2014-11-06: FC Astra 1-1 Celtic, UEFA Cup

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

Trivia

• UEFA Cup/Europa League, Match Round 4
• Celtic’s 300th European game.
• Opponents are from Romania, also known as Astra Giurgiu
• Celtic second with 8pts,Salzburg won 5-1 who top the group.
• Match almost called off due to freezing fog, even when the game started you could hardly see across the pitch!
• Unfairly, Griffiths' first goal in Europe was ruled out for a foul on a defender! (it was a fair goal).
• If Celtic had won we'd have gone through, but alas have to wait.
• Stokes sent home early due to illness.
• Celtic got drawn to play in the league cup v Sevco/The Rangers. The first time ever to play them.
• Celtic supposedly signed ex Real Madrid player Diarra who is a free agent according to the French press. News to Celtic, the player and everyone else. Total nonsense.
• Recent food bank collections by the Green Brigade with Celtic's support and promotion have been a huge success.
• Reports from Argentina suggest that Racing have made contact with Celtic to play a match in honour of the brutal 1967 World Club Champions! Celtic should tell them where to go. Three games that disgraced football.

Review

(winds of change CSC)
Disappointed in the end tonight. Reasonable first half before turning into our usual pumpkins in the second half. 2 points lost there against what was a fairly pish team. Had more than enough chances to wrap it up in the second half, if Scepovic puts that one in just after half time then it would have been all over, instead we disappear up our own jacksies yet again and allow them back into it. Should still have won it at the death.

I don't buy in to there being any kind of "witch-hunt" where McGregor is concerned, people are just calling it what it is, the boy is pish and no amount of games or chances is going to alter that, giving him a 5 year deal is fecking laughable.

It's criminal that our most potent forward is kicking his heels at home for these games due to the clownesque performance of the idiot Lawwell on the last day of the transfer window, JG would have made a difference tonight.

Still have work to do here to progress. The best team in the group are up next, followed by a tricky away game. A point will do it so hopefully we have enough to get us out of the group stage. missed the boat tonight though, should have had it wrapped up

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• Audio Report: Paradise Report

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Stats

Astra Giurgiu Celtic
Possession
54% 46%
90mins
Shots
10 12
On target
5 7
Corners
2 5
Fouls
12 22

Articles

Astra 1-1 Celtic: Hoops slip up in Romania mist
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/astra-1-1-celtic-hoops-slip-up-in-romania-mist-1-3597136
by ANDREW SMITH AT MARIN ANASTASOVICI STADIUM

Updated on the 06 November
2014
23:47

Published 06/11/2014 20:24
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38 comments Have your say!

THAT Celtic failed to hold out for the 1-0 victory that would have ensured their Europa League progress from Group D was no great surprise. They don’t do clean sheets on their travels in sectional European games. The 79th-minute strike from substitute William Amorim that cancelled out a first-half opener from Stefan Johansen means they have conceded in all 32 of these fixtures.

Scorers: Astra Giurgiu – William Amorim (79); Celtic – Johansen (32)

Nevertheless, Celtic felt hard done by in not getting the win that would have secured their place in the knockout stages with two games remaining. Leigh Griffiths had the ball in the next six minutes from time only for Ukrainian referee Sarhiy Boiko to pull him up for a nudge on Cristian Cros. Television evidence suggested the Scottish champions were right to feel aggrieved as there appeared little in the challenge by the Celtic substitute. In truth, though, they should be angry at themselves for the fact this proved a pivotal moment.

Celtic manager Ronny Deila tried to hide his frustration afterwards, but he was well aware that there was a needless aspect to the club’s latest failure to win away in Europe. Astra Giurgiu looked every inch a team struggling for confidence and form. Deila did point to the fact that the equaliser was the product of a stonking hit from Amorim, who steered an unstoppable shot into the far corner from the left-hand edge of the box, but questions can be asked about the shanked clearance from Virgil van Dijk that put the attacker in possession.

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Griffiths, brought on for the completely ineffective Stefan Scepovic in the 62nd minute, will question himself over two one-on-ones with Silviu Lung in which the Astra goalkeeper emerged the victor. Two minutes before the Celtic striker’s disallowed effort Lung smothered at his feet, having earlier pulled off a terrific stop to deny Charlie Mulgrew just before Astra struck to earn their first point in Group D. Mulgrew was in the wars in stoppage time after a horrible, nasty lunge on him by Vincent Laban which earned the player a straight red card. Even in the fog it was crystal clear that was the only course of action open to the referee Boiko.

