2014-10-23: Celtic 2-1 FC Astra, UEFA Cup

Match Pictures | Matches: 2014 – 2015 | 2014-15 Pictures

Trivia

• Europa League, Group Stages Match Round 3
• Celtic top of the group with seven points, Salzburg also on seven but Celtic ahead on away goals head to head.
• Win next game v Astra away in two weeks we're through! (Romania)
• We were handed a boost with the news Astra Giurgiu had sacked their manager a week or two so before.
• Izzy back after injury scare from last Saturday.
• Scepovic debut goal (although he scuffed enough chances in the game beforehand).
• Lukasz Zaluska attacked by another footballer while out in Glasgow on a night out. Initially accused players not allowed to be revealed. Zaluska sported a black eye on return to match practise.
• Two Dundee United players suspended with their conduct being reviewed.
• Pressure building on Celtic to apply the 'minimum living wage' for staff. Board against whilst usual lot are up in arms. Two sides to the argument in this one but little middle ground. In fairness the club is not abusive in the level of wages it pays to staff (the lower wages are to those doing part time but part jobs on the side), but also the proponents of the proposal have some moral point to their argument.

Review

(Silent Witness of KDS forum)
Pleased for Scepovic getting his first goal, and no easy chance either. It was painful watching him miss those earlier chances, but it's a good sign when a striker overcomes that and scores. He'll do ok for us. Offers us something different to Guidetti. If Commons had pace, then he'd be a good combination with him.

At this level in European football, average sides like ourselves and Astra have contrasting strengths and weaknesses. The top CL sides have no weaknesses, but that's why they're top sides. Astra were good in midfield, pressed us well and had a nice short passing game. They also showed good pace breaking down the wings. However, they can't finish and they have no confidence in their goalie. Can see why we bombarded them with crosses judging by the second goal.

Their close passing game was better than ours, but Celtic were physically stronger, and have more players capable of taking a chance (5 goals – 5 different scorers). It also helps that we had a far better goalie.

Not sure what the expectations were pre-match, but I keep mine low in Europe, so very pleased with a hard fought win. Astra are better than any side we'll face in Scotland. Johansen and Scepovic will only improve, but I'm worried about our lack of decent wingers. We need someone capable of hitting the byeline.

Teams

Attendance:

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

• Match Pictures

Stats

Celtic Astra Giurgiu
Possession
37% 63%
90mins
Shots
20 15
On target
3 4
Corners
9 2
Fouls
9 11

Articles

Celtic 2-1 Astra Giurgiu: Celts get Europa win
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/celtic-2-1-astra-giurgiu-celts-get-europa-win-1-3582371
by STEPHEN HALLIDAY AT CELTIC PARK

Updated on the 24 October 2014
THE Europa League continues to provide Ronny Deila with the most productive days of the embryonic period of his Celtic managerial tenure.

Scorers: Celtic – Scepovic (73), Johansen (79); Astra Giurgiu – Enache (81)

On a night when his team’s performance level was a long way short of the standards to which he aspires, Deila at least had the satisfaction of seeing his players prove themselves resilient enough to dig out a precious victory in spite of a desperate struggle to find any fluency.

Stefan Scepovic’s first goal for Celtic gilded an otherwise less than impressive display by the Serbian striker but crucially set them on their way to three points which keeps them unbeaten at the top of Group D.

If they can repeat this outcome against Astra when the sides face each other again in Romania in a fortnight, Celtic will be well placed to qualify for the knockout phase of the tournament.

On a murky night in Glasgow, a pre-match downpour had left the playing surface slick and amenable to the kind of high-tempo passing football Deila is seeking to deliver at Celtic.

But there was little of it in evidence during a ragged first half during which Astra were unwilling to live up to their billing as the group’s whipping boys.

It might have been far less fraught for Celtic had they claimed an early goal, something Charlie Mulgrew spurned a terrific chance to provide when he tamely sent a free header looping over from Anthony Stokes’ fifth minute corner.

