2012-08-29: Celtic 2-0 Helsingborgs, European Cup

Match Pictures | Matches: 2012 – 2013 | 2012-13 Pictures

Trivia

• Champions League 2012-13
• Champions league playoff second leg
• Aggregate: Celtic 4 Helsingborgs 0
• Celtic qualified for Champions League group stages for first time in 4 years.
• Celtic go into pot 4. Draw is next day.
• Wanyama becomes first Kenyan to score in Champions League.
• Tony Watt plays some sublime skill at points and is fast becoming a home favourite.
• Tonight Kelvin Wilson finally grew into his Celtic jersey
• Transfer window to shut in two days so possibly last minute transfers to come in.
• Neil Lennon first man to both manage and play for Celtic in Champions League group stages.
• Celtic amongst top 32 best in Europe; Rangers not even in top 32 in Scotland.

Review

Neil Lennon:
"…and the exposure it will get.We have the infrastructure to be a Champions League club & now the players have done the talking."
"There is no better arena than Celtic Park. The atmosphere was magnificent tonight. How can you not enjoy playing in that."

(Darth Vidar of KDS)
Just back in. That was tremendous. Up there with some of the best European nights we've had.

Putting the Swedish Champions to the sword was never going to be a easy task, but every member of the team stepped up tonight and we seen them off with the minimum of fuss.

They played the game at the perfect tempo, not sitting in too much nor piling forward either. Just enough to keep the matchunder control and sniffing out the odd dangerous burst here and there. Wilson was particularly good in these areas.

Sammy again was amazing when it mattered and it's very heartening to see him turn things around from a pretty low point.

But it was really all about the team tonight, not the individuals. It was the kind of game that made you feel like a big kid again, such was the celebrations at the end.

Thank you Neil Lennon and the Bhoys

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Stats

Celtic v Helsingborgs
Possession
44% v 56%
95mins

Shots
10 v 11

On target
7 v 5

Corners
4 v 7

Fouls
9 v 10

Articles

Celtic 2 – 0 Helsingborgs (agg 4-0): Georgios Samaras sparkles as Celtic seal coveted Champions League spot

The Scotsman

By STEPHEN HALLIDAY
Published on Wednesday 29 August 2012 22:07

JUST ten months after contemplating whether he was up to the job, Neil Lennon last night joined the select band of Celtic managers who have led the club into the group stage of the Champions League.

Scorers: Celtic – Hooper (30), Wanyama (88)

Bookings: Celtic – Matthews, Wilson; Helsingborgs – Accam, Djurdijc

Attendance: 55,000

Where there was self doubt for Lennon on that now barely credible day at Kilmarnock last October when his team trailed 3-0 at half-time and seemed destined to endure another domestic title failure, here there was only vindication as Celtic completed their passage into today’s riches-laden draw in Monte Carlo.

Goals from Gary Hooper and Victor Wanyama saw the Scottish champions match the 2-0 victory they had plundered from the first leg of this play-off round tie against Helsingborgs last week. If a suspicion of offside against Hooper for the opener added to the good fortune Lennon’s men had enjoyed in Sweden last week, there could be no dispute about the ultimately comprehensive nature of their aggregate triumph.

It was inspired by Georgios Samaras, a man whose talents are not always appreciated as fully by the Celtic supporters as they are by his manager. It is on such self-conviction that good managers flourish and Lennon was entitled to the broad grin he wore at full-time last night. Today, he awaits the outcome of a mouth-watering draw which will see Celtic in Europe’s elite tournament for the first time in four years.

Lennon’s faith in Samaras as a man for the big occasion would certainly have been strengthened by the influence the Greek striker had in Celtic emerging from an apprehensive opening half hour to grab the goal which would convince even the most pessimistic home supporter that a comeback from the Swedish champions was not about to

materialise.

Operating in his favoured wide left role, Samaras provided his team with a valuable outlet during the opening stages when Helsinborgs, as they were bound to do in the circumstances, tried to force their hosts onto the back foot.

Just as in the first leg, when he created Celtic’s first goal inside the opening two minutes, it quickly became clear that

Samaras was in the mood. His apparently languid but deceptively rapid stride allowed him to drag the Helsingborgs defence out of position, creating Celtic’s first opening for Scott Brown whose snapshot from 20 yards flew over.

Brown, along with Samaras and Kris Commons, passed morning fitness tests to take their place in Lennon’s starting line-up. But Thomas Rogne was deemed ready only for a place on the bench, meaning Kelvin Wilson partnered Charlie Mulgrew in central defence.

