Celtic’s top five Champions League qualification dramas
With success in the main event becoming less and less likely reaching the group stage proper has become the gauge of success for Celtic managers.
Martin O’Neill, Gordon Strachan and Neil Lennon have all enjoyed success in the early season nerve jangler with Brendan Rodgers looking to continue that trend this season.
Losing 1-0 to Lincoln Red Imps has thrown a spanner into the close season euphoria but if Rodgers leads Celtic into the draw for the group stage of the Champions League an off night in Gibraltar will largely be forgotten.
As far as Champions League qualifiers are concerned Celtic Park has staged two high tension matches- against Spartak Moscow and Shakhtar Karagandy.
However the first time is hard to beat with Celtic’s 1-0 defeat from Ajax in August 2001 sparking great celebrations and a massive signal of how the club had been transformed.
With all three domestic trophies sporting green and white ribbons Martin O’Neill’s side handed Ajax a lesson with a 3-1 win in the Amsterdam ArenA on a never to be forgotten evening.
After 20 years of neglect in Europe O’Neill’s side made a statement of intent and ushered in a new era in which the new look Celtic Park became a cathedral of the European game.
Juventus, AC Milan, Barcelona, Manchester United and others were soon to discover what European passion was all about- as they left Glasgow defeated but with memories to outstrip anything else faced in their careers.
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Arthur Boruc was the hero, Gary Caldwell called him the Holy Goalie,
and a million memories were created as Boruc saved in the penalty shoot out to take Celtic through.
Paul Hartley and Mark Brown were heroes in the first leg but despite a highly credible 1-1 draw in the Russian capital there was a lot of work still to be done in the tie.
Scott McDonald’s opener was cancelled out by Roman Pavlyuchenko just before half time with no further scoring as the match went into extra time. Derek Riordan was among the players to score from 12 yards out but it was Boruc that took the headlines with the all important shoot out success.
The pressure was well and truly on after Celtic lost 2-0 away to Shakhtar Karagandy,
just nine months after beating Barcelona and reaching the last 16 of the Champions League.
Just before half-time Kris Commons scored to put the tie in the balance with Georgios Samaras levelling the tie shortly after the re-start.
The third and decisive goal was looking elusive but as the match neared extra-time a mazy run from Anthony Stokes was met by James Forrest with his low drive sparking scenes of chaotic celebrations- and relief!
Karagandy had looked impressive and likely to cause trouble in extra-time- fortunately the goal from Forrest saved 30 minutes of anguish.
After a 2-0 win away to Hellsingborgs expectations were high
that Celtic were about to return to the big time after a four year gap.
Gary Hooper made sure of qualification with a first half strike before Victor Wanyama put the issue beyond doubt in the closing stages.
The hard work had been completed in the first leg but after a four year absence there was a real feeling of accomplishment as the club looked forward to the excitement of the Champions League having been denied for so long by the tax cheating practised and encouraged across the city.
With memories of Seville still fresh Celtic
strolled their way past MTK Budapest on a 5-0 aggregate in August 2003.
The tie was effectively over after a 4-0 win in the Hungarian capital thanks to goals from Henrik Larsson, Didier Agathe, Stan Petrov and Chris Sutton with Sutton scoring early in the return leg.
As Champions League qualifiers go this was as straightforward as they come with the tie done and dusted during the first leg where MTK could barely live with their guests.