2016-08-17: Celtic 5-2 Hapoel Beer Sheva, European Cup

Match Pictures | Matches: 2016 – 2017 | 2016-17 Pictures

Trivia

• Celticv Hapoel Beer Sheva(Israel)
• European Cup, Play-offs for Champions League 2016-17 Group Stages, 1st Leg
• Match Winner takes all to get to the group stages and the prestige/rewards that come with it.Celtic in the driving seat but two away goals lost can be costly.
• Celtic overcame Lincoln Red Imps (Gibralter) & Astana (Kazakhstan) to reach this round, very heavy going.
• Celtic were three up at half-time with a sublime third being a freekick from corner of the box by Griffiths! Then lost two in two mins to bring the opposition back in. Great play later as Celtic scored further two to win, and hopefully seal the playoff place. Bitton scores against his home country's side.
• First time in 14 years, since FK Suduva, that we've scored more than 4 goals in a European game.
• Former Chelsea player Ben Sahar said pre-match that Be’er Sheva have nothing to fear against Celtic.
• Hapoel Be’er Sheva striker Maor Buzaglo warned Celtic that they should be scared of the Israeli outfit ahead of their Champions League play-off
• First Celtic game ever to use goal line technology, Hawkeye system, only this year adopted by UEFA.
• Celtic fans warned could face tough sanctions if fans stage a political protest about the visitor’s country.We did have a lot of Palestinian flags display but nothing offensive. Lots of praise for Celtic fans across social media for this.
• Ambrose dropped completely from squad. No Jahansen in starting side.
• Scott Brown overtakes Billy McNeill for most Celtic European competition appearances, now at 69.
• Pre-match talk is dominated by arguments over plans for flag protests by various supporters/groups.
• UEFA to charge Celtic over the flag protest in the ground, Celtic fans stage a charity fund raiser to match the fine with money to go to related charities; all goes global and Celtic fans in the hearts of so many. See story at end of this page,around £180k raised.
• Post-Note: Celtic fined by UEFA for illicit banner in Hapoel game at Celtic Park, just £8500 (€10k). Nominal amount, Celtic fans raised €180k for Palestinian charities. Congratulations to all. Celtic fans have received a lot of support and praise from everywhere, and UEFA seem to have understood this.
• Ex-Aston Villa player Dalian Atkinson dies from heart attack after being tasered by police. RIP
• Is UEFA about to destroy any semblance of meritocracy in football. ESPN reporting that UEFA is set to approve some major structural changes to the Champions League, the highlight being automatic group stage qualification for the top four teams from the top four leagues.
• Transfers: Celtic sign De Vries as backup goalkeeper on two year deal.

Review

(Dogg of KDS)
Feel like I've aged 10 years.

Perfect 1st half performance. Pace, power, high tempo, aggressive, accurate passing and some wonderful goals.

Sat off them at the start of the 2nd and they punish us.

Gordon has to take a large portion of blame for their first, shouldn't be getting beaten at his near post like that. Toure also caught faffing about in midfield when he should have been busting his balls to get back.

Great positive subs from the manager and we take control again. It's been a long time since we've looked like a team that can get rocked but still have the self-belief to push on and take control again.

I said several times last season that I thought he looked done, but Scott Brown was immense tonight winning the ball and keeping the tempo up, topped off with a great strike. Glad to be proved wrong!

Brendan has given us our Celtic back

(Lubo M of KDS)
There's so much to be said about tonight but my ultimate feeling is one of being effing drained!

I am genuinely loath to say this because I don't think it's fair to automatically contrast the present situation with Deila's tenure, but in terms of how the game developed, I can't help but think:

First 70 mins = A Deila Celtic team in Europe. Flying start, 2-0/3-0 up, great first half display. Completely shampoos the bed after the break and a sinking feeling emerges.

Last 20 mins = A Rodgers Celtic team in Europe. Ironically showing "great character" in order to triumph by the end and a jubilant feeling emerges.

In terms of individuals, Brown was outstanding. Gordon shaky as per the last year, but he did produce a very important save to deny Hapoel making a 3-4 scoreline. I thought Tierney was a mixed bag, while Lustig wasn't as composed after the break. Toure looked slow on a couple of one-on-ones but overall him & O'Connell were solid.

Forrest played well once again, while Sinclair showed some real moments of quality within an otherwise subdued display. Rogic was good but tired late on and McGregor was pretty average. Griffiths' 2 goals =(happy) & Dembele scoring yet another vital European goal from the bench = (clap)

Rodgers' tactics and subs have once again proved fruitful. In hindsight he could have brought on Bitton at HT but it all worked out in the end. Getting our two late goals was largely down to a risky strategy of deploying a straightforward 4-4-2 with Janko being trusted to bomb forward and back without losing the ball, which largely worked out and negated any potential counter attacks. Some managers are lucky without explanation, while others make their own luck. Rodgers fits into the latter category.