Wilson has been less than convincing since his arrival at Celtic and his presence would have added to the anxiety of some home fans. But the big Englishman earned merited acclaim for a brilliantly timed and executed penalty area challenge on Thomas Sorum which denied the Helsingborgs striker a clear scoring chance in the 13th minute.

When Alejandro Bedoya then dispossessed Emilio Izaguirre and burst forward to flash a shot wide, alarm bells were ringing for Lennon who made his displeasure clear in no uncertain terms as he gesticulated to his players from the edge of his technical area.

But another powerful run from Samaras eased the tension once more as he glided beyond both Adrian Gashi and Erik Wahlstedt down the left before driving in a low shot from the edge of the penalty area which Helsingborgs goalkeeper Par Hansson got down smartly to hold.

On the other flank, James Forrest saw little of the ball in the opening 20 minutes but the young winger suddenly announced himself with a couple of weaving runs which had the home fans on their feet. There were wildly optimistic claims for a penalty when Forrest went down under Joseph Baffo’s challenge in the 26th minute, rightly ignored by Spanish referee Carlos Carballo, but there was a growing sense of Celtic at last getting a grip on the match.

Hansson had to scramble to touch a curling cross-***-shot from Samaras over for a corner as the ball threatened to dip underneath his crossbar and it was almost inevitable that the Greek played a part in Celtic’s opener from the set piece.

Commons played the corner short from the right into Forrest who opted to drill the ball low and hard into the heart of the penalty area. The ball rebounded to Brown whose miscued shot from 20 yards fell to Samaras on the edge of the six-yard box. He coolly fed it on to provide Hooper with a simple tap-in. The assistant referee’s flag stayed down, fortuitously for Celtic as Hooper certainly looked to be offside, and the celebrations began.

Any conviction Helsingborgs had of turning the tie around was severely dented but they doggedly maintained their pursuit of an away goal to provide them with renewed hope.

Celtic fended them off fairly comfortably before half-time, although Adam Matthews was forced to collect the first booking of the night when he cynically halted a dangerous Christoffer Andersson run just outside the penalty area seconds before the interval.

Celtic finished the match in the ascendancy, Forrest striking a post with a fizzing 20 yard shot before Hansson produced a fine double save to deny Brown and Watt.

But the evening finished on a suitable high note for the home fans when Wanyama rose to head powerfully home from close range in the 88th minute after Commons and Hooper

had worked a smart short corner on the left.

Celtic: Forster, Matthews (Lustig 77), Wilson, Mulgrew, Izaguirre; Forrest, Brown, Wanyama, Samaras (Watt 70); Commons; Hooper (McCourt 90). Subs not used: Zaluska, Rogne, Murphy, F Twardzik.

Helsingborgs: Hansson, Wahlstedt (Lindstrom 75), Atta (Nordmark 81), Baffo, Uronen; Bedoya, Gashi, Mahlangu, C Andersson; Djurdjic, Sorum (Accam 62). Subs not used: D Andersson, Alvaro, Bouaouzan, Krafth.

CELTIC (4-3-3): Forster; Matthews (Lustig 76), K. Wilson, Mulgrew, Izaguirre; Forrest, Brown, Wanyama, Samaras (Watt 69); Commons, Hooper (McCourt 90)

Subs not used: Zaulska, Rogne, Murphy, F. Twardzik

HELSINGBORGS (4-4-2): Hansson; Wahlstedt (Lindstrom 75), Baffo, Atta (Nordmark 80), Uronen; Bedoya, Gashi, Mahlangu, C. Andersson; Sorum (Accam 62), Djurdjic

Subs not used: D. Andersson, Bouaouzan, Alveroc

Sporting Life

Last Updated: August 29 2012, 22:02 BST

Goals from Gary Hooper and Victor Wanyama saw Celtic ease past Helsingborg and into the group stage of the Champions League for the first time since the 2008/09 season.

Neil Lennon's men took a 2-0 lead into the second leg of their play-off against the Swedish side and Hooper's close-range strike on the half-hour mark, albeit from what looked like an offside position, effectively ended the contest.

Two minutes from time Wanyama headed in a Kris Commons cross to put gloss on a fine victory and confirm the Hoops' place in tomorrow's draw in Monaco.

Celtic will face tougher challenges ahead but the boost from the club's participation in European football's elite club competition, both in terms of finance and morale, and in lifting the profile of the game in Scotland, cannot be underestimated.

Lennon welcomed four key players back into his starting line-up.

Skipper Scott Brown, wide-man Georgios Samaras and midfielder Commons had missed the 4-2 win at Inverness in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League on Saturday through injury but were reinstated along with winger James Forrest, who was rested in the Highlands.

