Vaclav Cerny's 88th-minute strike handed Ajax a 2-1 win over Celtic this evening, eliminating Ronny Deila's side from the Europa League in the process.
Celtic got off to a dream start though, as Callum McGregor sent a low drive into the bottom corner after three minutes on his first appearance in more than two months.
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The goal raised the noise levels in Celtic Park and Leigh Griffiths fired a shot into the arms of Jasper Cillessen after seven minutes.
Ajax thought they had pulled a goal back after 11 minutes, but Viktor Fischer was adjudged to have strayed offside, although replays suggested otherwise.
Lasse Schone then tested Craig Gordon with a fierce strike from a narrow angle and the Celtic goalkeeper denied Fischer a few moments later, but he was helpless to prevent Arkadiusz Milik from prodding home the loose ball.
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Griffiths and Amin Younes each had two more chances in the latter stages of the first half, but neither could force the ball home as the sides went in at the break all square.
The second half began in a cagey manner, with neither team able to create a clear opening until after the hour mark.
James Forrest did force Cillessen into a low save at his near post in the 64th minute though, and then Charlie Mulgrew rattled the crossbar with a ferocious strike as Celtic came close to a second goal.
Celtic continued to pass up good opportunities as Griffiths couldn't beat Cillessen in a one-on-one situation before Jozo Simunovic's acrobatic volley flew wide.
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Mulgrew then nodded over the bar after being found at the back post by Stuart Armstrong's deep cross, and Griffiths passed up yet another chance.
At the other end, Younes rattled the post, but Cerny finished off a potent counter-attack by the visitors late on to condemn the Bhoys to their third Group A loss.
Kristian Johnson
