KR Reykjavik 0-1 Celtic: Deila gets winning start as Hoops edge first leg
- adamhigginsuk
- Jul 15, 2014
- 9 min read
Jubilant: Calum McGregor heads towards the travelling supporters with Mikael Lustig after scoring his first Celtic goal (Picture from Zimbio.com)
RONNY Deila's managerial reign got off to a winning start as Callum McGregor's debut goal gave Celtic a slender advantage in their Champions League tie with KR Reykjavik.
The Scottish Premiership champions were dominant throughout the second qualifying round first leg at the KR-Vollur Stadium.
Kris Commons struck the crossbar with a long-range volley early on before Leigh Griffiths and Teemu Pukki hit the woodwork after the break.
But the resistance of their Icelandic opponents was finally broken through a deflected strike from 21-year-old midfielder McGregor six minutes from time.
Celtic last failed to negotiate the first hurdle of qualifying in 2005 but will be confident of completing the job at Edinburgh's Murrayfield next Tuesday, with Parkhead currently out of action because of the Commonwealth Games.
Although Deila will be pleased with victory in his first competitive game since taking over from Neil Lennon, the Norwegian will know improvements are required if they are to reach the group stages for the third consecutive season.
? DID YOU KNOW ?
Celtic won for the first time in five European away games but have scored just twice during that run.
It was just a third win in their last 10 Champions League games for the Scottish champions, who are now unbeaten in 12 games in all competitions stretching back to last season.
Having returned to training three weeks ago, Celtic had prepared well for another early start to their campaign with a four-game pre-season tour of Austria - consisting of two wins and two draws.
After impressing in the warm-up games, Scotland Under-21 international McGregor was handed a first competitive start in midfield where Charlie Mulgrew took the captain's armband from Scott Brown, who was ruled out for three months after injuring his hamstring in their friendly against Rapid Vienna.
World Cup trio Fraser Forster, Efe Ambrose and Emilio Izaguirre were all involved while Mikael Lustig overcame a hip problem to retain his right-back berth but a groin injury prevented winger James Forrest from joining the squad.
Unfamiliar surroundings: The Celtic starting line-up pose for their team photo in front of a modest 1,600 attendance in West Reykjavik (Picture from Flickr.com)
Reykjavik had former Celtic youth player Kjartan Henry Finnbogason lining up in attack just behind English striker Gary Martin, who was released by Middlesbrough under Gordon Strachan four years ago but is KR's top scorer this season with six goals.
The part-time hosts - winners of the Icelandic Urvalseild for the 26th time last season - were 11 games into their domestic season, which runs between May and October, and had won five of their previous six games.
But their superior fitness had no bearing in the opening exchanges as Celtic adjusted well to the compact surroundings of the 2,600-seater stadium, which housed 1,600 fans in just one stand with around 250 making the trip from Glasgow.
They almost had an early breakthrough to celebrate inside nine minutes when Griffiths worked the ball inside with a clever chip over a defender's head and Commons, last season's top scorer with 32 goals, crashed a dipping 25-yard volley against the crossbar.
Scotland's player of the year then tried his luck with another distance strike which was turned around the post by goalkeeper Stefan Magnusson - who picked up the last of his 10 national caps for Iceland in 2008.
Celtic - who begin their title defence against St Johnstone on August 13 - remained on top as the first half wore on with the bulk of the possession as the Icelandic champions offered only a sporadic threat going forward.
Martin's 25-yard effort drew a comfortable save from Fraser Forster, who did not appear in England's disappointing World Cup campaign in Brazil, after he collected a poor defensive header from Izaguirre.
However, Runar Kristinsson's youthful side gradually grew in confidence as Celtic's early enthusiasm dissipated.
Anthony Stokes summed up their frustrating dip with a harmless volley high and wide after playing a neat one-two with Commons.
STATZONE:
Scottish clubs have now won 13 of their 14 European ties against Icelandic opponents with the only exception being Dunfermline's defeat to FH in 2004/05.
KR have lost both their previous European ties against Scottish sides - 14-1 on aggregate to Aberdeen in 1967/68 and 2-1 on aggregate to Kilmarnock in 1999/2000.
