| Match Pictures | Matches: 2016 – 2017 | 2016-17 Pictures |
Trivia
- European Cup, Third Qualifying Round, 1st Leg; Champions League 2016-17
- Astana is in Kazakhstan. Celtic played Shakhter Karagandy here at same stadium in same comp (Celtic won over two legs).
- Plastic pitch, Celtic came undone in last round away on similar-ish pitch.
- Referee was a homer! Unbelievable how many fouls that the Kazkah team got away with without a card etc, and we likely should have had a penalty at one point.
- Celtic need to go through three sets of legs to make it thruto the group stages.
- Incredibly Celtic hit by an injury crisis (esp in central defence) and it’s the summer break! Ambrose in centre of defence and despite concerns, he has a fair enough match.
- Brendan Rodgers on Astana match: “Apart from the 6h flight, the 5h time difference and the 35C heat and the plastic pitch with no water, it should be okay.”
- Celtic won last round over two legs defeating Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar, struggling in the first leg with a 1-0 defeat!
- Quick turnaround playing game just one week after last round.
- More attacks in Europe, with further attacks in Munich and Ansbach (Germany) with a number dead/injured. RIP.
- Celtic introduce a new third strip, it’s pink-red and most think it’s another abomination.
Transfers: - Kolo Toure signs for Celtic, signed for experience etc as Celtic’s central defence is shaky.
- Supposedly Celtic have their offers for Scott Sinclair rebuffed.
- Rumours: Efe to be moved on? After the Red Imps calamity amongst others in past seasons, the new management is not convinced, although publicly they have stated how much they like his attitude and person etc etc.
- Ambrose currently linked with Olympiakos (Greece) and also a move to Israel amongst others.
Review
Brendan Rodgers on Astana match: “Apart from the 6h flight, the 5h time difference and the 35C heat and the plastic pitch with no water, it should be okay.”
(Caltonbhoy of KDS)
They are not much cop but well done Celtic for digging in there and ultimately we could have won that game if we went at them a bit more.
Gordon had a few decent stops but nothing you wouldn’t expect a good keeper to do – Worryingly he seems to be continuing his flapping of last season at corners at free kicks – Just come for the ball with everything you have got – Keepers still get the benefit of any doubt in Europe.
O’Connell posted missing and didn’t track the guy for the goal but did okay after that and didn’t let it get to his game.
Roberts – Wish he was ours.
Griffiths – He is better at hits from that position than anywhere else on the pitch – Good on him.
Bitton did well when he came on.
Tierney bit out of sorts today – Won’t have done him any harm to have a game like that and learn from it – Still grafted like feck.
Well done Rodgers for changing the game tactically and getting the result.
Please stay composed and finish the job next week Celtic – They will be expecting one or two chances but they are no great shakes in general and especially in defence and we should see them off comfortably.
Edit – Defensive anchoring midfielder is desperately needed – For all the midfield players we have most are not much good and those that are decent (at best) are still lightweight and will get found out when it counts.
Teams
FC Astana
- 1Eric
- 14 Shi tov
- 27Logvinenko
- 5Anicic
- 77Shomko
- 6Maksimovic
- 88Cañas
- 15Beysebekov Substituted for Ibraimiat 85′ minutes Booked at 90mins
- 13Nurgaliev Booked at 28mins Substituted for Muzhikov at 62’minutes
- 23Twumasi
- 30KabanangaSubstituted for Despotovic at 86’minutes
Substitutes
- 7Muzhikov
- 8Tagybergen
- 9Ibraimi
- 10Despotovic
- 12Najarian
- 25Maliy
- 35Mokin
Goals:
Logvinenko (19′ minutes)
Celtic
- 1 Gordon
- 23 Lustig
- 4 Ambrose
- 34 O’Connell
- 63 Tierney
- 27 Roberts
- 42 McGregor Substituted for Rogic at 77’minutes
- 8 BrownBooked at 90mins
- 14 Armstrong Substituted for Forrest at 72’minutes
- 10 Dembele Substituted for Bitton at 62’minutes
- 9 Griffiths Booked at 76mins
Substitutes
- 3 Izaguirre
- 6 Bitton
- 7 Ciftci
- 18 Rogic
- 22 Janko
- 38 Fasan
- 49 Forrest
Goals:
Griffiths (78′ minutes)
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni
Attendance:
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Forum
MOTM
- Voting Thread
- Result Thread
- Winner –
Stats
Astana
Celtic
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Articles
BBC
By Alasdair Lamont
BBC Scotland at the Astana Arena
5 hours ago From the section Football
Leigh Griffiths cracks in the equaliser
Celtic take a valuable away goal back to Glasgow
Celtic emerged from a testing visit to Astana in which they were largely second best with a commendable draw.
Looking to reach the Champions League group stage for the first time since 2013, they found the Kazakhs tough opposition.
In Brendan Rodgers’ third competitive game in charge, they fell behind to a Yuri Logvinenko header.
