Celtic and Ajax faced off in their Europa League clash at Celtic Park.
Ronny Deila's men were in desperate need of a victory to keep their hopes of reaching the next round of the competition alive, while Ajax also need the three points for their own chances of qualifying from Group A.
The Bhoys had a dream start to the game when Callum McGregor fired them ahead in the fourth minute, but Arkadiusz Milik brought Frank de Boer's side level.
In the second half the game opened up as both sides searched for a winner, and it was the Dutch side that secured the victory when Vaclav Cerny broke away and put his effort beyond the reach of Craig Gordon to end Celtic's hopes in the competition.
Relive how all the action unfolded in our commentary below.
Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the Europa League clash between Celtic and Ajax at Celtic Park.
It's crunch time for Ronny Deila and his men this evening. The Bhoys have to win this evening to have a realistic chance of qualifying for the next round of the tournament following their defeat last time out to Molde. Celtic are bottom of Group A having failed to win any of their opening four matches, with just two points to show from their exploits in the competition.
The Hoops were outclassed by Molde in their two defeats from the Norwegian side, but their problems in the group came from their failure to hang on to leads against Ajax and Fenerbahce in their earlier matches. Lasse Schone scored an 84th-minute equaliser to deny Celtic victory in Amsterdam, while Fernandao scored a brace to bring Fenerbahce back from two goals down to earn a point in their clash at Celtic Park. As a result, Deila and his team have a lot of hard work ahead of them tonight to secure the three points.
Ajax find themselves in the same situation as Celtic this evening, albeit they are one point better off than the Scottish side. Frank de Boer's team have failed to win any of their four matches and were grateful to Schone's late goal to avoid defeat against the Bhoys in their opening match, while they've been underwhelming in their other group matches, losing 1-0 away to Fenerbahce in Turkey before claiming a point in the reverse fixture last time out. The best display came against Molde when they managed to draw 1-1 in Norway thanks to Viktor Fischer's strike.
De Boer has quality at his disposal and it may been enough to claim the victory this evening, although as with Celtic, the team have yet to show their pedigree in the Europa League this term.
The teams have been confirmed and we'll start with the Bhoys.
CELTIC STARTING XI: Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, Simunovic, Tierney; Rogic; McGregor, Armstrong; Forrest, Griffiths, Mackay-Steven
Subs: Bailly, Ambrose, Izaguirre, Allan, Mulgrew, Stokes, Ciftci
Subs: Bailly, Ambrose, Izaguirre, Allan, Mulgrew, Stokes, Ciftci
AJAX STARTING XI: Cillessen; Tete, Van der Hoorn, Riedewald, Dijks; Schone, Gudeij, Klaassen; Fischer, Milik, Younes
Subs: Boer, Van Rhijn, Heitinga, Viergever, Van der Beek, Sanogo, Cerny
Subs: Boer, Van Rhijn, Heitinga, Viergever, Van der Beek, Sanogo, Cerny
Celtic's task was already daunting enough, but they will go into the match without several key players, including skipper Scott Brown, who will be sidelined for three months due to a knee injury. Kris Commons is also ruled out because of injury, while Stefan Johansen and Nir Bitton are suspended. Callum McGregor has returned to the midfield after two months out to anchor the midfield with Tomas Rogic and Stuart Armstrong. James Forrest and Gary Mackay-Steven are part of a three-man attack with Leigh Griffiths down the middle.
De Boer has made two changes to his team that defeated Cambuur 5-1 at the weekend as Mike van der Hoorn and Schone come into the starting lineup in place of Thulani Serero and Joel Veltman, who misses out due to illness. Arkadiusz Milik leads the line for the Dutch side with Amin Younes and Viktor Fischer in support. Davy Klaassen, Nemanja Gudelj and Schone anchor the midfield, with Van der Hoorn and Jairo Riedewald in the centre of defence.
There is a great atmopshere at Celtic Park ahead of kickoff as the home fans are fine voice to support their team this evening. Here's hoping for an entertaining contest.
The players are out on the pitch and we should be underway very shortly.
We're underway at Celtic Park.
Slow start to the game as both teams are sizing up each other to work out their systems. Griffiths wins an early free kick for the Bhoys, but they pass up the chance to send the ball into the box. Interesting decision from the home side.
GOAL! Celtic 1-0 Ajax (McGregor)
A dream start for Celtic as McGregor scores with a goal out of nothing. The midfielder collects the ball 30 yards from goal and is allowed to drive towards the edge of the box by cutting back on his right foot. McGregor sends his low effort past the outstretched hand of Cillessen into the bottom corner to send Celtic Park into raptures. Just the start Deila would have demanded from his team.
Ajax are trying to get back at the home side following McGregor's strike, but cannot get into a rhythm due to the strong pressing game of the Bhoys, which is giving the Dutch team no time on the ball.