Atmosphere wise it was excellent for the most part, although where I sit (Jock Stein Lower) it's a tad annoying that many aren't brave enough to stand up and enjoy the moment for even just 2 mins after each goal due to the stewards waving folk to sit down . As for the Palestinian display, I can only state that regardless of potential ramifications I can't help but approve. Would strongly avoid against a repeat next week however, mainly for the sake of mortality…

Tonight was also the first time in 14 years, since FK Suduva, that we've scored more than 4 goals in a European game.

While we still have a tie to complete, I can't help but hope the above stat is a sign: Europa League final, via dropping from the UCL group stage , here we come

Teams

Attendance:53,000

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

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MOTM

• Voting Thread
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• Winner –

Stats

Celtic
Hapoel Be'er Sheva

Possession
Home56%
Away44%

Shots
Home19
Away6

Shots on Target
Home10
Away4

Corners
Home7
Away0

Fouls
Home12
Away7

Articles

Celtic 5 – 2 Hapoel Beer-Sheva: Hoops with one foot in Champions League
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/celtic-5-2-hapoel-beer-sheva-hoops-with-one-foot-in-champions-league-1-4205994
Leigh Griffiths celebrates having put Celtic 3-0 up on their way to a 5-2 win. Picture: John Devlin
CRAIG FOWLER
Celtic will take a three-goal cushion into the second leg of their Champions League play-off tie, though they were made to sweat for the advantage by Israeli champions Hapoel Beer-Sheva.
The hosts enjoyed an almost perfect opening 45 minutes as a goal from Tom Rogic and double from Leigh Griffiths gave Celtic a commanding half-time lead.

Scott Sinclair tries to lift the ball over David Goresh in the build-up to Celtic's opener. Picture: PA
A joyous home crowd was then stunned into silence as Beer-Sheva netted two goals in as many second half minutes to haul themselves right back into the contest.
Brendan Rodgers reacted with an attacking change and got his reward when substitute Moussa Dembele headed home Griffiths’ corner. Scott Brown then tacked on a fifth to give next Tuesday’s visitors some much needed breathing space.
Expected to sit in a 5-4-1 formation with ten men behind the ball, Beer-Sheva surprised everyone with an attack-minded 3-5-2 system. Unfortunately for the away side, it did not have the desired effect as Celtic exploited space in and around the back three throughout the first half.
It started in the ninth minute when Scott Sinclair raced in from the left. When he was halted by goalkeeper David Goresh, Rogic was there to side foot into the back of the net from the edge of the area.

Hapoel's Maor Melikson (24) pulls a second goal back for his side. Picture: SNS
The lead was doubled on 39 minutes when Griffiths finished off a lovely attacking move with an emphatic header. Kolo Toure started the attack by charging out from defence, his ball in behind found Sinclair who laid off for Forrest to cross for Griffiths charging in at the back post.
Last year’s leading scorer then finished off the half in glorious style with a perfectly curled free-kick from the edge of the penalty area that found the top corner.
Beer-Sheva changed up their side at half-time, going 4-3-3 with Maor Melikson pushed up into the false 9 position.
It helped swing the pendulum back towards the Israelis almost immediately with Melikson playing a one-two off striker Anthony Nwakaeme before threading through for Lúcio Maranhão. The Brazilian squeezd the ball past Craig Gordon with a fierce finish at the keeper’s front post.
Around 90 seconds later it was 3-2. Melikson again pushed the ball out for Nwakaeme on the left. This time the midfielder drifted to the edge of the area and was in the right spot to hammer the ball past Gordon with a terrific first time effort.
The quick-fire double seemed to suck the life out of Celtic Park, but it was bouncing again when Griffiths found Demebele from a corner, which the summer signing glanced past the oncoming Goresh.
Brown then made next Tuesday’s trip a more attractive prospect with a well taken half volley after his initial effort was blocked.
READ MORE – Rumour Mill: Rangers to battle Sunderland for Lescott | Celtic fans warned over Palestine flags | Hibs braced for Cummings bids

BBC

By Tom English

BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

1 hour ago From the section Football

Leigh Griffiths scores
Leigh Griffiths headed Celtic's second of the night

Celtic took a giant step towards the Champions League group stage with an extraordinary play-off first-leg win over Israeli side Hapoel Beer Sheva.

Brendan Rodgers' team were utterly dominant in the opening half, scoring through Tom Rogic and a terrific double from Leigh Griffiths.

The wheels fell off suddenly early in the second half as Lucio Maranhao and Maor Melikson netted.

But Moussa Dembele headed in a fourth and Scott Brown rattled home a fifth.

The two sides meet again in Beersheba on Tuesday but that game will have to go some to match a brilliant and madcap European night at Celtic Park.

Craig Gordon's magnificent save from a Maharan Radi header preserved Celtic's lead at 4-2 and Hapoel had a penalty claim turned down shortly before Brown's goal.

Relive Celtic's win over Hapoel Beer Sheva

Celtic celebrate
A late goal by Brown (centre) restored Celtic's three-goal advantage
One half, three goals

For Celtic, it had been so easy for so long.

Griffiths was so involved in the first half it was difficult to keep a check on how many versions of himself were out on the pitch. Scott Sinclair's pace troubled Beer Sheva, Rogic had a field day and Brown led the side well.

Celtic were ahead when Griffiths dinked a beautiful ball over the visiting defence to Sinclair, who was promptly taken out by goalkeeper David Goresh. It would have been a penalty had it not been for Rogic following up to drive Celtic into the lead.

Soon after, Sinclair went down in the box but a big shout for a spot-kick was waved away. It hardly seemed to matter because in Celtic's performance there was always the promise of more goals. And they came.

Kolo Toure strode out of defence and found Sinclair, who put James Forrest away down the right. His cross was nutted home brilliantly by Griffiths.

The third was even better, a sumptuous Griffiths free-kick from wide to the right of the Hapoel penalty area. The striker curled into the top corner. Total class.
Second-half scare
Maor Melikson celebrates
Melikson (centre) brought Hapoel back to 3-2

Hapoel had no shots on goal and, seemingly, no hope of turning it around, but they did.

From a counter attack, Lucio struck from close range to make it 3-1. From another advance down the left two minutes later, Melikson drove home from a central position and suddenly it was 3-2.

Celtic were in shock, but gathered themselves to score a fourth. Griffiths was involved again, swinging in a corner for Dembele to head home.

Gordon's superb save from Radi was as impressive as it was critical.

And then Brown added the dramatic flourish, his first shot fluffed, his second rifled into the Hapoel net to send Celtic Park back into a blissful state.

To call it a classic does not quite cover it.

Match ends, Celtic 5, Hapoel Be'er Sheva 2.
Full Time
90'+5'

Second Half ends, Celtic 5, Hapoel Be'er Sheva 2.
Booking
90'+4'

Loai Taha (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+4'

Moussa Dembele (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+4'

Foul by Loai Taha (Hapoel Be'er Sheva).
90'+4'

Attempt saved. Maor Bar Buzaglo (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tony Nwakaeme.
90'+3'

Foul by James Forrest (Celtic).
90'+3'

Ofir Davidzada (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
90'+1'

James Forrest (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
89'

Nir Bitton (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
89'

Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).
89'

Maor Bar Buzaglo (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88'

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by David Goresh.
88'

Attempt saved. Scott Sinclair (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Moussa Dembele.
Booking
87'

Kolo Touré (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
87'

Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).
87'

Maor Melikson (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Goal!
85'

Goal! Celtic 5, Hapoel Be'er Sheva 2. Scott Brown (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
85'

Attempt missed. Scott Brown (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by James Forrest.
Substitution
85'

Substitution, Hapoel Be'er Sheva. Vladimir Brown replaces Maharan Radi.
84'

Foul by Saidy Janko (Celtic).
84'

Maor Melikson (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) wins a free kick on the left wing.
83'

Attempt blocked. Nir Bitton (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by James Forrest.
81'

Attempt missed. Moussa Dembele (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by James Forrest.
Substitution
79'

Substitution, Hapoel Be'er Sheva. Maor Bar Buzaglo replaces Ovidiu Hoban.
79'

Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
79'

Tony Nwakaeme (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) wins a free kick on the left wing.
77'

Attempt saved. Maharan Radi (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Ben Bitton with a cross.
76'

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
76'

Maor Melikson (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Goal!
73'

Goal! Celtic 4, Hapoel Be'er Sheva 2. Moussa Dembele (Celtic) header from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Leigh Griffiths with a cross following a corner.
73'

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Shir Tzedek.
73'

Attempt blocked. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Saidy Janko with a cross.
71'

Attempt missed. Kieran Tierney (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by James Forrest.
Substitution
70'

Substitution, Celtic. Moussa Dembele replaces Tomas Rogic.
Substitution
69'

Substitution, Hapoel Be'er Sheva. Ben Sahar replaces Lucio Maranhão.
66'

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ofir Davidzada.
Substitution
63'

Substitution, Celtic. Saidy Janko replaces Mikael Lustig.
Substitution
60'

Substitution, Celtic. Nir Bitton replaces Callum McGregor.
60'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.
59'