There was a late change to the Swedish champions' team sheet with 19-year-old defender Joseph Baffo replacing Loret Sadiku, who was not even on the bench.

The early stages were mostly uninspiring.

Helsingborg manager Age Hareide had claimed one goal for his side would envelop Celtic Park in nerves and when the visitors did approach the home side's penalty area there were audible signs of apprehension.

Celtic left-back Emilio Izaguirre was robbed by Alejandro Bedoya in the 15th minute, leaving the Parkhead defence exposed but the former Rangers player fluffed his shot from the edge of the box.

The anxious Hoops fans raised the decibel levels whenever their side ventured forward, notably in the 20th minute when Samaras, who had an inspirational first half, burst into the Helsingborg box after leaving Erik Wahlstedt and Ardian Gashi in his wake, only to send a tame shot into the arms of Par Hansson.

There was a vociferous claim for a Celtic penalty five minutes later when Baffo ended Forrest's mazy run with a challenge inside the Helsingborg box but while referee Carlos Carballo stood firm, the visitors were wilting.

Moments later Hansson had to stretch to ensure Samaras' cross did not creep under the bar but penalty-box poacher Hooper struck from the resultant corner.

Commons played a short pass to Forrest whose driven cross from the bye-line was cleared only to Brown outside the box.

When the Scotland midfielder's mis-hit shot arrived at Samaras, he casually helped the ball on to the former Scunthorpe striker, who knocked in from close range and allowed others to debate a possible offside.

Helsingborg's chances instantly evaporated along with the home fans' nerves and the Celtic supporters sang their favourites along to the half-time whistle.

Five minutes into the second half Hoops keeper Fraser Forster, who made several crucial saves in the first leg, had to dive to his left to push a curling 25-yard free-kick from Jere Uronen round the post, with the home side surviving the corner.

Helsingborg striker Nikola Djurdic then hit the side netting with an attempt following another corner moments later, before Forster was tested again from distance, this time by midfielder May Mahlangu but the former Newcastle keeper gathered at the second attempt.

David Accam replaced Thomas Sorum for the visitors just after the hour mark and picked up a booking moments later for a foul on Izaguirre.

Most of the sting, however, had left the game.

In the 70th minute Samaras enjoyed a deserved cheer and round of applause from the home supporters when he was replaced by Tony Watt, who had notched two at Inverness at the weekend.

It was testament to Celtic's control that this was a substitution made to give the youngster European experience, as opposed to asking him to rescue the game.

Watt had a chance 10 minutes from time when the ball bounced around the Helsingborg box but his header was too weak to worry Hansson.

Moments later Forrest crashed a left-footed drive from 20 yards off the post with Hooper this time flagged offside when the rebound landed at his feet.

As the game stretched further in the closing stages, Bedoya twice threatened the Hoops goal and Hansson made saves from Brown and Watt before Wanyama headed in Commons cross with two minutes remaining.

There was time for Forrest to blaze over the bar in a Celtic break but, by that time, Lennon and the Celtic fans were thinking ahead to tomorrow's draw and which three clubs will be visiting the east end of Glasgow in the next stage of the tournament.

BBC
By Alasdair Lamont BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

Celtic reached the Champions League group stage for the first time in four years following a comfortable victory over Helsingborgs.

Ahead 2-0 from the first leg in Sweden, Celtic increased their advantage when Gary Hooper poked home on 30 minutes.

James Forrest slammed a shot against the post late in the second half.

Visiting keeper Par Hansson made a good double save to deny Scott Brown and Tony Watt but could not keep out Victor Wanyama's powerful header.

Celtic can now look forward with relish to Thursday's draw and more Champions League nights to savour.

Celtic Park rocked to the sound of a boisterous crowd, revelling in their return to the biggest stage of all in club football.

Manager Neil Lennon had stressed to anyone who cared to listen since the full-time whistle in Sweden a week ago that getting there was far from a formality.

And Helsingborgs looked lively in the opening stages, enjoying plenty of attacking possession.

But a wayward Alejandro Bedoya shot was as close as they came to troubling goalkeeper Fraser Forster in the first 15 minutes.

Georgios Samaras almost put the tie to bed just after the 20-minute mark. The Greek forward brushed aside two defenders as he burst down the left, but his attempt to curl the ball in at the far post instead nestled comfortably in Hansson's grasp.