It was as clear an opportunity as the home side would carve out in the opening period, their lack of cohesion soon allowing Astra to take a foothold of their own on the contest. A breakdown in communication between Jason Denayer and Mikael Lustig in the Celtic defence provided the visitors with their first sniff of goal but the Brazilian midfielder William was unable to take advantage.

It provided Astra with encouragement, however, and it was not long before Craig Gordon was once again being called upon to prove his worth on Europa League duty for Celtic.

Outstanding in the two previous Group D games against Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb, the goalkeeper made his first significant save of this encounter in unorthodox fashion when he kept out Seidu Yahaya’s long- range effort with his chest in the 21st minute.

Gordon reverted to more established means a minute later when he got down to block a shot from Astra captain Constantin Budescu, who had been set up by a sweeping move down the right involving Gabriel Enache and Takayuki Seto after Emilio Izaguirre had been caught in possession.

It was a deeply uncomfortable spell for Celtic, greeted with increasingly anxious groans from the home support, and Astra should have taken the lead when William played in Seto on the left, only for the Japanese midfielder to stab his shot narrowly wide of Gordon’s left-hand post.

Little had been seen in attack to this point of Scepovic, making just his third starting appearance for Celtic, although the £2.3 million striker was hardly being plied with decent service. His first-half chance in the 25th minute resulted in a scuffed shot being deflected wide as Celtic tried to get back on to the front foot.

A raiding run down the right by Lustig succeeded in stretching the Astra defence and their Greek full-back, Vassilis Pliatsikas, came perilously close to putting the ball through his own net as he cut out the cross.

But Celtic continued to appear vulnerable at the other end of the pitch, where Enache should have done better than slide a low shot wide of Gordon’s left-hand post after Mulgrew’s mistake had left the Astra wide man with a premium chance.

Deila’s men at least managed to end the first half giving an impression of being in the ascendancy, Scepovic heading over from a Lustig cross before Stokes saw a shot bravely blocked by Pilatsikas, but it was not enough to spare them from some disgruntled jeers as they left the field for the interval.

Scepovic did nothing to improve the mood of the home fans when he passed up a couple of close-range opportunities to open his Celtic account at the start of the second half. His first miss was perhaps excusable as he headed wide from close range at the back post, having probably anticipated Izaguirre’s cross would be met first by the more central Stefan Johansen.

But there were no mitigating circumstances for his next attempt, a proverbial sitter as he contrived to screw a free header wide from six yards after being picked out by Lustig’s perfect cross from the right.

Deila introduced Aleksandar Tonev in place of the unusually subdued Callum McGregor as he sought fresh energy and invention from his team. The Bulgarian winger was quickly involved, flashing a shot just wide of Astra goalkeeper Silvio Lung’s right-hand post.

While Celtic were now dominating territory and possession, Astra remained threatening on the counter-attack. Cristian Oros might have done better than head over from a Budescu cross, then Enache forced Gordon into action again with a close range effort which the big ’keeper dealt with smartly.

It proved a crucial intervention as Celtic finally made the breakthrough in the 73rd minute. It was sweet salvation for Scepovic, who showed hitherto unseen conviction and finishing prowess as he leapt to power home a fine header from Stokes’ free kick after substitute Mubarak Wakaso had teased a foul from Oros.

Five minutes later, it looked as if the points were secure for Celtic when they doubled their lead. Lung could only weakly parry a low cross-***-shot by Tonev, leaving Johansen to pounce on the loose ball and drive it into the roof of the net.

But there was to be a nervy finale for the home side after Astra made it 2-1 with nine minutes remaining. It was poor defending by Celtic as William’s cross from the left was flicked home at the near post by the unmarked Enache.

Sweet relief as Stefan Scepovic breaks Celtic duck
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/sweet-relief-as-stefan-scepovic-breaks-celtic-duck-1-3582423
by STEPHEN HALLIDAY AT CELTIC PARK

Published on the 24 October
2014

RONNY Deila has predicted striker Stefan Scepovic will go from strength to strength at Celtic after finally scoring his first goal for the club in their 2-1 Europa League victory over Astra Giurgiu last night.

The Serbian international, signed from Sporting Gijon for £2.3 million, got off the mark in his seventh appearance for the Scottish champions as they stayed unbeaten at the top of Group D after three rounds of fixtures.