Boiko seemed one of the few – Deila was another – who felt the game could go ahead despite the mist shrouding the pitch. In the early afternoon the possibility of a postponement was mooted by local journalists. By an hour before the local kick-off time of 8pm, the feeling had hardened that the tie would be rescheduled for early afternoon today. Then Boiko marched his team of officials out of the tunnel and, after much deliberating, started to lead them through their warm-ups that told us the match was on. No matter that, from the touchline on the far side, the six referees seemed to disappear into the night when they paced towards the dugouts.

It is difficult to say if the poor visibility had much effect on the proceedings that followed. And, in Boiko’s defence, there seemed to be a slight, if temporary, dispersal of the fog come the second half. It might be tempting to suggest that Astra keeper Lung might have been unsighted – hell, who wasn’t? – when Johansen hammered the ball past him from 22 yards after 32 minutes. Yet that doesn’t square with the fact that a minute from the end of the first period, Lung made a brilliant block to touch away a ferocious effort from Mulgrew. Celtic, with Johansen immense, then started to exert their authority. The Norwegian seems to enjoy playing Astra, having scored in the 2-1 win between the sides in Glasgow a fortnight ago. But while he required a spill from the keeper then, his return counter was all his own doing. When a free-kick from Mulgrew rebounded off the Astra defensive wall, he absolutely melted a first-time drive to give Lung not a hope.

Celtic, having played on the front foot for most of the opening period, did not continue in the same vein following the break. Their passing became a little frayed, they found themselves on their heels too often, and they began to look a little tired in their fifth game in 15 days. Yet, none of these aspects looked like it would prove costly until Amorim struck. The goal took the shine off Celtic’s 300th European game. From being on course to becoming the first Scottish team to qualify from a Uefa group stage after only four games, they now face two tricky encounters to seal their place in the last 32. First up is a home tie at the end of the month against Salzburg, whose 5-1 thrashing of Dinamo Zagreb keeps the Croatians five points behind Deila’s side. Victory would seal qualification for Celtic. A slip-up could leave them needing something from an awkward final game in Zagreb. It didn’t have to be this way.

Astra Giurgiu: Lung Jr, Pliatsikas, Ben Youssef, Oros, Junior Morais, Laban, Yahaya (Seto 81), Enache, Budescu (Florescu 62), Joaozinho (William Amorim 46), Bukari. Subs Not Used: Coman, Chitu, Gaman, Rus.

Celtic: Gordon, Lustig, Denayer, van Dijk, Izaguirre, Brown, Mulgrew, McGregor, Johansen, Wakaso (Matthews 81), Scepovic (Griffiths 73). Subs Not Used: Zaluska, Ambrose, Biton, Tonev, Kayal.

BBC
By Roddie McVake BBC Scotland

Stefan Johansen opens scoring for Celtic
William de Amorim levels with curling effort
Celtic on eight points in Group D

Celtic missed the chance to seal a spot in the last 32 of the Europa League with two games to spare as Astra Giurgiu fought back to earn a draw.

Stefan Johansen fired the Scottish champions into the lead at a fog-bound Marin Anastasovici Stadium.

But the Romanian hosts squared it through William de Amorim's effort, before Vincent Laban was red-carded for a challenge on Charlie Mulgrew.

Celtic are on eight points in Group D and remain well-placed to progress.

The match went ahead despite heavy fog making for very poor visibility.

Celtic created the first chance, when Emilio Izaguirre knocked the ball through a defender's legs and delivered into the area where Johansen fired it goalwards, only for keeper Silviu Lung to palm it wide.
Stefan Johansen scores for Celtic

Stefan Johansen sends Celtic into the lead with a shot from the edge of the box that took a deflection

The hosts first threatened midway through the half when Seidu Yahaya cut in from the left and crashed in a shot from outside the box that looked destined for the top corner until Craig Gordon superbly tipped it away at full stretch.

And that save was made all the more crucial minutes later when the visitors edged ahead.