That seemed to spark Celtic into life and the crowd claimed vociferously for a penalty as Forrest's mazy run ended with the winger tumbling under Joseph Baffo's challenge, but play was allowed to continue.
Play media

Moments later a Samaras cross had to be turned over the bar by Hansson, and from the corner Celtic moved in front.

The ball fell to Brown on the edge of the box, his miscued shot landed at the feet of Samaras, who tapped it into the path of Hooper and his shot squirmed in off the post as the visitors claimed desperately and unsuccessfully for offside.

There were fully 51 minutes on the clock before Forster was forced to make a save, but it was a good one when it came.

Jere Uronen rifled a 30-yard free kick goalwards, but the keeper pushed it round his left-hand post for a corner.

Another fine chance fell Helsingborgs' way shortly afterwards, but Nikola Djurdic shot tamely into the side-netting before Forster required two attempts to gather a fierce drive from May Mahlangu.

The second half had begun much like the first, with Celtic seemingly content to allow the Swedes lots of possession, the difference being the visitors were now creating genuine chances.

They could, though, have found themselves down to 10 men after 62 minutes. David Accam, on the field for a matter of seconds as a substitute, crudely took Emilio Izaguirre out of the play but was shown leniency and just a yellow card by the Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo.

Forrest was denied a superb goal by the upright of Hansson – the winger's sweet strike rattling back into the path of Hooper, who was wrongly flagged for offside, though he only hit the other post in any event.

Another thrilling move started by Forrest ended with Brown and then substitute Watt being denied by good stops from Hansson.

But that only delayed the second goal momentarily, as Wanyama rose to head past the keeper from the corner that followed.

It rounded off another highly professional job by Lennon's side, who can now begin to contemplate what lies in store.

Live Text Commentary
22:10

Kris Commons sends in a cross, Joseph Baffo manages to make a clearance.
90:00 +3:15 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.
90:00 +2:40

Shot on goal by James Forrest from just inside the area goes over the target.
90:00 +2:12

Kris Commons is caught offside. Par Hansson restarts play with the free kick.
89:07 Substitution

Substitution (Celtic) makes a substitution, with Patrick McCourt coming on for Gary Hooper.
89:07

Corner taken right-footed by Christoffer Andersson from the left by-line, Kelvin Wilson manages to make a clearance. Effort from the edge of the penalty box by Jere Uronen goes wide of the right-hand upright.
87:45

Assist by Kris Commons.
87:45 Goal scored

Goal – Victor Wanyama – Celtic 2 – 0 Hel'borgs Victor Wanyama scores a headed goal from inside the box. Celtic 2 (4)-(0) 0 Helsingborgs IF.
87:05

Scott Brown takes a shot. Save by Par Hansson. Tony Watt takes a shot. Par Hansson makes a save. Short corner taken by Kris Commons.
86:25

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Scott Brown by Ardian Gashi. Free kick taken by Kelvin Wilson.
84:14

Daniel Nordmark has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.
84:14 Booking

Booking The referee books Nikola Djurdjic for dissent.
83:51 Booking

Booking Kelvin Wilson is booked.
83:43

Kelvin Wilson challenges May Mahlangu unfairly and gives away a free kick.
83:07

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tony Watt by Ardian Gashi. Direct free kick taken by James Forrest.
82:02

Shot by Alejandro Bedoya. Save by Fraser Forster.
81:37

The assistant referee signals for offside against Gary Hooper. Indirect free kick taken by Par Hansson.
81:10

Christoffer Andersson takes the inswinging corner, save by Fraser Forster.
80:57

Charlie Mulgrew gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nikola Djurdjic. Jere Uronen takes the direct free kick.
79:53

Free kick taken by Par Hansson.
79:53 Substitution

Substitution (Helsingborgs IF) makes a substitution, with Daniel Nordmark coming on for Walid Atta.
79:53

Effort from just outside the area by James Forrest strikes the post. Gary Hooper is flagged offside by the assistant referee.
79:09

Tony Watt takes a shot. Comfortable save by Par Hansson.
77:10

Alejandro Bedoya gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on James Forrest. James Forrest takes the direct free kick. Mattias Lindstrom gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kris Commons. Kris Commons takes the direct free kick.
75:35

Free kick taken by Kris Commons.
75:35 Substitution

Substitution Mikael Lustig on for Adam Matthews.
75:35

May Mahlangu challenges Tony Watt unfairly and gives away a free kick.
74:03 Substitution

Substitution Mattias Lindstrom joins the action as a substitute, replacing Erik Wahlstedt.
74:03

The ball is crossed by Tony Watt.
70:18

Christoffer Andersson takes a shot. Kelvin Wilson gets a block in. Christoffer Andersson takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, Victor Wanyama makes a clearance.
68:52 Substitution