Scepovic had missed several chances before he put Celtic ahead but manager Deila insisted he was always confident the 23-year-old would come good.

“That’s why I kept him on the pitch,” said Deila. “I know what a goalscorer he is. He really wants to perform for this club.

“He was very tense before the game. It is a big relief for him and it’s not the last goal we will see from him.

“He will get more confident now. I see him in training, how good he is on the ball and how he scores goals. I’m very happy for him.

“He had two big chances before he scored. But I know what he has. He is smelling chances all the time and he got a good goal eventually.”

On a fraught evening for Deila’s side, they were again grateful to goalkeeper Craig Gordon for providing the platform to achieve another positive Europa League result.

• Celtic 2-1 Astra Giurgiu: Celts get Europa win

Outstanding in both the 2-2 draw away to Salzburg on matchday one and then the 1-0 win at home to Dinamo Zagreb, Gordon made some important saves again last night while the scoreline was still goalless.

Celtic made the breakthrough in the 73rd minute through Scepovic’s first goal for the club and doubled it five minutes later when Stefan Johansen pounced on an error by Astra ‘keeper Silvio Lung.

Gabriel Enache pulled one back for Astra in the 81st minute but Celtic held on for the victory which leaves them in a positive position halfway through the Group D programme, level on points at the top with Salzburg who were 4-2 winners at home to Zagreb last night, with Brazilian striker Alan grabbing a hat-trick.

“When we went 2-0 ahead, I hoped the game was over,” added Deila. “But Astra came back again which was disappointing.

“We had more chances than them in second half but we could have been behind in the first half with some stupid mistakes we made.

“We gave Astra chances with some bad passing. We were too slow, had too many touches on ball and too little movement in front of the ball. Not enough players were in the box for crosses. That was better in the second half.

“We want to get better, we want to be quicker that we were tonight.

“But if we didn’t have the possession we had, it would have been worse. We had eight chances which is not so bad.

“If we can win our next game against Astra in Romania [on 6 November], it could be enough to see us through. It will be if Salzburg also beat Zagreb again in their next match. But I never take anything for granted. We still have two away games left in the group and we need to be at our best if we are going to go through.”

Astra coach Oleg Protasov was entitled to feel frustrated his team left Celtic Park with nothing to show for their efforts but remained philosophical.

“I don’t think Celtic were lucky, although we had more good chances to score,” he said. “Maybe a draw would have been the right result.

“I haven’t been with my team long, I’m just trying to organise things. I think my players did their jobs well and could possibly have got a better result.

“We have some very good midfielders to create chances. If I had some better strikers, we would have done better tonight.

“There is no pressure on us in the home game against Celtic now and we will try to win it.

BBC
By Alasdair Lamont BBC Scotland

Celtic laboured to victory against an Astra side who will feel they might have left Glasgow with at least a point.

The Romanians created more chances than the hosts but failed to break through.

They were made to suffer when Celtic finally found the net as Stefan Scepovic headed his first goal for the club before Stefan Johansen lashed high into the net.

Gabriel Enache quickly reduced the deficit but Celtic held out.

The Scottish champions have picked up seven points from three Europa League Group D games and sit top of the pile, with a trip to Romania up next for Ronny Deila's side in two weeks.
Stefan Scepovic rises to nod his first goal for Celtic and give his side a crucial lead against Astra Giurgiu

Stefan Scepovic rises to nod his first goal for Celtic and give his side a crucial lead against Astra Giurgiu

The manager will be keen to accentuate that positive aspect but the supporters will attest to the fact they once again witnessed a below-par Celtic performance.

Just as they had at times looked second-best here in the win over Dinamo Zagreb, they allowed Astra to dictate too often and but for good goalkeeping again by Craig Gordon and some wayward finishing, they would have been behind.

These were opponents with only one win in their last eight games, a run of form that had brought about a change of manager in the past fortnight.

That sequence includes a 5-1 thumping by Dinamo Zagreb in their opening fixture in Group D, followed by a 2-1 home loss to Salzburg.

