Celtic 2-1 Feyenoord: Gustaf Lagerbielke delivers first Champions League home win in 10 years
- Published
Luis Palma dispatched a penalty to give Celtic a half-time lead
Gustaf Lagerbielke's injury-time header delivered Celtic's first Champions League home win in 10 years as they concluded their disappointing campaign with a spirited victory over Feyenoord.
The substitute nonchalantly nodded in Matt O'Riley's stunning cross at the back post to end Celtic's six-year wait for a win in the competition.
Luis Palma's first-half penalty after Liam Scales was wrestled by Ramiz Zerrouki in the area had Brendan Rodgers' side ahead, despite coming under intense pressure from the visitors.
Such pressure looked to be turned into a point when Yankuba Minteh's thunderous strike with less than 10 minutes to go drew the Dutch level.
But Feyenoord, who drop into the Europa League after Christmas, could not withstand a Celtic onslaught. The Scottish champions were already resigned to bottom spot in Group E but Lagerbielke's dramatic intervention sparked bedlam in the stands.
Reflecting on the campaign before tonight's match, Rodgers claimed his side have "showed in moments that we belong at this level".
There were more promising glimpses early on, with slick play banishing doubts Celtic were not up for this dead rubber. But Feyenoord sharply shifted into shape, producing their own top-drawer moments.
However, it was due to a moment of madness that Celtic led at half-time. Zerrouki had just been warned by referee Benoit Bastien for grappling Scales when he proceeded to do so anyway.
Palma dispatched an ice-cold penalty to inject rare celebrations inside Celtic Park on a Champions League night this season.
Fans were on their feet again, applauding a string of superb saves from Joe Hart. Denying star man Santiago Gimenez with his boot was the pick of the lot, with Callum McGregor blocking the rebound from Quinten Timber.
The relentlessness from the Rotterdam side did not dissipate after the interval. Celtic were forced to soak up their intensity and attack on the counter.
Palma may have been sitting in the dugout rueing his effort that clipped the post, rather than nestling in the bottom corner, as Minteh's strike sucked the soul out of the stands.
But Lagerbielke, who was a red-card villain on the opening day of the campaign against Feyenoord, left as the hero with his header finally ending Celtic's catastrophic run in the competition.
Player of the match - Liam Scales
Centre-back Scales won back possession eight times, and won as many duels. Celtic's backline was under the cosh for large periods, but the Republic of Ireland international stood tall and defended admirably
Records rubbished, but is it only papering over the cracks? - analysis
At long last, the monkey is off the back. The records that have been unwelcomed passengers on Celtic's Champions League journeys have been rubbished.
A first home win since Ajax were defeated in October 2013. A first competition win since beating Anderlecht in September 2017. That was Rodgers' first, and previously only, victory as Celtic manager in the top-tier competition. His tally overall is now up to three.
It was far from the best performance he has orchestrated, even in this campaign, but there was a steeliness about Celtic. They didn't flounder when Feyenoord were on top of them.
What appeared to be a makeshift defence stood strong, and Hart was impressive in goal.
But, ultimately, it is all too little, too late. The Glasgow side finish on four points, doubling last term's tally, but while the questions will perhaps not be so harsh and heavy tomorrow compared to what they could have been, they will still need to be asked.
Why can't Celtic carve out victories such as this when it counts? There will be a spring in many supporters' step as they exit Celtic Park, but is this result just papering over the cracks?
What they said
Celtic manger Brendan Rodgers: "The players showed they've learned through the process we've been in this year, because we've seen games over the years where the equaliser comes and then the other team gets the winner.
"I've got to tip the hat to the players because the mentality in the game was very good. Some people might have thought this was a nothing game but this meant everything to us. To get the victory, to feel the confidence to be able to compete at this level.
"I think they thoroughly deserved it, they put so much into the game and it's always nice to win late on."
Match stats
Celtic picked up their first win in 16 Champions League matches (D3 L12) since a 3-0 victory at Anderlecht in September 2017, and first in 13 at home (D3 L9) since beating Ajax 2-1 in October 2013.
Feyenoord have lost each of their last eight Champions League away games, while they conceded a 90th-minute winning goal home or away in the competition for only a second time, with the other coming against Newcastle in November 2002.
Celtic scored a 90th-minute winning goal in the Champions League for the fourth time, and first since October 2012 against Spartak Moscow.
Celtic's Brendan Rodgers enjoyed his third win in 24 Champions League games as a manager (D6 L15), after a 2-1 win over Ludogorets with Liverpool in September 2014 and 3-0 at Anderlecht with Celtic in September 2017.
Feyenoord attempted 19 shots in this match - their most on record (from 2003-04) in a Champions League game.
Feyenoord's Yankuba Minteh was the second Gambian to score in the Champions League - the first was Ebrima Colley for Young Boys earlier today.
Luis Palma was the sixth player to score a penalty in the Champions League for Celtic (excluding shootouts), after Henrik Larsson (2), Kenny Miller, Kris Commons, James Forrest, and Moussa Dembélé.
What's next?
Celtic return to Scottish Premiership action on Saturday when they host Hearts (15:00 GMT). Feyenoord will discover their Europa League opponents in Monday's draw.
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