Celtic’s Europa League Hopes Diminish After Defeat in Denmark
Celtic’s resurgence under Martin O’Neill hit a significant setback as they suffered a 3-1 loss to FC Midtjylland in Jutland.
Early Blow to Celtic’s Aspirations
The Scottish club’s ambitions of advancing in their Europa League campaign took a severe hit when the Danish team scored three times within the first eight minutes of the match. Late in the game, 19-year-old substitute Callum Osmand earned a penalty that Reo Hatate successfully converted. However, Osmand’s night ended in distress as he was taken off the field in tears due to what seemed to be a hamstring injury, compounding the disappointment for the Celtic faithful.
O’Neill, who had recently returned to manage Celtic after Brendan Rodgers’ unexpected resignation, had witnessed Midtjylland’s capabilities first-hand when they bested Nottingham Forest just weeks ago.
Optimism Turns to Disappointment
The team arrived in Herning with high hopes. O’Neill, back at the helm after a two-decade gap, had led them to emphatic victories, including a 4-0 triumph over Falkirk and a stirring win against Rangers, securing a place in the Premier Sports Cup final.
But their positive momentum was abruptly halted as they faced a Midtjylland squad that remained unbeaten in the league, marking four consecutive wins.
Celtic’s initial foray into the match showed promise, with Johnny Kenny taking the first shot just 25 seconds in, but that would be their only effort on target for the next 80 minutes. They quickly found themselves on the defensive, with Callum McGregor being dispossessed, allowing Darío Osorio to nearly find the net.
Midtjylland Capitalizes on Opportunities
Celtic struggled to withstand pressure, with Auston Trusty making crucial blocks to deny Osorio, while Kevin Mbabu faced two saves from Kasper Schmeichel. Mads Bech Sorensen, a former Brentford player, narrowly missed with a free-kick. The Danish side continued to threaten as Philip Billing’s clever play drew a close-range save from Schmeichel, with Anthony Ralston unintentionally blocking the rebound with his face.
As the match progressed, Schmeichel, celebrating his 39th birthday, still managed to deny a 20-yard volley from Pedro Bravo, but his resistance couldn’t last indefinitely.
The Goals Come Thick and Fast
After a corner that followed a missed chance, Celtic’s defense was broken when Mikel Gogorza’s cross found Croatian defender Martin Erlic, who scored with a header. Just two minutes later, Midtjylland extended their lead after Arne Engels and Ralston failed to contain Gogorza, who netted a low shot past Schmeichel.
Before the end of the first half, the hosts made it three with a long throw from Sorensen, leading to Guinea-Bissau forward Djú curling in his 18th goal of the season. Schmeichel expressed frustration at what he perceived as interference from offside players, but a quick VAR review determined that everything was in order.
A Glimmer of Hope Blotted by Injury
O’Neill made changes at halftime, introducing Osmand, who quickly drew a foul resulting in a penalty for Celtic. Hatate’s successful conversion provided a brief respite, but the overall performance was a harsh reality check, made even more painful by Osmand’s late injury.