Celtic were facing Icelandic opponents for just the second time (beating Valur Reykjavik 9-0 on aggregate with 7-0 and 2-0 wins in the 1975 Uefa Cup Winners' Cup).
Mulgrew then clipped a delightful pass into the path of Lustig on the right hand side but his dangerous low cross was turned behind by Haukar Hauksson.
Deila had targeted "as many goals as possible" and the message was undoubtedly re-affirmed at the interval as the Hoops began to pepper the KR goal with potshots in the second period as the tempo and urgency lifted considerably.
Commons went close on two occasions with 20-yard efforts which cleared the crossbar before the former Derby player was denied from 10 yards by Magnusson after linking up well with Stokes.
With the hosts being worn down by the heavy pressure, it appeared only a matter of time before the Hoops would break the deadlock.
Stokes sent a curling free-kick over the crossbar before the KR woodwork was rattled for the second time on the hour mark.
Griffiths - occupying an unfamiliar right-sided role - cut in from the left and unleashed an explosive shot from the corner of the penalty area which thumped against the goal frame.
Tackle: Leigh Griffiths pokes the ball away from the advancing Haukar Hauksson (Picture from SNS Group)
The former Wolves and Hibernian striker then dragged another shot beyond the far post after gliding away from Jonas Saevarsson.
Derk Boerrigter and Teemu Pukki were introduced as Deila shuffled his attacking options with a double change on 74 minutes.
And Pukki ought to have given the Hoops the lead when capitalising on a loose ball after Magnusson kept out a Commons strike and blocked a follow-up from McGregor.
But the Finnish striker, who scored a hat-trick in last week's win over LASK Linz, hit the outside of the post from close range.
At the other end, former Falkirk and Queen's Park loanee Finnbogason headed inches wide of the post from a Hauksson cross in a rare foray forward.
? DID YOU KNOW ?
KR Reykjavik have failed to win any of their last eight Champions League qualifying ties with their last victory coming against Vllanznia Shkoder in 2001.
KR have failed to win any of their last four Champions League home games but have won five league games in a row on home soil.
Magnusson stood firm to tip over a Boerrigter shot and then got down low to deny Pukki from the resulting corner.
But as the visitors kept on pushing, the elusive - but ultimately deserved - opener finally arrived with six minutes to play.
McGregor - who netted 14 times for struggling Notts County in English League One last term - cut inside from the left before firing a low shot which took a slight deflection and found the bottom corner.
It came after a barrage of sustained pressure and ensured Deila's side hold a lead which they will hope to increase in next week's return leg.
Before that, the Hoops will take on German third-tier side Dynamo Dresden in a warm-up game on Saturday.
Taking the plaudits: McGregor accepts the congratulations of Emilio Izaguirre following the late goal on his first competitive start (Picture from SNS Group)
ANALYSIS Former Celtic striker John Hartson, BBC Radio Five Live
"I think the Celtic fans will give Ronny Deila a fair crack of the whip. They'll back him but at Celtic you have to win and he's got off to a winning start. Although 1-0 looks as if it was a difficult night, it really wasn't. I thought Celtic totally dominated and I didn't think Reykjavik had the quality throughout their side, so I would call it that Celtic will go through reasonably comfortably when they play at Murrayfield. In terms of upping their game, I think they will naturally, as that was their first competitive match last night and it's always difficult in your first game. Celtic will need to improve, but I think they will as the weeks go on and all the Celtic people out there will hope they can get Champions League football again this year."
KR REYKJAVIK FACTFILE:
Founded in 1899
Entered European competition for the first time in 1964
Winner of 26 top-flight titles and 18 domestic cups in Iceland
Yet to qualify for group stages of either Champions or Europa League competitions
The average crowd at KR's games is around 2,000, although it can rise to 3,500 for major fixtures.
The KR manager, Runar Kristinsson, is admired for his work at the club - he has won a trophy in every year since he took over in 2010 - while his assistant, Petur Petursson, won the Icelandic golden boot during his playing career.
