MX23RW : Tuesday, March 11 05:39:29| >> :600:184839:184839:
[monks data]
Attendance: 58,000
Celtic logo
Europa League | Group Stage
Dec 13, 2018 at 8pm UK
 
Red Bull Salzburg

1-2

Ntcham (90')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Dabbur (67'), Gulbrandsen (78')

Rodgers lauds players as Celtic progress in Europa League despite defeat

The Hoops went down 2-1 at home to Salzburg

Brendan Rodgers hailed his Celtic players after they won through to the knockout stage of the Europa League despite a 2-1 defeat by Salzburg at Parkhead.

The Hoops needed only a point to make sure they joined the already-qualified Austrian outfit in the last 32 but found themselves 2-0 down in the second half through goals from Munas Dabbur and Fredrik Gulbrandsen.

Hoops substitute Olivier Ntcham scored at the second attempt from a penalty in added time but it was RB Leipzig’s unlikely 1-1 draw with bottom side Rosenborg – thanks to a late goal by Tore Reginiussen –  which meant the Scottish champions held on to second spot in Group B, two points ahead of the German outfit, to go into Monday’s draw.

Rodgers said: “First, a huge congratulations to my players.

“This campaign was over six games,  so to finish in a really tough group with nine points and qualify is a huge achievement.

“Of course in the game tonight, the best team won tonight, Salzburg were good, dynamic, sharp, with some really good players.

“We didn’t play well but we showed  over the six games that we can play well  and played well in enough of the game to get the points in a very tough group.

“I am so happy for the players, so many games and to step up and get that reward  at the end of it and qualify is a great achievement for them.

“You have two Champions League teams in Salzburg and Leipzig, the investment, everything that goes into their organisation which is based to succeed.

“So for us to come out on top against a high-ranking team from one of the top European leagues, Leipzig,  is another big step in the progress of our players.

“There is still so much for them to learn and improve but year on year they are getting better and better and like I say, to qualify for the last 32 is a brilliant achievement for us.

Olivier Ntcham
Olivier Ntcham pulled a late goal back for Celtic (Graham Stuart/PA)

“We will look forward to the draw. I am sure it will be a tough team.”

Rodgers refused to criticise Craig Gordon, whose attempted throw out was blocked by Gulbrandsen who had the easiest task of knocking the ball into the net despite the Parkhead keeper’s best efforts to get back.

He said: “The second one can happen.

“Craig made some really good saves. Yes, he makes a mistake but that’s OK, sometimes that happens for a goalkeeper.”

Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon
Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon had a mixed night for the Hoops (Graham Stuart/PA)

Midfielder Ryan Christie was taken from the field on a stretcher early in the second half, to be replaced  by Ntcham.

Rodgers said: “I am not sure about Ryan. It looked a sore one. He was on crutches, we will see how it is.”

Salzburg boss Marco Rose, whose side won all six Group B matches and who remain unbeaten this season, said: “Overall I am very satisfied with 90 minutes and very proud of my players.”

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Ronnie Esplin, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '3c096c72-36c9-4cae-b90d-f38bb97f5374');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:match-reports');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Rodgers lauds players as Celtic progress in Europa League despite defeat'});

ID:344139: cacheID:344139:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9336:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
QLazio861119
2Athletic Bilbao861119
3Man Utd853018
4Spurs852117
5Frankfurt851216
6Lyon843115
7Olympiacos843115
8Rangers842214
9Bodo/Glimt842214
10Anderlecht842214
11FCSB842214
12Ajax841313
13Real Sociedad841313
14Galatasaray834113
15Roma833212
16Plzen833212
17Ferencvaros840412
18Porto832311
19Midtjylland832311
20AZ832311
21Union SG832311
22FC Twente824210
23Fenerbahce824210
24Braga831410
25Elfsborg831410
26PAOK831410
27Hoffenheim82339
28Besiktas83059
29M. Tel Aviv82066
30Slavia Prague81255
31Malmo81255
32RFS81255
33Ludogorets80444
34Dynamo Kiev81164
35Nice80353
36Qarabag81073


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!