But after heavy Astana pressure, Leigh Griffiths struck a potentially crucial away goal on 78 minutes.
Griffiths had scarcely been involved in the match, his partnership with Moussa Dembele failing to gel.
But the striker, whose 40 goals last year earned him multiple awards and medals, showed his worth with a fantastic equaliser.
Patrick Roberts, Celtic’s brightest player on the night, won possession near the byeline and picked out Griffiths inside the penalty area.
With barely a glance up, Griffiths rifled the ball past Nenad Eric to change the complexion of the tie.
Such an outcome had looked unlikely as a makeshift Celtic defence had to deal with a barrage of Astana chances.
With Erik Sviatchenko added to an already extensive list of injured defenders, Rodgers brought in 20-year-old Eoghan O’Connell for his European debut and Efe Ambrose was reintroduced to a three-man backline alongside Mikael Lustig.
Ambrose was fortunate not to see a lapse of concentration punished as he missed a Patrick Twumasi cross altogether, with Junior Kabananga inches away from connecting and Mikael Lustig nervously knocking the ball clear.
Craig Gordon and Leigh Griffiths celebrate at full-time
Gordon kept Astana at bay before Griffiths found the equaliser
But from the 19th-minute corner, O’Connell was left for dead by Logvinenk, who headed unchallenged into the net.
Although there were several further scares for the small travelling support, the majority of Astana’s opportunities came from distance, with Craig Gordon looking assured.
As they often have, Celtic had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping the deficit to just one goal until Griffiths’ leveller.
The Scotland international again produced save after save to help ensure Celtic are in the driving seat going into next week’s second leg.
He somehow clawed away an awkward Azat Nurgaliyev chip after another Ambrose error, parried a ferocious 40-yard Twumasi drive, touched a dipping Nurgaliyev shot on to the crossbar and kept out a Kabananga effort with his legs.
Those interventions could prove vital as Celtic aim for a win in Glasgow next week to reach the Champions League play-off stage.
Astana 1 – 1 Celtic: Leigh Griffiths rescues Hoops
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/astana-1-1-celtic-leigh-griffiths-rescues-hoops-1-4187707
CRAIG FOWLER
Celtic will be favourites to progress to the next round of Champions League qualifying after a hard fought score-draw in Kazakhstan.
The visitors trailed Astana for most of the first leg encounter after Yuri Logvinenko headed his side into an 18-minute lead.
Astana had chances to build on their advantage and would later come to regret those spurned opportunities when Leigh Griffiths fired into the bottom corner following great work by Patrick Roberts.
The away goal will give Celtic an advantage when the sides meet again in Glasgow next Wednesday.
Brendan Rodgers side started the brighter of the two teams as Griffiths went close with a shot from the edge of the area.
However, they would fall behind to Astana’s first threatening attack as Celtic’s defensive frailties became apparent. With five first-team centre backs unavailable, Rodgers had to recall Efe Ambrose despite his error in the previous round against Lincoln Red Imps, pairing the Nigerian with young centre back Eoghan O’Connell. After Ambrose failed to properly clear a Patrick Twumasi cross, Logvinenko took advantage of poor marking by O’Connell to nod his team in front from the resulting corner, though Craig Gordon’s decision to come and get nowhere near Twumasi’s set-piece contributed heavily to the ball ending up in the back of the net.
From there Astana took control of the game and could have added to their lead before the half.
Azat Nurgaliev forced Gordon into a terrific save after latching on to a ball into the penalty area, while Junior Kabananga also brought in the best in the Celtic stopper after getting on the end of a Twumasi header.
Twumasi went close himself minutes into the second period after firing a sloppy Stuart Armstrong pass towards goal from 30 yards. Gordon was troubled by the movement on the ball but managed to keep it out. Nuragliev then came the closest of the lot when his effort from the edge of the area rattled the top of the crossbar.
Rodgers changed up his team in order to stem the Astana flow, going to a 4-5-1 with Nir Bitton replacing the quiet Moussa Dembele.
The change had the desired effect of halting the hosts momentum, though an equaliser still seemed unlikely prior to the 78th minute when Roberts nicked the ball off Dmitriy Shomko at the byline. The youngster continued down the line before looking up and picking out Griffiths, and Celtic’s leading goalscorer last season made no mistake from a yard inside the penalty area.
Astana had two great chances to put themselves back in front. Kabananga forced Gordon into a front post stop after springing the offside trap. Then, in injury time, Roger Canas wasted the chance of the match by heading over from four yards after drifting into an unmarked area.
Commentary
Match events
End Time
The final whistle is blown.
Yellow Card
90+6
Brown (Celtic) is cautioned by the referee.
Yellow Card
90+6
Ibraimi (Astana) is cautioned by the referee.
90+4
Aničić (Astana) misses the target.
90+4
Twumasi (Astana) takes the free-kick.
90+3
Brown (Celtic) is penalised for a foul on Muzhikov (Astana).