SHOT! Griffiths and Mackay-Steven link up in the final third, and the striker advances forward with menace at Riedewald. Griffiths goes for goal from 25 yards witha left-footed strike, but his effort is straight at Cillessen, who gets his body behind the ball to make the stop.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Ajax are denied an equaliser by an incorrect decision by the linesman as Milik makes a run behind the Celtic defence to knock the ball into the path of Fischer, who fires the ball past Gordon. Replays show that the Fischer was not offside, a let off for the home side.
The visitors threaten as Younes turns Lustig with ease down the left flank and advances into the box. He tries to pick out the run of Milik at the back post, but Boyata reads the danger to clear the ball downfield.
Ajax have just managed to creep into the game over the past five minutes and will feel robbed by the decision of the official to disallow Fischer's strike. However, they are beginning ti move the ball well in the final third and finding space between the Celtic defence and midfield.
Mackay-Steven commits a foul 25 yards from goal by bringing down Schone. A good chance for the visitors to threaten from the set piece.
CHANCE! Gudelj plays the ball short to Schone, who peels off the side of the wall, but the midfielder takes a poor first touch to force him wide. The midfielder still manages to fire his effort in from a tight angle, but Gordon makes the save.
GOAL! Celtic 1-1 Ajax (Milik)
Ajax are back in the game as Celtic's frailities at the back are exposed with Milik converting from close range. The goal came out of deflected strike from Schone, which looped over the Bhoys' backline and landed at the feet of Fischer. He tries to knock the ball past Gordon, but his effort was tame and the keeper managed to get a hand to it. However, the forward forced the ball across the face of goal where Milik beat his man to send the ball home.
Celtic issue a response to the goal as Forrest makes a surging run through the middle before space opens up for a strike at goal, but he can only fire his strike straight into the arms of Cillessen.
Boyata is forced to react quickly to the danger when Younes gets the better of Lustig down the left flank for the second time in the match, and whips a low ball into the box for the run of Milik. However, the former Manchester City man sees the run and gets ahead of the forward to hammer the ball into touch.
Space opens up for Griffiths in the final third and the forward has the chance to play Mackay-Steven down the inside left channel with a through-ball, but he tries to do too much on the edge of the box, allowing Van der Hoorn to win the ball with a good tackle.
CHANCE! Younes is the dangerman again for the visitors as he cuts back on to his right foot this time and tries to curl his effort towards the top corner, but fortunately for the Bhoys his strike sails narrowly over the bar.
CHANCE! Griffith collects a through-ball from Tierney down the left and advances into the box. The forward has space and time to consider his options, but he opts to strike the ball early and can only send his effort into the side-netting.
Tierney finds open field again when he raids down the flank and he sends a low ball across the edge of the box to Mackay-Steven and Forrest, but neither Celtic player can control the ball before Van der Hoorn gets there to clear away.
Celtic have responded to the pressure from the visitors and are beginning to assert their control over the game once again. Forrest then earns a corner for Deila's men by raiding down the right and firing the ball off the legs of Dijks.
CHANCE! Younes continues to give Lustig all sorts of problems by running at the right-back and he cuts back inside on his right foot and is able to drive the ball at goal. His effort strikes Boyata on its way to goal and the Ajax players appeal for a penalty, but the claims are waved away by the referee.
CHANCE! The clearance from Younes's effort almost sees Griffiths break in behind the Ajax defence. The striker is in a tussle with Van der Hoorn in the box, who manages to stand up the Celtic number nine after being beaten in the aerial duel. Griffiths turns enough to force a strike at goal, but his attempt is tame and straight at Cillessen.
There will be one minute of added time.
HALF-TIME: Celtic 1-1 Ajax
It's all square at the break at Celtic Park. The Bhoys had the perfect start to the match when Callum McGregor fired them ahead in the fourth minute, but Ajax came back into the match and equalised through Arkadiusz Milik. The match has followed the pattern of Celtic's Europa League campaign as they had no problem finding the net, but they were cut open with ease and lost control of the match heading into the break.
Deila will be concerned about his side's display at the break, despite their promising attacking play. However, given their situation in the group there is not a great deal he can do about their defensive frailties. A point will likely not be enough from the fixture tonight, which means Deila cannot afford to put another defender on the pitch to help his back four, especially Mikael Lustig.
De Boer will be pleased with how his team responded to going behind as they managed to dominate the game after Milik equalised. Amir Younes has offered a great threat down the left for the Dutch side and if he continues to have the same success in the second half it would not be a surprise to see him get on the scoresheet this evening.
The players are back out on the pitch at Celtic Park, so we should be back underway soon.
RESTART! We're back underway in a huge half of football for Celtic.
Boyata commits an error at the back which allows Milik to break down the left. The forward sends a low cross to the edge of the box, but it does not fall into the path of a teammate until Klaassen picks out Tete down the right flank. The full-back tries to beat Tierney down the left, but the youngster stands up the test to knock the ball behind for a corner.
Slow start to the half as both teams are struggling to find a rhythm, a lot of loose passes have gone straight through to Gordon and Cillessen.
There is confusion in the Celtic backline and Boyata heads the ball behind for a corner with no Ajax player in the vicinity. The crowd are not happy and neither is Gordon or Simunovic.
