Celtic's Champs Lge hopes hang in balance
CELTIC hold a one-goal advantage in their Champions League play-off with Malmo but a late away goal by the Swedish side kept their hopes alive.
The Scottish champions raced into a two-goal lead at Celtic Park with Leigh Griffiths and Nir Bitton on target inside the opening 10 minutes.
But Jo Inge Berget, on loan at Celtic last term, returned to haunt his former club by rifling home soon after the break.
And after Griffiths had seemingly put the Hoops in a commanding position, Berget struck again with the last kick of the first leg to haul the Swedes firmly back in contention.
It leaves Ronny Deila’s men, who crashed out at this stage last year to Maribor, needing to avoid defeat at the Swedbank Stadion next Tuesday (KO 7:45pm) if they are to return to the group stages of the competition for the first time since 2013.
Previous record: The Hoops have had mixed fortunes in the play-off stage of their Champions League qualification campaigns (Picture from BT Sport)
But the Swedish champions will now be more confident of reaching the last-32 for the second successive year after dealing a decisive late blow to Celtic’s chances of progressing.
It was a whirlwind start, nevertheless, for the Bhoys, who raced out of the traps with a blistering opening spell which exposed Malmo’s vulnerability.
Inspired by a fervent atmosphere, Griffiths took just three minutes to collect Stefan Johansen’s threaded pass in his stride and slot home on his first European start of the season.
The forward, who turns 25 tomorrow, immediately vindicated the decision to select him over Nadir Ciftci by netting for the third game running.
Before long, the frenetic tempo brought a second goal as Johansen again turned provider with a corner swung into the goalmouth which Bitton nodded in from close range for his second Champions League goal of the campaign.
Contribution: The Israeli midfielder also struck against Stjarnan in the second leg of the second qualifying round tie (Picture from BT Sport)
Celtic continued to harry their opponents into errors before charging forward and Johansen almost got on the scoresheet himself but was denied by the feet of keeper Johan Wiland.
Malmo, who were skippered by former Aberdeen defender Kari Arnason as Markus Rosenborg served a one-match ban, recovered from 2-0 down to overcome Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg in the previous round and managed to stem the flow of constant Celtic attacks.
Midway through the half, Craig Gordon was called upon for the first time to push Vladimir Rodic’s low effort from the edge of the box around the post.
It was something to encourage the 900 away supporters in Glasgow with Celtic often guilty of forcing the issue and leaving themselves open to be punished.
Carelessness almost proved their downfall with centre-backs Virgil van Dijk and Dedryck Boyata forced to produce some colossal defensive headers to nip Malmo attacks in the bud.
But Stuart Armstrong, who ended a 20-game goal drought with a double against Inverness on Saturday, almost put the hosts into an unassailable lead when firing wide from the left channel.
A spicy start to the second period saw Celtic crank up the pressure in harmony with fans increasing the decibel levels, so it was against the run of play when Malmo halved the deficit on 52 minutes.
Magnus Eikrem’s cross from the left evaded everyone in the box and dropped kindly for Berget, who took one touch to control before thundering a half volley past Gordon.
Only the second goal Celtic had conceded in Europe this term, it changed the complexion and breathed new life into Malmo.
But against the run of play, Griffiths pounced on hesitancy from Anton Tinnerholm to loop a header over experienced former Copenhagen stopper Wiland in off the post just after the hour mark.
Two-goal hero: The Scot put himself in contention for a starting spot in Sweden with another demonstration of his supreme scoring ability (Picture from BT Sport)
As the rain began to pour heavily, Celtic were bouncing with delight but their mood was dampened, first by a series of injury concerns and then the stoppage-time sucker-punch.
Armstrong left the field with a tight hamstring and a visibly upset Mikael Lustig was replaced by Efe Ambrose after being stretchered off before Bitton hobbled off with a knee problem following an innocuous incident off the ball.
The drama was not finished there and, at the death, Berget equalled the tally he managed in six months at Celtic on the night by hammering home following the hosts’ inability to clear a corner.
The Hoops players were visibly deflated as German referee Felix Brych called time on a pulsating encounter seconds after what could prove to be a crucial moment in the tie.
Deila believed Celtic’s attack-minded display deserved more but the tie remains in the balance heading into an explosive and potentially tense contest in Sweden next week.
Statistics: Celtic had more possession but Malmo had more efforts at goal (Picture from BT Sport/Uefa.com)
TEAMS:
One change: Griffiths replaced Ciftci from the team that overcame Qarabag in the third qualifying round (Picture from BT Sport)
Substitutes: Mackay-Steven (on for Armstrong 62'), Ciftci (on for Griffiths 74'), Ambrose (on for Lustig 80').
Not used: 26 Bailly (GK), 21 Mulgrew, 18 Rogic, 15 Commons.
Booked: Brown (75'), Ciftci (90+1'), Johansen (90+4')
Goals: Griffiths (3', 61'), Bitton (10')
Familiar faces: Former Cardiff midfielder Magnus Eikrem, ex-Aberdeen defender Kari Arnason and Celtic old boy Jo Inge Berget lined up for Malmo (Picture from BT Sport)
Substitutes: Carvalho (on for Eikrem 72'), Sana (on for Rakip 81').
Not used: 29 Andersson (GK), 2 Konate, 10 Molins, 11 Mehmeti, 26 Vindheim.
Booked: Tinnerholm (68'), Rakip (75'), Yotun (90+4')
Goals: Berget (52', 90+5')
MANAGER REACTION:
Disappointed: Deila believes Celtic's display deserved more than just a one-goal lead in the tie (Picture from BT Sport)
"You can be disappointed when you concede a goal in the last second. But it happens. We're one goal ahead and they have to beat us in Malmo. It could've been better but it's an OK result. We played well in the first half, we were all over them and we scored two great goals. I believe we can do it in Malmo. We can beat Malmo for sure, absolutely."
Barbed: The Norwegian's post-match comments stirred up a reaction from the Celtic camp after claiming they cannot last 90 minutes (Picture from BT Sport)
"It was a terrible start for us, conceding two goals in ten minutes. We'll have to look into that. But credit to the boys who managed to get back into the game. I think we let ourselves down at the beginning of the game. We got gradually better. At 2-1 we had control of the match because Celtic were getting tired, they don't have the legs for 90 minutes as we had seen against Inverness. But we made silly mistakes and we can't do that at this level. We worked very, very hard to go back to 3-2. Now we have a good chance, as at home we only need one goal."
Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) - 8/10 Attendance: 52,412
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:
