Celtic crash out of Europe

Van Wolfswinkel and co. send Lennon's men packing

Last updated: 26th August 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Celtic crash out of Europe

Van Wolfswinkel: Hat-trick hero

SKY SPORTS ON SKY
There's more live football on Sky Sports than ever before, including the Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Clydesdale Bank Premier League, England away Euro 2012 qualifiers and La Liga. With four live Sky Sports channels, as well as Sky Sports News, you'll never miss a moment on Sky. Click here for more.

Related links

Teams

Also see

A hat-trick from Ricky van Wolfswinkel helped Utrecht turn their Europa League tie with Celtic on its head.

The Hoops had led 2-0 heading into the second leg of their play-off encounter, but came unstuck on Dutch soil.

Three goals from Van Wolfswinkel and one from substitute Barry Maguire put Neil Lennon's men to the sword and ensured that it is Utrecht who will enter the group stages.

Cha Du-Ri recovered from the injury that kept him out of the weekend win over St Mirren to take his place in the Celtic side, while fellow casualty Glenn Loovens was named on the bench.

James Forrest made his first European start for the Hoops after retaining his place in the team following Sunday's 4-0 win, while Jos Hooiveld was also in the starting line-up after missing the first leg through suspension.

There had been heavy rainfall all day and the slick surface was causing a few problems for both sides early on, but Utrecht still managed to make an impressive start to the game.

Pressure

They had the chance to pile on the pressure when Dries Mertens stepped up for a free-kick just outside the box but goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska did well to punch to safety.

However, Celtic found themselves trailing with just 11 minutes gone when Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo ruled that Michael Silberbauer was fouled in the box by Hooiveld. Van Wolfswinkel ably converted from the spot despite Zalus getting a hand to the effort.

The Hoops' advantage from the first leg was wiped out completely seven minutes later when the referee pointed to the spot again, this time for Zaluska's challenge on Mertens. Again, Van Wolfswinkel stepped up for the penalty and this time slotted low into the corner.

Celtic appeared shell-shocked by their dreadful start to the game but had a chance to haul themselves back into the match when Efrain Juarez picked out Marc-Antoine Fortune. But his effort from just outside the box was poor and dipped well over the crossbar.

Utrecht still looked more likely to leave the net bulging again and were only denied a third goal by the woodwork when a volley from Mertens crashed off the crossbar five minutes before the break.

Lennon no doubt urged his players to regain their composure and set about claiming an early goal in the second half but Celtic were dealt a massive blow when Utrecht struck again a minute after the restart.

Surging

Nana Asare was allowed to embark upon a surging run before picking out Edouard Duplan and he played the ball into the path of Van Wolfswinkel, who rifled high into the top corner to complete his hat-trick.

With Utrecht now leading the tie, Celtic made their first change a few minutes later when skipper Scott Brown was withdrawn from the action and replaced by Shaun Maloney but hopes of resurrecting the tie were growing more futile.

The Celtic defence were having a torrid time against their rampant hosts and there appeared to be no way back for the Glasgow giants with 62 minutes gone when the ball broke for substitute Maguire and he lashed into the back of the net with a powerful strike from distance.

Van Wolfswinkel could have added to his tally when he found himself in plenty of space and had a go only to see his shot fizz narrowly past the upright.

At the other end, Paddy McCourt picked out Cha at the back post but his header fell harmlessly past the upright, with the largely unworked Michel Vorm untroubled by the effort.

Fortune then fared no better with a feeble shot with time rapidly running out, as Celtic saw their European adventure brought to an end by an impressive display from their Dutch opponents.

Click Here for Your Free Bet

Comments (20)

  • Page 1 of 1
  • 1

Mark Mckeating (Celtic fan) says...

i am disgusted about the result. They couldn''t even defend a two nil advantage. we just can''t blame lennon. it was the players, they just didn''t turn up. The only we can hope 4 now is that we win the league and the scottish cup. C''mon the hoops :)

Posted 14:06 27th August 2010

Jos Uijterwaal (Queen Of The South fan) says...

The lack of appreciation for FC Utrecht in these comments so far is striking. Last week in Scotland the Utrecht team was simply startled by the famous atmosphere. This week on their homeground Utrecht didn''t have to deal with that and felt free to play their game....and so they did. Even though they are not the best team from the Netherlands they do have a young and talented squad capable of challenging any other team in the Dutch competition and giving them a hard time. I wasn''t surprised with Celtic doing so poor to be honest. If you look at the players they simply lack the quality to make it to the top. Plenty of players in the current Celtic team have a history in the Netherlands but none of them were actually decisive players back then. Players like Samaras, Hooiveld, Majstorovic and the likes simply aren''t good enough.

Posted 13:59 27th August 2010

Stephen Mcgarry (Celtic fan) says...

I was behind Neil Lennon but now I''d sack him. An absolute disgrace and I agree with other comments about the players paying for the fans who made the trip to Utrecht. He hasnt won one game that really mattered. No experience and it''s not going to be a good year.As Walter Smith said and he is so right - "Rangers bought quality rather than quantity". A sly dig at Celtic by Walter but quite right.

Posted 12:47 27th August 2010

Paul Sinclair (Leeds United fan) says...

Sorry guys, but how much longer can all you 1,000''s and 1,000''s go on watching this garbage? I take my hat off to the loyal support you give but the team is just going backwards and has been doing for sometime now. The idea of champs league football appeals to the journeymen players out there but now that you cannot compete on the wages front, who wants to play for celtic???? The embarrasment that you all spoke of on the CL exit and the idea of going into the poor mans europa league was not good enough for the board and players alike, so what''s happened now that you are out of that too??? Of course english teams are in the same position, like aston villa, but of course they did not have a bite at the CL first, but for the leading team in scotland to perform so badly, it''s just a joke. Listen, I''m a leeds fan, so i know about embarrasment, but the board needs to think about if it wants to be a leading european team or just another ''make up the numbers'' of a poor domestic league.

Posted 12:25 27th August 2010

Brian Stewart (Rangers fan) says...

I read theses comment about Martin O¿Neill returning. He left without a thought of the club and to be honest taken Celtic as far as he could. Neil Lennon is way out of his depth and I feel another so called Celtic legend will be remembered for the wrong reasons. No one is to Blame apart from the Board and Players. I am a Rangers fan yet this is not good for the Scottish game at all. Hopefully Rangers can at least store some pride in our game although I have my doubts.

Posted 09:07 27th August 2010

Louis Davis (Liverpool fan) says...

A shame to see Scottish football in such dire straits. At least you could rely on the old firm derbies for a good game but now they are woeful spectacles filled with players who would just about play in the English championship. Without a much needed cash injection I fear that the game north of the border is set to fizzle out and die. Hope something will be done but coming down south ain''t the answer, it would only be Rangers and Celtic fans who would want it not any of the top two league clubs in England. The old firm have nothing to offer English football and would only be after the cash. YNWA

Posted 08:37 27th August 2010

Cameron Mckechnie says...

Lennon is now responsible for two of the worst results in the clubs history! The embarrasment of QOS beating us at Hampden and now losing 4 to a team who finished 7th in the Dutch league last season. What was most worrying wasn''t the poor defending but the fact it took until 80 minutes for us to have an attempt on goal. It''s easy to round on individuals (and lets face it no-one gets pass marks last night) and I hate doing it but Samaras, Brown and the keeper should never play for Celtic again. If Brown has anything about himself he must demand a transfer. Have you ever seen the club captain being taken off in the 50th minute of such an important game? Enough said!!!

Posted 08:30 27th August 2010

Bing Midden (Queen Of The South fan) says...

Scotlands shame; what an insult to all the poor supporters who pay a fortune to see these over paid half wits. Disgusting result. They should hand over this weeks wage to charity

Posted 06:19 27th August 2010

Jason B (Celtic fan) says...

Well I thought last year would be hard to beat but well done Celtic you have now fielded the WORST team in ur entire history. Hooiveld mentioned before that if he had been playing in the embarrasment in the champions league qualifier then he would have gone ape at the rest of the players, so after this performance I am guessing that we will not be seeing him in a celtic shirt again!!! Not one decent signing so far (and wont get any more anyway with no europe on the agenda - apart from next years summer holiday!!) Come on celtic sort it out!! Good people paying ard earned money to see their team and this is what you give them in return!! 3 years of embarrasing football is just too long!

Posted 03:27 27th August 2010

Kevin Ryan (Celtic fan) says...

What a disaster lennon could not turn a page not to mind a terrible first half, no players no manager its going to be along season

Posted 00:21 27th August 2010

Samuel Wilson (Rangers fan) says...

Theres me thinking Celtic would have cruised in this game! But yet again they were out played. Dont think this is the end of the lennon just yet... think hes heading for 3rd spot this season lol... but really whats happened Celtic in europe????

Posted 23:24 26th August 2010

Steven Drummond (Celtic fan) says...

Simply not good enough. I think it would be a good idea for the players to give a chunk of thier wages to refund the fans who wasted time and money to support the team. A total lack of drive throughout the entire team.

Posted 22:46 26th August 2010

Brian Moore (Celtic fan) says...

Ok I know you all think this is a panic button . I failed opening a new 5 star hotel as head chef . I got sacked and 400 pound. Thanks neil welcome to the real world. enter Martin Oneil not a savour but a long term plan. fellow celtic fans its time for hard ball. or more disaster...Brian Moore

Posted 22:42 26th August 2010

Bob Miller (Rangers fan) says...

I feel so sad about the state of Scottish football. Dundee United out, Motherwell out and now Celtic out. Last hope for Scottish football are Rangers, who have a tough draw in the Champions League. I''m afraid that European football will be over come Christmas.

Posted 22:36 26th August 2010

John Mcginn (Celtic fan) says...

Now I have seen it all, first we have "Young Boys Bern" now we have "Auld Men Glasgow"! absolutely Rubbish from the Top to the Bottom!!!!

Posted 22:18 26th August 2010

John Mcewan (Rangers fan) says...

Such a shame for scottish football thought celtic had enough to see this game out,maybe this result exposes lennons managerial expirience at this level,nevermind at least the gers are still in europe till christmas at least!

Posted 22:15 26th August 2010

M Doc (Celtic fan) says...

This was an accident waiting to happen..despite the purchases of kayal and juarez its the same non-winners and 2nd rate players that are in this celtic team. It has been proved tonight that neil lennon is out of his depth im afraid and for me the only answer is for dermot desmond and his cronies to on their knees beg martin oneill to revive this team of no hopers to try and win the league as right now rangers must be rubbing their hands at the prospect of facing this team.

Posted 22:08 26th August 2010

Nicky Mc (Celtic fan) says...

shocking from celtic all they had to do was sit back defend there hearts out and they coodnt do it lennon has done the same things that mowbray done to many changes and a think celtic will be like this for a very long time inless martin o''neill comes back and works with this team

Posted 22:03 26th August 2010

Jason Mcguigan (Celtic fan) says...

Absolutely shocking defeat full of hope for this new celtic team but yet again away in europe are shocking when will celtic ever learn that playing one up front does''nt get you anywhere. So embarrassed to be a fan yet again.

Posted 22:01 26th August 2010

Craig Welsh (Celtic fan) says...

what an absolute joke! i think its all to easy to blame neil lennon but how can a team that ran riot last week against the same opponents fail so badly away from home? again no european football for one of the biggest clubs in scotland, its little consolation that we can now concentrate on the domestic title, celtic should be at the highest level in european football but like time and time again when it comes to traveling away from home have failed to deliver badly! not winning the league this season now will surely leave neil lennon without a job and celtic in complete dissaray!!!

Posted 21:54 26th August 2010
  • Page 1 of 1
  • 1

Add Comment*

Send us your views

Are you a Sky Sports subscriber?

*All fields required, your email address will be kept private