Reykjavik have never got beyond the second round of Champions League qualifying, and lost 9-1 to HJK Helsinki at that stage in 2012/13.
Tuesday 15th July 2014 UEFA Champions League Second Quaifying Round 1st leg
KR-Vollur Stadium (Reykjavik, Iceland)
KR Reykjavik 0-1 Celtic KO 8pm Live on BBC Scotland/HD (HT 0-0)
McGregor 84
KR Reykjavik (4-4-2): 1 Magnusson - 7.5/10, 3 Hauksson - 7/10, 18 Josepsson - 6/10, 2 Sigurdarson - 6.5/10, 21 G Gunnarsson - 7/10, 10 Finnbogason - 6.5/10, 16 Saevarsson - 6/10, 4 Balbi - 6.5/10 (Zato Arouna 59 - 4.5/10), 15 Atlason - 7/10 (Ormarsson 88 - 1.5/10), 8 Sigurdsson (C) - 7/10, 7 Martin - 7/10 (Ragnarsson 81 - 2/10).
Subs not used: 12 Jensson (GK), 5 Jonsson, 6 Gunnarsson, 23 Sigurjonsson.
Booked: Atlason (66), Saevarsson (89)
Celtic: (4-3-3) 1 Forster - 8/10, 23 Lustig - 8/10, 4 Ambrose - 8.5/10, 5 van Dijk - 8.5/10, 3 Izaguirre - 7.5/10, 21 Mulgrew (C) - 8/10, 25 Johansen - 8.5/10, 28 Griffiths - 7.5/10 (Boerrigter 74 - 3.5/10), 15 Commons - 8/10, 42 McGregor - 9/10, 10 Stokes - 7/10 (Pukki 75 - 3/10).
Subs not used: 24 Zaluska (GK), 2 Matthews, 34 O'Connell, 33 Beram Kayal, 53 Henderson.
Booked: None
My Man of the Match: Calum McGregor (Celtic) - Rating 9/10
My Poorest Performer of the Match: Aron Bjarki Josepsson (KR Reykjavik) - Rating 6/10
Referee: Andreas Pappas (Greece) - 9/10 Assistant referees: Ilias Alexeas (Greece) and Alexandros Grevenis (Greece) Fourth Official: Antonis Giachos (Greece)
Attendance: 1,600
Match Facts:
Possession: KR Reykjavik - 25% Celtic - 75%
Shots: KR Reykjavik - 3 Celtic - 19
Shots on target: KR Reykjavik - 1 Celtic - 7
Shots off target: KR Reykjavik - 2 Celtic - 12
Corners: KR Reykjavik - 2 Celtic - 11
Fouls: KR Reykjavik - 12 Celtic - 9
Offside: KR Reykjavik - 2 Celtic - 3
Assists: KR Reykjavik - 0 (None) Celtic - 1 (Ambrose)
MANAGER & PLAYER REACTION:-
Celtic FC manager Ronny Deila
"I am happy that we won the game but most happy with the performance. I love to win, I am here to win but I need performances. I want to win in a certain way as well. Today was a step forward in the way we want to play and that is what I am most happy about. If we had won and played s*** then I would be more irritated than if it had been 0-0 today because I know that we are going to score goals in the next leg. We deserved it, we deserved more. I am getting energy out of this. I like what I saw in the second half."
Celtic midfielder Calum McGregor
"I'm absolutely delighted. Obviously that was my first competitive start as well and being in the Champions League - it makes it that wee bit extra special. First of all, we got the win we needed and to score the winner, I am absolutely delighted. I found out I was playing this afternoon so I had a couple of hours to think about it and get my mind right. The manager said to just go and express yourself, I'd done well in pre-season and just go and take it into the game tonight and be confident on the ball. Hopefully I've done that."
KR Reykjavik manager Runar Kristinsson
"We planned to defend, not that deep but we tried to hit them on the counter. We could have done a little better on our counters but the boys get tired as the time goes along. Especially in the last 10 or 15 minutes, they were quite tired which is why we conceded this goal with five minutes to go."
RELATED STORIES:
Last updated: 15 July 2014 23:22pm
Comentários