They had, though, beaten Olympique Lyon on away goals in the qualifiers and after a turgid opening 20 minutes, during which Celtic dominated possession but failed to threaten the visitors' goal, Astra began to look more like that calibre of team.

Indeed, they had four clear-cut opportunities within 10 minutes as Gordon saved well from a powerful drive by Siedu Yahaya and a close-range Constantin Budescu effort, while Takayuki Seto and Enache both shot narrowly wide.

Celtic created little in the first half but Scepovic missed two glaring openings after the break before Astra again caused a handful of scares around Gordon's goal.
Norwegian midfielder Stefan Johansen buries the second goal for Celtic after a goalkeeper error

Norwegian midfielder Stefan Johansen buries the second goal for Celtic after a goalkeeper error

But Serbian striker Scepovic, looking increasingly forlorn, eased the tension as he rose to head an Anthony Stokes free-kick into the net.

And within moments, Johansen gave the home fans further cause to celebrate and relax as he capitalised on a fumble by the Astra keeper to hammer home.

It seemed Celtic were desperate to make life difficult for themselves though and so it was as Enache nipped in at the near post to clip the ball over the hitherto unbeatable Gordon.

But there were to be no late moments of anxiety for those in green and white, who will nonetheless know they will not often get away with such a display.

Live Text Commentary
Full time

Full Time Match ends, Celtic 2, Astra Giurgiu 1.
90:00 +3:08 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Celtic 2, Astra Giurgiu 1.
90:00 +2:07

Attempt missed. Stefan Scepovic (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
90:00 +0:06

Attempt blocked. Stefan Scepovic (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
88:43

Beram Kayal (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
88:43

Foul by George Florescu (Astra Giurgiu).
88:01

Foul by Beram Kayal (Celtic).
88:01

Júnior Morais (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
87:25 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Astra Giurgiu. Laurentiu Rus replaces William de Amorim.
87:25 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Astra Giurgiu. George Florescu replaces Vincent Laban.
85:05

Attempt missed. Constantin Budescu (Astra Giurgiu) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Vincent Laban from a direct free kick.
84:22

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
84:22

Júnior Morais (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
82:13

Attempt missed. Beram Kayal (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Stefan Scepovic.
80:20 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 2, Astra Giurgiu 1. Gabriel Enache (Astra Giurgiu) with an attempt from the left side of the six yard box to the centre of the goal.
80:19

Attempt blocked. Gabriel Enache (Astra Giurgiu) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by William de Amorim with a cross.
79:41

Foul by Jason Denayer (Celtic).
79:41

Constantin Budescu (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
78:02 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 2, Astra Giurgiu 0. Stefan Johansen (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
77:22 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Astra Giurgiu. Kehinde Fatai replaces Takayuki Seto.
77:01 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Beram Kayal replaces Anthony Stokes.
76:34

Attempt missed. Scott Brown (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is too high following a set piece situation.
75:50

Anthony Stokes (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
75:50

Foul by Cristian Oros (Astra Giurgiu).
75:07

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Vincent Laban.
72:40 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 1, Astra Giurgiu 0. Stefan Scepovic (Celtic) header from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Anthony Stokes with a cross following a set piece situation.
71:56 Booking

Booking Cristian Oros (Astra Giurgiu) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
71:51

Mubarak Wakaso (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
71:51

Foul by Cristian Oros (Astra Giurgiu).
70:25

Foul by Mubarak Wakaso (Celtic).
70:25

Gabriel Enache (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
69:29 Booking

Booking Aleksandar Tonev (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
69:14

Foul by Aleksandar Tonev (Celtic).
69:14

Júnior Morais (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
66:57

Attempt missed. Vasileios Pliatsikas (Astra Giurgiu) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Gabriel Enache.
66:07 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Mubarak Wakaso replaces Charlie Mulgrew.
64:36

Attempt missed. Cristian Oros (Astra Giurgiu) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Vincent Laban with a cross following a corner.
64:14

Corner, Astra Giurgiu. Conceded by Mikael Lustig.
61:50

Attempt missed. Seydou Yahaya (Astra Giurgiu) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Takayuki Seto.
59:53