90+2
****** (Astana) takes the free-kick.
90+1
Rogic (Celtic) is penalised for a foul on ****** (Astana).
90+1
Roberts (Celtic) misses the target.
90
Logvinenko (Astana) takes the free-kick.
90
Rogic (Celtic) is penalised for a foul on Cañas (Astana).
Substitution
86
Despotović (in) – Kabananga (out) (Astana)
85
Twumasi (Astana) takes the corner.
Substitution
84
Ibraimi (in) – Beysebekov (out) (Astana)
84
Gordon (Celtic) makes a save.
84
Kabananga (Astana) has an effort on goal.
83
Gordon (Celtic) makes a save.
83
Twumasi (Astana) has an effort on goal.
81
Cañas (Astana) is adjudged to be in an offside position.
81
Twumasi (Astana) delivers the corner.
80
Gordon (Celtic) makes a save.
80
Kabananga (Astana) has an effort on goal.
80
Griffiths (Celtic) is adjudged to be in an offside position.
79
Shomko (Astana) misses the target.
Goal
78
Griffiths (Celtic) scores!
77
Kabananga (Astana) is flagged for offside.
Substitution
77
Rogic (in) – McGregor (out) (Celtic)
Yellow Card
76
Griffiths (Celtic) is shown a yellow card.
76
Griffiths (Celtic) gives away a free-kick for a challenge on ****** (Astana).
Substitution
72
Forrest (in) – Armstrong (out) (Celtic)
68
Twumasi (Astana) delivers the corner.
68
Twumasi (Astana) takes the free-kick.
67
Brown (Celtic) gives away a free-kick for a challenge on Cañas (Astana).
64
Kabananga (Astana) misses the target.
64
Lustig (Celtic) takes the free-kick.
63
Shomko (Astana) gives away a free-kick for a challenge on Roberts (Celtic).
63
Kabananga (Astana) is adjudged to be in an offside position.
Substitution
62
Bitton (in) – Dembele (out) (Celtic)
Substitution
62
Muzhikov (in) – Nurgaliyev (out) (Astana)
57
Armstrong (Celtic) misses the target.
57
Armstrong (Celtic) delivers the corner.
57
McGregor (Celtic) delivers the corner.
54
****** (Astana) misses the target.
53
Nurgaliyev (Astana) misses the target.
51
Twumasi (Astana) takes the free-kick.
51
Ambrose (Celtic) gives away a free-kick for a challenge on Kabananga (Astana).
50
Roberts (Celtic) has a shot blocked.
49
Gordon (Celtic) makes a save.
49
Twumasi (Astana) has an effort on goal.
48
McGregor (Celtic) has a shot blocked.
47
Cañas (Astana) misses the target.
47
Tierney (Celtic) misses the target.
Start Time
The second half begins.
End Time
The referee blows for half-time.
44
Maksimović (Astana) misses the target.
43
Aničić (Astana) is penalised for a foul on Griffiths (Celtic).
41
Kabananga (Astana) is penalised for a foul on Ambrose (Celtic).
37
Twumasi (Astana) takes the free-kick.
37
Roberts (Celtic) is penalised for a foul on Twumasi (Astana).
36
Griffiths (Celtic) is penalised for a foul on Shomko (Astana).
36
Dembele (Celtic) misses the target.
35
Gordon (Celtic) makes a save.
35
Kabananga (Astana) has an effort on goal.
31
Twumasi (Astana) takes the corner.
31
Twumasi (Astana) takes the corner.
30
Gordon (Celtic) makes a save.
30
Nurgaliyev (Astana) has an effort on goal.
28
Dembele (Celtic) gives away a free-kick for a challenge on ****** (Astana).
28
McGregor (Celtic) takes the free-kick.
Yellow Card
27
Nurgaliyev (Astana) is booked.
27
Nurgaliyev (Astana) gives away a free-kick for a challenge on Griffiths (Celtic).
27
Brown (Celtic) takes the free-kick.
26
Shomko (Astana) gives away a free-kick for a challenge on Roberts (Celtic).
26
Logvinenko (Astana) gives away a free-kick for a challenge on Lustig (Celtic).
25
Twumasi (Astana) delivers the corner.
24
Twumasi (Astana) delivers the corner.
23
Cañas (Astana) takes the free-kick.
23
Brown (Celtic) gives away a free-kick for a challenge on Twumasi (Astana).
Goal
19
Logvinenko (Astana) scores!
19
Twumasi (Astana) delivers the corner.
15
Dembele (Celtic) has a shot blocked.
15
****** (Astana) gives away a free-kick for a challenge on Armstrong (Celtic).
13
Griffiths (Celtic) gives away a free-kick for a challenge on Logvinenko (Astana).
11
Armstrong (Celtic) takes the free-kick.
11
Shomko (Astana) gives away a free-kick for a challenge on Roberts (Celtic).
6
Shomko (Astana) gives away a free-kick for a challenge on Lustig (Celtic).
4
Griffiths (Celtic) misses the target.
Start Time
The match is under way.