Delay in match John Ogu (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) because of an injury.
58'

Callum McGregor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
58'

Foul by Maharan Radi (Hapoel Be'er Sheva).
Goal!
57'

Goal! Celtic 3, Hapoel Be'er Sheva 2. Maor Melikson (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tony Nwakaeme.
Goal!
55'

Goal! Celtic 3, Hapoel Be'er Sheva 1. Lucio Maranhão (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ovidiu Hoban.
54'

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Loai Taha.
54'

Attempt blocked. Scott Brown (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Scott Sinclair.
53'

Attempt saved. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mikael Lustig.
50'

James Forrest (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
50'

Foul by Ovidiu Hoban (Hapoel Be'er Sheva).
49'

Attempt missed. John Ogu (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ofir Davidzada with a cross following a set piece situation.
48'

Foul by Eoghan O'Connell (Celtic).
48'

Maor Melikson (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
47'

Foul by Tomas Rogic (Celtic).
47'

Ofir Davidzada (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Second Half
Posted at

Second Half begins Celtic 3, Hapoel Be'er Sheva 0.
Half Time
45'+2'

First Half ends, Celtic 3, Hapoel Be'er Sheva 0.
Goal!
45'+1'

Goal! Celtic 3, Hapoel Be'er Sheva 0. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the top right corner.
Booking
45'

Shir Tzedek (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
45'

Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
45'

Foul by Shir Tzedek (Hapoel Be'er Sheva).
43'

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
43'

John Ogu (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
42'

Attempt missed. Scott Sinclair (Celtic) right footed shot from long range on the left is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Kieran Tierney.
Goal!
39'

Goal! Celtic 2, Hapoel Be'er Sheva 0. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by James Forrest with a cross.
38'

Offside, Celtic. Scott Sinclair tries a through ball, but Kieran Tierney is caught offside.
36'

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
36'

Foul by Maor Melikson (Hapoel Be'er Sheva).
35'

Attempt saved. Scott Sinclair (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kieran Tierney.
35'

Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
35'

Shir Tzedek (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
30'

Scott Sinclair (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
30'

John Ogu (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
30'

Foul by Scott Sinclair (Celtic).
26'

Hand ball by Ben Bitton (Hapoel Be'er Sheva).
25'

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Tony Nwakaeme.
24'

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ofir Davidzada.
23'

Foul by John Ogu (Hapoel Be'er Sheva).
23'

Tomas Rogic (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
22'

Attempt blocked. Tony Nwakaeme (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lucio Maranhão.
18'

Ovidiu Hoban (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) wins a free kick on the left wing.
18'

Foul by Tomas Rogic (Celtic).
17'

Attempt saved. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Scott Sinclair.
Booking
10'

David Goresh (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) is shown the yellow card.
10'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.
10'

Delay in match David Goresh (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) because of an injury.
Goal!
9'

Goal! Celtic 1, Hapoel Be'er Sheva 0. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box to the centre of the goal.
6'

Attempt missed. Kieran Tierney (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Scott Sinclair.
4'

Attempt missed. Scott Sinclair (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
3'

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by David Goresh.
3'

Attempt saved. Scott Brown (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Kick Off
Posted at

First Half begins.

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Celtic fans smash £110k target for Palestine charities

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/celtic-fans-smash-110k-target-for-palestine-charities-1-4210520
Published: 15:34 Updated: 15:38 Tuesday 23 August 2016

Celtic fans who started a campaign to raise £15,000 for Palestinian charities have broken their latest target – of £110,000.

The campaign, named #MatchTheFineForPalestine, was set up to equal any UEFA fine handed down to Celtic as punishment for fans waving Palestinian flags at the recent match with Hapoel Beer-Sheva.

More than 6,000 people have donated to the fundraiser, started by Celtic supporters group the Green Brigade, in less than 72 hours.

After initially setting a target of £15,000 – the same as the fine dished out to Celtic by UEFA the last time the club was charged after fans waved Palestinian flags at a match – organisers have had to continually revise the target as donations continue to flood in from football fans across the world.

With Celtic due to play Hapoel Beer-Sheva at the Turner Stadium in Beersheba in a matter of hours, the total donations received currently stands at more than £111,000 with the new target set at £120,000.

The organisers had initially planned to split the £15,000 raised between two Palestinian charities – Medical Aid Palestine (MAP) and the Lajee Centre, a Palestinian cultural base in the Aida Refugee Camp near Bethlehem.

There are also plans for the Lajee Centre to enter a football team in the Bethlehem Youth League in 2017, with the club being named Aida Celtic.

A recent update from organisers stressed that all money raised above the targets would continue to be split on an equal basis between MAP and the Lajee Centre.