Attempt missed. Aleksandar Tonev (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Anthony Stokes.
58:57

Attempt missed. Constantin Budescu (Astra Giurgiu) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Seydou Yahaya.
56:52

Attempt missed. Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Virgil van Dijk.
56:27 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Aleksandar Tonev replaces Callum McGregor.
53:51

Attempt saved. William de Amorim (Astra Giurgiu) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Takayuki Seto.
52:50

Attempt missed. Stefan Scepovic (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Callum McGregor with a cross.
51:19

Attempt missed. Stefan Scepovic (Celtic) header from very close range is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Emilio Izaguirre with a cross.
49:57

Attempt blocked. Takayuki Seto (Astra Giurgiu) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Vasileios Pliatsikas.
48:02

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
48:02

William de Amorim (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
47:08

Attempt missed. Callum McGregor (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Emilio Izaguirre with a cross.
46:11

Anthony Stokes (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
46:11

Foul by Gabriel Enache (Astra Giurgiu).
45:57

Attempt blocked. Stefan Johansen (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Anthony Stokes.
45:00

Second Half begins Celtic 0, Astra Giurgiu 0.
45:00 +0:53 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Celtic 0, Astra Giurgiu 0.
45:00 +0:36

Attempt saved. Stefan Scepovic (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Virgil van Dijk with a headed pass.
45:00 +0:08

Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
45:00 +0:08

Foul by Vasileios Pliatsikas (Astra Giurgiu).
42:56

Foul by Anthony Stokes (Celtic).
42:56

Vasileios Pliatsikas (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
42:49

Attempt blocked. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Stefan Scepovic.
38:06

Attempt missed. Stefan Scepovic (Celtic) header from the left side of the six yard box is too high. Assisted by Mikael Lustig with a cross.
36:01

Attempt missed. Scott Brown (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right following a set piece situation.
35:13

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
35:13

Foul by Júnior Morais (Astra Giurgiu).
33:54

Foul by Mikael Lustig (Celtic).
33:54

William de Amorim (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
32:21

Attempt missed. William de Amorim (Astra Giurgiu) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Constantin Budescu.
30:32

Anthony Stokes (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
30:32

Foul by Vasileios Pliatsikas (Astra Giurgiu).
29:56

Attempt missed. Gabriel Enache (Astra Giurgiu) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
28:58

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Vasileios Pliatsikas.
28:24

Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
28:24

Foul by Takayuki Seto (Astra Giurgiu).
27:55

Attempt missed. Mikael Lustig (Celtic) header from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Anthony Stokes with a cross following a corner.
27:30

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Vasileios Pliatsikas.
24:25

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Seydou Yahaya.
24:21

Attempt blocked. Stefan Scepovic (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Anthony Stokes.
23:14

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Júnior Morais.
22:24

Attempt missed. Takayuki Seto (Astra Giurgiu) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Constantin Budescu.
21:24

Attempt saved. Constantin Budescu (Astra Giurgiu) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Takayuki Seto.
20:59

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
20:59

Foul by William de Amorim (Astra Giurgiu).
20:42

Attempt saved. Seydou Yahaya (Astra Giurgiu) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
18:31

Corner, Astra Giurgiu. Conceded by Jason Denayer.
18:28

Attempt blocked. Júnior Morais (Astra Giurgiu) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by William de Amorim.
17:08

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Júnior Morais.
11:24

Attempt blocked. Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
10:38

Anthony Stokes (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
10:38

Foul by Vasileios Pliatsikas (Astra Giurgiu).
9:10

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Júnior Morais.
7:53

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Cristian Oros.
7:24 Booking

Booking Seydou Yahaya (Astra Giurgiu) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
7:21

Mikael Lustig (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
7:21

Foul by Seydou Yahaya (Astra Giurgiu).
4:32

Attempt missed. Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) header from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Anthony Stokes with a cross following a corner.
4:05

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Vasileios Pliatsikas.
1:15

Foul by Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic).
1:15

Constantin Budescu (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick on the right wing.
0:00

First Half begins.
0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

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