Substitution Tony Watt comes on in place of Georgios Samaras.
67:05

Handball by Georgios Samaras. Loret Sadiku takes the direct free kick. Free kick awarded for a foul by Emilio Izaguirre on David Accam. Direct free kick taken by Loret Sadiku.
66:03

David Accam challenges Georgios Samaras unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kris Commons.
64:56

Ardian Gashi gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kris Commons. Kris Commons restarts play with the free kick.
62:01

Charlie Mulgrew takes the direct free kick.
62:01 Booking

Booking David Accam shown a yellow card.
61:57

Emilio Izaguirre fouled by David Accam, the ref awards a free kick.
60:54 Substitution

Substitution David Accam joins the action as a substitute, replacing Thomas Sorum.
58:20

The referee blows for offside against Thomas Sorum. Fraser Forster takes the free kick.
55:31

May Mahlangu takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Comfortable save by Fraser Forster.
55:03

Scott Brown challenges Thomas Sorum unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ardian Gashi.
53:14

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Christoffer Andersson from the left by-line, clearance made by Kelvin Wilson. Nikola Djurdjic has an effort at goal from close in which goes wide of the left-hand upright.
49:48

Foul by Emilio Izaguirre on Nikola Djurdjic, free kick awarded. Jere Uronen shoots direct from the free kick, Fraser Forster makes a brilliant save. Corner taken by Jere Uronen from the right by-line to the near post, Header by Nikola Djurdjic from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.
48:23

Georgios Samaras produces a cross.
46:14

Ardian Gashi concedes a free kick for a foul on Kris Commons. Charlie Mulgrew takes the free kick.
45:17

The referee blows for offside against Thomas Sorum. Indirect free kick taken by Fraser Forster.
45:01

The referee starts the second half.
45:00 +1:08 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.
44:26

Strike comes in from Christoffer Andersson from the free kick, Scott Brown makes a clearance.
44:26 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Adam Matthews for unsporting behaviour.
44:21

Adam Matthews gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Christoffer Andersson.
43:13

Jere Uronen takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, Scott Brown makes a clearance.
39:41

Georgios Samaras is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Par Hansson restarts play with the free kick.
38:28

Scott Brown fouled by Ardian Gashi, the ref awards a free kick. Charlie Mulgrew restarts play with the free kick.
36:27

Corner taken left-footed by Kris Commons. Victor Wanyama takes a shot. Loret Sadiku gets a block in.
34:21

The offside flag is raised against Kris Commons. Loret Sadiku takes the indirect free kick.
32:56

Free kick awarded for a foul by Victor Wanyama on May Mahlangu. Free kick crossed by Jere Uronen.
30:41

Corner taken left-footed by Kris Commons, clearance by Loret Sadiku.
29:07

The assist for the goal came from Georgios Samaras.
29:07 Goal scored

Goal – Gary Hooper – Celtic 1 – 0 Hel'borgs Gary Hooper scores a goal from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Celtic 1 (3)-(0) 0 Helsingborgs IF.
28:34

The ball is delivered by Georgios Samaras, save made by Par Hansson. Short corner worked by Kris Commons.
27:28

Emilio Izaguirre crosses the ball, Walid Atta makes a clearance.
24:54

Free kick awarded for a foul by Kelvin Wilson on Nikola Djurdjic. Jere Uronen takes the direct free kick.
23:50

Georgios Samaras challenges May Mahlangu unfairly and gives away a free kick. Par Hansson takes the direct free kick. Handball by Nikola Djurdjic. Fraser Forster takes the direct free kick.
67:05

Georgios Samaras is penalised for a handball. Joseph Baffo restarts play with the free kick. Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Accam by Emilio Izaguirre. Joseph Baffo takes the direct free kick.
36:27

Kris Commons takes a outswinging corner. Victor Wanyama takes a shot. Blocked by Joseph Baffo.
30:41

Kris Commons takes the outswinging corner, Joseph Baffo manages to make a clearance.
22:10

Kris Commons produces a cross, clearance made by Loret Sadiku.
20:10

Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Par Hansson makes a comfortable save.
14:59

Alejandro Bedoya has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.
11:45

Effort from outside the penalty box by Nikola Djurdjic goes wide left of the goal.
8:46

Christoffer Andersson takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance by Scott Brown.
8:15

Christoffer Andersson delivers the ball, Charlie Mulgrew makes a clearance.
2:55

Shot from just outside the area by Scott Brown goes over the bar.
0:00

The match begins.