Fortunately for Boyata, Schone's corner from the left wing travels straight into the arms of Gordon. Celtic still look vulnerable at the back and they have received very little protection from their midfield throughout the contest.
Griffiths continues to get the ball in and around the box, but he still has not threatened Cillessen as on this occasion he sends his left-footed strike wide of the post. The strike had nothing going for it. It just has not been the forward's night so far.
Pressure from the visitors from a corner, and Schone sends his delivery into the box from the right and Van der Hoorn connects with a header, only to put his effort well over the bar.
CHANCE! Celtic work the ball well in the final third as Forrest and Griffiths combine to allow the winger a chance to shoot towards the bottom corner, but he jus cannot get enough on his strike to beat Cillessen, who makes a solid stop down to his right.
SUBSTITUTION: Rogic comes off for the home side to be replaced by Charlie Mulgrew.
OFF THE BAR! Celtic come within inches of regaining the lead through a strike from Mulgrew, which gets deflected on its way to goal, only to crash off the frame with Cillessen beaten. Forrest caused problems again for Ajax with another driving run into the final third, space is starting to open up for the Bhoys' attacking players.
SUBSTITUTION: Cerny replaces Fischer for the visitors.
Fouls aplenty in 60 seconds as Cerny escapes a booking for a rash challenge Forrest, while Riedewald is also fortunate to escape without being carded for a foul on Mackay-Steven.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Allan comes on for the home side in place of Mackay-Steven, while Schone makes way for Van de Beek for Ajax.
CHANCE! Griffiths has a glorious chance to put the Bhoys ahead by latching on to an incisive through-ball from Allan, but he cannot beat Cillessen in a one-on-one situation as the keeper diverts the ball behind with his legs. Huge moment in the match and a great save from the Netherlands stopper.
CHANCE! The resulting corner from McGregor lands to Simunovic at the back post, but he cannot make contact with an acrobatic volley to allow the visitors to escape. Will Celtic come to rue these misses opportunities?
YELLOW CARD! Tete goes into the book for a late challenge on Forrest down the left. A good chance for Celtic to threaten with a free kick on the edge of the box.
SUBSTITUTION: Tierney makes way for Izaguirre before the free kick.
CHANCE! Armstrong lofts the ball to the back post over Cillessen, leaving the goal gaping. Mulgrew rises highest to beat his man in the air, but he can only guide his header agonisingly over the bar.
YELLOW CARD! Allan is the first Celtic player to be booked for a late challenge on Van Der Hoorn.
SUBSTITUTION: A hint at De Boer's intentions as he replaces centre-back Van Der Hoorn with striker Yana Sanogo, on loan from Arsenal for the final 10 minutes.
Younes has not had the same attacking prowess as the first half and he highlights his struggles as he cuts inside on his right foot, but blazes his effort over the bar.
CHANCE! Griffiths collects a low cross from Armstrong and is alone in the box with space and time to pick his spot. However, he takes an awful first touch and cannot bring the ball under control to allow Riedewald to get back and take the power off his shot enough for Cillessen to gather.
OFF THE POST! Younes comes within inches of firing Ajax ahead as he regains his form from the first half to raid past Lustig and curl an effort towards the far corner, which is only denied a goal by the post. So close for Ajax.
GOAL! Celtic 1-2 Ajax (Cerny)
It could be all over for Celtic now as Ajax hit them on the counter and Cerny displays great composure to fire the ball past Gordon at his near post. Allan was dispossessed on the edge of the the Ajax box and Milik drove forward before sliding the ball into the feet of Cerny, who blast his strike home. Great finish by the 18-year-old.
Bizarre scenes from Mulgrew as he appears to be un-injured, but has walked off the pitch. Celtic have no subsitutes left and are now down to 10 men for the final few minutes of the match. He didn't seem to be limping, which makes the decision even more baffling in the circumstances.
There will be three minutes of added time.
CHANCE! Ajax have the chance to kill the game off as a low ball into the feet of Sanogo is blocked at the near post by Lustig, but the ball falls to Cerny, and only a fine reaction stop from Gordon stops the Dutch side from finding a third goal.
FULL-TIME: Celtic 1-2 Ajax
Celtic's adventures in Europe are over this season as they fall to a 2-1 defeat to Ajax at Celtic Park. The Bhoys would have been eliminated even if they had drawn tonight following Fenerbahce's win over Molde. As a result, they are bottom of the group and will enter their final Group A game with the sole motivation to avoid finishing bottom.
Deila's men were not clinical enough in front of goal this evening, with Leigh Griffiths especially guilty of missing several good opportunities, which has led to their failure in the competition. The match summed up Celtic's problems in the Europa League this season as they were not quite good enough in the final third and extremely vulnerable at the back. Deila's future could well be threatened by their dismal performance in the Europe this season, which would be harsh considering his achievements in the SPL, but major decisions await the Celtic board in the coming weeks.
Thanks for joining our commentary this evening, until next time, goodbye.
Written by
Simon Sinclair
Simon Sinclair
