CELTIC have been here before. In the last two seasons they have entered the second leg of the Champions League play-off with a chance of reaching the group stages after making encouraging starts to their bids. On both occasions, they have suffered defeat and disappointment.
After the agonising outcomes against both NK Maribor and Malmo, nobody will be taking anything for granted after this rousing 5-2- win over Hapoel Be’er Sheva at Parkhead last night.
Neither should they. The two away goals their rivals netted mean this tie is far from over. Plus, a treacherous trip to Israel awaits next week.
Yet, the three goal advantage which Brendan Rodgers’s side holds after a gutsy second half fightback should, even with their unimpressive recent track record in recent seasons, prove too much for opponents who were unconvincing defensively and startled by the atmosphere to overhaul.
Certainly, if the Scottish champions fail to go through and join Europe’s elite in the competition proper after this exhilarating and emphatic victory it will be the worst failure they have suffered at this stage by some distance.
Read more: Celtic vs Hapoel Be'er-Sheva - how they rated
Be’er Sheva had played defensively away in the second and third qualifying rounds against Sherrif Tiraspol and Olympiakos respectively and earned 0-0 draws which secured their progression. The visitors were always likely to adopt the same approach in this outing.
The imposing figure of John Ogu, all 6ft 4in of him, positioned just in front of the back five, it was clear they would take some breaking down. There was, though, no shortage of pace or invention in the opposition ranks. Leigh Griffiths started up front with Rogic just behind him and James Forrest and Scott Sinclair on either flank.
The selection of Rogic ahead of Moussa Dembele, who had netted the winning penalty in the final minute of the previous round, was something of a surprise. But the Australian more than justified his inclusion. He nipped at the heels of the Hapoel defenders all evening and looked capable of creating an opening or netting whenever the ball fell to him. He did superbly to open the scoring in the ninth minute.
Griffiths sent Sinclair clean through on goal with a curling through ball. The winger was brought down by the outcoming keeper David Goresh, who was later booked for his foul, but the ball broke to Rogic on the edge of the area. The midfielder showed great composure to keep his attempt down and net.
Erik Sviatchenko was, having been sidelined since the second round match against Lincoln Red Imps, not included in the line-up despite being available for selection. Kolo Toure and Eoghan O’Connell, who finished the second Astana game in the heart of the defence, started in the centre back positions.
Be’er Sheva did show their capabilities in flashes. But, aside from a Ben Bitton cross which flashed across the goalmouth and an Anthony Nwakaeme shot which Toure anticipated and blocked instantly, Celtic were untroubled defensively in the opening 45 minutes.
Toure has settled into his new surroundings quickly. The influence that he exerted on proceedings, not least on young O’Connell beside him, was remarkable given that he has only been in Glasgow for a matter of weeks and had played in fewer than two full games. His side’s second goal six minutes before half-time stemmed from his powerful run upfield.
The Ivorian brushed aside the challenges of three rival players before feeding Sinclair who sent Forrest clear outside him. Spotting Griffiths advancing into the box at a rate of knots he chipped it to the back post. The striker’s powerful downward header left Goresh with no chance.
Griffiths sent his side three clear with his second of the evening in injury-time at the end of the first half after being barged over by Nwakaeme within striking distance of goal. He took the free-kick himself and stroked a sublime left foot effort into the top right corner to the euphoria of the home support.
Game over. Champions League group stages here we come. Or so many of the Celtic fans inside their packed stadium will have believed. The match was turned on its head in three minutes in the second half when first Lucio Maranhao and then Maor Melikson for Barak Bakhar’s team. The utter disbelief among the home support at what they were witnessing was palpable.
Rodgers, however, acted quickly and decisively. He made three substitutions in the space of 10 minutes. He brought on Nir Bitton for Callum McGregor in central midfield on the hour mark, then Saidy Janko for Mikael Lustig at right back and finally Dembele for Rogic up front. That final replacement proved decisive.
The French forward threw himself bravely at a Griffiths corner in the Hapoel six yard box in the 73rd minute and nodded the ball in. Scott Brown, who once again impressed greatly with his energy and tenacity, volleyed home with five minutes remaining it restored a three goal advantage which will prove difficult for their adversaries to recover from.
It will, of course, be a different story in the Turner Stadium in Beersheba next Tuesday evening. Craig Gordon reacted well to deny a Maharan Radi shot that was heading to its intended target with the score at 4-2. But Rodgers’s charges will be confident of netting a priceless away goal themselves giving how successfully they cut open the Israeli’s at the back. They could, and probably should, have netted more than five and can travel abroad with confidence.
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