Celtic Advances to Europa League Play-offs After Defeating FC Utrecht
Celtic has secured a place in the Europa League play-off round against either Ferencvaros or Stuttgart, following a 4-2 victory over FC Utrecht in their final group stage match at Celtic Park.
Match Overview
The match started brightly for Celtic, with Benjamin Nygren scoring early, followed by an own goal from Nick Viergever and a penalty converted by Arne Engels. Although Utrecht pulled back with goals from Dani de Wit and Adrian Blake, Auston Trusty’s late goal ensured Celtic’s progression to the next stage.
Celtic entered the match knowing a win was necessary for advancement, and despite a few moments of concern, they executed their plan effectively.
Team Changes
Manager Martin O’Neill made two mandatory changes to the lineup after the 2-2 draw with Hearts at Tynecastle. Tomas Cvancara and Julián Araujo were both unavailable, leading to the inclusion of Sebastian Tounekti and Colby Donovan.
Key Moments
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Early Lead: Celtic went ahead in just six minutes. Donovan connected with Callum McGregor for a short corner, then received the ball back. He found Kieran Tierney, who delivered a cross that allowed Nygren to score easily.
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Own Goal: In the 10th minute, a mistake by Utrecht’s goalkeeper, Vasilis Barkas, set up Celtic’s second goal. Nygren intercepted a poor pass intended for Mike van der Hoorn, and his cross was deflected into the net by Viergever.
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Third Goal: After a dominant first half, Celtic was awarded a penalty following a handball by De Wit, which was confirmed by VAR. Engels took the responsibility and scored, extending Celtic’s advantage to 3-0.
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Utrecht’s Response: The first half concluded with a goal from Utrecht, as De Wit managed to score in the final moments, ending the first half 3-1. The visitors improved in the second half and managed to bring the score to 3-2 after Blake’s long-range effort found the net.
- Final Goal: Just when Utrecht seemed to have gained momentum, Trusty scored Celtic’s fourth goal, heading in from Engels’ corner.
Conclusion
Celtic’s performance, particularly in the first half, was crucial in securing their advancement to the play-offs. They await their match-up against either Ferencvaros or Stuttgart, with the two-legged tie scheduled for February 19 and 26.
