Celtic end Champions League campaign with win over Feyenoord
Having very little to play for did not deter Celtic, who were looking to at least end their horrendous 12-game winless home run in the UCL, and Brendan Rodgers had his side playing fluid football from the off.
The fact that their last victory here came against Dutch opposition in Ajax would have given them confidence, and the masses of fans at Celtic Park were off their seats as Kyogo Furuhashi raced onto Matt O’Riley’s ball and saw his shot saved one-on-one by Justin Bijlow.
Celtic’s early pressure was short lived, however, and only the linesman’s offside flag prevented Santiago Giménez from opening the scoring.
The Mexican has been on scintillating form this season, and the home side had Joe Hart to thank for denying him not once but twice before the Scottish side snatched the lead themselves. The goal came out of virtually nowhere, as Ramiz Zerrouki’s jostling with Liam Scales was deemed too boisterous by Benoît Bastien, and Luis Palma blasted the resulting spot kick straight down the middle.
There was a predictable resurgence by the visitors following that goal, but Celtic made it to half-time ahead despite Lutsharel Geertruida striking the inside of the post.
Also with their fate secured prior to this game, Arne Slot was nevertheless keen for his side to respond after the break and retain momentum ahead of the UEFA Europa League playoffs. Still, they were fortunate not to go further behind when Bijlow brilliantly saved Palma’s shot at the near post.
A flurry of half chances then went the way of the away side, but they had to wait until the final ten minutes for an equaliser. Giménez’s pass across the box was fortunate to bounce all the way to an unmarked Yankuba Minteh, who powered in from close range.
Celtic had made a habit of surrendering results late on in the UCL this season, so it was perhaps fitting that they overturned that trend on the final matchday. O’Riley worked the space to cross in, where substitute Lagerbielke was at the far post to head in and give the home fans such a long-awaited UCL win.
Time soon ran out for Feyenoord, who remain winless on the road in the UCL since 2002, but they will still take part in the UEFA Europa League playoffs by virtue of their third-place finish in Group E.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Matt O’Riley (Celtic)