Johansen was hauled down just outside the box and when Mulgrew's free-kick hit the wall and an attempted clearance popped up perfectly for the Norwegian, he fired home from 20 yards with the help of a deflection off Vasileios Pliatsikas.

Mubarak Wukaso and Mulgrew both had shots from distance saved by Lung late in the half, and the hosts had claims for a penalty turned down when Sadat Bukari tumbled under the challenge of Jason Denayer.

Stefan Scepovic passed up a golden chance to make it 2-0 at the start of the second half, firing well over after Johansen played him in with a delightful flick.
Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon was left stranded when William de Amorim curled a shot beyond him to square it

Celtic keeper Craig Gordon was left stranded when William de Amorim curled a shot beyond him to square it

Astra then missed a fine chance of their own, with Constantin Budescu blasting high over the bar from Gabriel Enache's centre.

Celtic substitute Leigh Griffiths had an effort blocked when he looked certain to score before Mulgrew's long range shot was tipped on to the post by Lung.

Astra then squared it through sub de Amorim, who curled a delightful shot beyond Gordon and into the top corner from the angle of the area.

Griffiths was denied by a great stop from Lung and the striker then had a goal ruled out for a foul in the box.

The Romanians were reduced to 10 men in stoppage time when Laban was shown a straight red card for a wild lunge on Mulgrew.

Salzburg's 5-1 win away to Dinamo Zagreb meant a win would have been enough for Ronny Deila's Celtic to reach the knockout phase.

Live Text Commentary
Full time

Full Time Match ends, Astra Giurgiu 1, Celtic 1.
90:00 +4:08 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Astra Giurgiu 1, Celtic 1.
90:00 +3:36

Hand ball by Scott Brown (Celtic).
90:00 +2:11 Booking

Booking Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
90:00 +1:48 Dismissal

Dismissal Vincent Laban (Astra Giurgiu) is shown the red card.
90:00 +1:42

Adam Matthews (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90:00 +1:42

Foul by Vincent Laban (Astra Giurgiu).
90:00 +0:51 Booking

Booking Sadat Bukari (Astra Giurgiu) is shown the yellow card.
90:00 +0:37

Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
90:00 +0:37

Vincent Laban (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89:17

Foul by Virgil van Dijk (Celtic).
89:17

Silviu Lung Jr. (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88:44

Callum McGregor (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
88:44

Foul by Júnior Morais (Astra Giurgiu).
87:56

Mikael Lustig (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
87:56

Foul by Sadat Bukari (Astra Giurgiu).
87:49

Attempt saved. George Florescu (Astra Giurgiu) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Sadat Bukari.
86:20

Foul by Jason Denayer (Celtic).
86:20

Sadat Bukari (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick on the left wing.
84:56

Foul by Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic).
84:56

Takayuki Seto (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
83:03

Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
83:03

Cristian Oros (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82:51

Attempt blocked. Scott Brown (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
82:28

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Silviu Lung Jr..
82:27

Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Stefan Johansen.
81:15

Offside, Astra Giurgiu. Syam Ben Youssef tries a through ball, but Sadat Bukari is caught offside.
80:58 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Astra Giurgiu. Takayuki Seto replaces Seydou Yahaya.
80:23 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Adam Matthews replaces Mubarak Wakaso.
78:54 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Astra Giurgiu 1, Celtic 1. William de Amorim (Astra Giurgiu) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the top right corner.
77:15

Foul by Virgil van Dijk (Celtic).
77:15

George Florescu (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
76:33

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Silviu Lung Jr..
76:32

Attempt saved. Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
75:04

Stefan Johansen (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
75:04

Foul by Júnior Morais (Astra Giurgiu).
74:39

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
74:39

George Florescu (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
74:23

Attempt blocked. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Stefan Johansen.
74:04

Attempt saved. Vasileios Pliatsikas (Astra Giurgiu) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Seydou Yahaya.
72:48

Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).
72:48

George Florescu (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
72:14 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Leigh Griffiths replaces Stefan Scepovic.
71:42

Attempt missed. Seydou Yahaya (Astra Giurgiu) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by George Florescu.
70:14

