Wahlstedt
- W. Atta
- J. Baffo
- J. Uronen
- M. Mahlangu
- A. Bedoya
- C. Andersson
- A. Gashi
- T. Sørum
- N. Djurdjic
Subs
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Rate Players
141 Matt, get your erse back ove here and let everyone know what these fascists are doing to the Palestinians in the west bank and gaze. FFS, you should know what oppression means. get a grip and keep hold of your beliefs.
144 Richard. anyone can look at a history book or use google. You, sir are nothing but a fraud and a fifth columnist and deserve nothing but my contempt. If I am wrong, and you truly are a Celtic fan, I (and I assume many others) would appreciate you ceasing in this practice and henceforth follow another club more akin to your beliefs, such as Sevco Scotland.
144 Richard, ouch! that hurt. no Celtic fan can realistically expect to win the champions league ever again. we had our moment, just as the huns had their moment in a minor tournament in 73, or whatever. One of the main reasons that i am, and will forever be, a fan of Celtic, is that we HAVE been the Champions of europe and no one will ever take that away from us. We are allowed to dream. dreaming of glory is what being a fan of celtic is all about, We are in a football back water that will never have access to the millions of Real, Barca, Chelski or ManUre, but no matter. We are CELTIC. We are not "Old Firm", we are not defined by the deeds of others, we are defined by what we do and achieve, irrespective of the resources we have at our disposal. We will always have the right to wear a single gold star on our strip because we earned it as champions. We do not need to wear 5 red stars due to a fictional claim to fame, recognised by no one, we are Celtic and we will always be THE CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE , 1967. THE BEST THE CONTINENT HAD, ALWAYS AND NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN. Richard, although I value realism, I also acknowledge that you have to get behind your team and promote as much positivity as possible. If you really and truly believe that Celtic will be also rans in their group, why bother your #$%$ following them? I would strongly question your assertion that you are not a hun. I welcome your retort.
I question the powers of deduction demonstrated by those who have assumed that " Richard and Son" are Huns. Why would a Father and Son Hun duet sit through a Celtic stick on victory and then switch over to a game between the Rosary Beads XI and the Papal Nunciati select? Such readers are less Sherlock Holmes and more Cooncil Homes. As a Celtic lifer who watched Tommy Gemmell's equaliser on his Granny's telly and thought the slow motion replay was another goal, I was actually forlornly attempting to calm down the euphoria surrounding a very ordinary display by a mediocre ( albeit gutsy and full of running) but mediocre notwithstanding, Celtic team. It is a delight to be back in the CL proper .....but not quite properly. San Siro 1970 and Atletico Madrid at Parkhead a few years later iced my soul against the victories of hope over realism. The group stages this year will warm a few Glasgow chilly Halloween evenings for sure...bit two things I will place my Cooncil house on.....I am not a Hun...and Celtic are still ill-equipped to make more than a " Best Fans" impression on this years tournament.
Pt 141 pamela dont be stupid your mob couldt lace their boots.
I hope you get barca messi will make you messi yer pants.
shalom, from israel , celtic once again helping europe cope with recession, bringing thousands of well behaved supporters to there countries, making new friends and bringing them into our family, sincerely, hail hail,
Fantastic effort from Bhoys....Every player gave a good account, and did the job to get the team through. Lennon might not always seem to get it right, but he is doing the job his way, and thankfully is learning and improving all the time as a manager. What happens next in Champs League, will require a lot of attention and effort from the team...not impossible task for them....anything great can happen...Look at Chelsea last season, the most rubbish team ever to have got to the final, and they won...so Celtic are far better a team than Chelsea.
Come on The Bhoys, lets take this another step. Let's give Scotland a team to be proud of. Well done.
BETTER WISH THE MISSUS A HAPPY ANNIVERSARY,, hail hail hen, xx, anyway, back to footie, history??, a lot of huns will be taking that on at school, cert pass , merit ***** 5 stars, hee haw,kid on made up , stars, #$%$ CHEATS!!,
SJ, from a tim, get back to the washin, stop lowering the TONE OF OUR magnificent result from the bhoys, bask in the glory, FORGET the past, THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT THE FUTURE IS GREEN AND WHITE,!,
Sarah-Jane, Think about it! Chelsea, juventus or Valencia.......a few nice away trips there. Where are you #$%$ bags heading next......Peterhead or Brechin? I know where I would rather be going. Get back to your evo stick. Well done Celtic. AFC.
Even as a non Celtic supporter showing class is to congradulate the team and wish them well in the Champions League.
So many thumbs down on all comments.... Seems the newco supporters had nothing else to do but watch their once rivals fly high once again. Don't worry, this could be you lot in years to come, if you are still around and get away with all the lies, corruption and theft your team done over the years.......
And Celtic pocket £15.5 million pounds just by getting to the group stages along with the £4 million profit on Ki not a bad week all in all.I have no doubt the finance depts at our big Glasgow rivals ,Partick Thistle and Queens Park will have taken note.
Thanks to the 'Gers fans who gave positive comments here. Yes Hooper was offside but that made up for the two stonewall penalties that we were denied over the two legs. Even if that goal was chalked off we would have won anyway. Samaras should have a lie down. He moved quicker and more often that I have seen him do in 3 seasons!!!! Let's have Malaga in the group. Please!!!!!! I just want to be at an away win in Europe for once!!!!!!!
Well done bhoys. From a Gers man, truly well done!
@123. i didnt know Glasgow was irish?, i thought it was scottish
Glasgows Green n White!
well done Celtic, this was a tricky tie, easy to think the job was done, so delighted or them.