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
70:14

Foul by Seydou Yahaya (Astra Giurgiu).
68:23

Mubarak Wakaso (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
68:23

Foul by Gabriel Enache (Astra Giurgiu).
65:49 Booking

Booking Scott Brown (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
65:45 Booking

Booking Seydou Yahaya (Astra Giurgiu) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
65:27

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
65:27

Foul by Seydou Yahaya (Astra Giurgiu).
62:25

Corner, Astra Giurgiu. Conceded by Mikael Lustig.
61:57 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Astra Giurgiu. George Florescu replaces Constantin Budescu.
60:04

Attempt missed. Constantin Budescu (Astra Giurgiu) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the left. Assisted by Gabriel Enache.
57:09

Foul by Virgil van Dijk (Celtic).
57:09

Sadat Bukari (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
56:15

Attempt missed. Sadat Bukari (Astra Giurgiu) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Vasileios Pliatsikas.
55:27

Foul by Mikael Lustig (Celtic).
55:27

William de Amorim (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
55:16

Attempt saved. Jason Denayer (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Charlie Mulgrew.
53:53

Attempt missed. Vasileios Pliatsikas (Astra Giurgiu) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
53:20

Foul by Mubarak Wakaso (Celtic).
53:20

Seydou Yahaya (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
48:07

Attempt missed. Constantin Budescu (Astra Giurgiu) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Gabriel Enache with a cross.
46:02

Attempt missed. Stefan Scepovic (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Stefan Johansen.
45:00

Second Half begins Astra Giurgiu 0, Celtic 1.
45:00 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Astra Giurgiu. William de Amorim replaces Joãozinho.
45:00 +1:05 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Astra Giurgiu 0, Celtic 1.
45:00 +0:09

Attempt saved. Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Mikael Lustig.
44:11

Hand ball by Sadat Bukari (Astra Giurgiu).
43:35

Attempt saved. Mubarak Wakaso (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Callum McGregor.
38:42

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
38:42

Júnior Morais (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick on the left wing.
37:01

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
37:01

Joãozinho (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick on the left wing.
35:53 Booking

Booking Syam Ben Youssef (Astra Giurgiu) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
35:48

Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
35:48

Foul by Syam Ben Youssef (Astra Giurgiu).
33:32

Attempt saved. Constantin Budescu (Astra Giurgiu) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Gabriel Enache.
32:53

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
32:53

Vincent Laban (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
31:32 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Astra Giurgiu 0, Celtic 1. Stefan Johansen (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner following a set piece situation.
31:28

Attempt blocked. Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
30:15

Stefan Johansen (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
30:15

Foul by Syam Ben Youssef (Astra Giurgiu).
29:10

Foul by Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic).
29:10

Vincent Laban (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick on the right wing.
26:46

Corner, Astra Giurgiu. Conceded by Craig Gordon.
26:44

Attempt saved. Seydou Yahaya (Astra Giurgiu) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
25:38

Foul by Mikael Lustig (Celtic).
25:38

Joãozinho (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick on the left wing.
25:15

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
25:15

Seydou Yahaya (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
23:15

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Vasileios Pliatsikas.
22:12

Offside, Astra Giurgiu. Vasileios Pliatsikas tries a through ball, but Gabriel Enache is caught offside.
21:28

Foul by Mikael Lustig (Celtic).
21:28

Júnior Morais (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
18:46

Delay over. They are ready to continue.
18:30

Delay in match Sadat Bukari (Astra Giurgiu) because of an injury.
17:12

Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Stefan Johansen with a cross following a corner.
16:44

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Silviu Lung Jr..
16:43

Attempt saved. Stefan Johansen (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Emilio Izaguirre with a cross.
15:14

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Júnior Morais.
13:10

Joãozinho (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
13:10

Foul by Mikael Lustig (Celtic).
11:30

Offside, Celtic. Jason Denayer tries a through ball, but Stefan Scepovic is caught offside.
10:41

Foul by Seydou Yahaya (Astra Giurgiu).
10:41

Mubarak Wakaso (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
5:35

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
5:35

Vincent Laban (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
5:10

Mikael Lustig (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
5:10

Foul by Constantin Budescu (Astra Giurgiu).
2:55

Foul by Jason Denayer (Celtic).
2:55

Joãozinho (Astra Giurgiu) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
0:00

First Half begins.
0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

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