A few months after that win over Barcelona and being eliminated in the knock-out stages of the Champions League by Juventus, Neil Lennon took his Celtic team to Astana, where Shakhter Karagandy elected to play their home tie in the 2013 qualifiers, while sacrificing a sheep for good fortune on the pitch a day earlier.
We lost 2-0 before performing an heroic rescue a week later to snatch victory in stoppage time, but some of the detail from the defeat in Kazakhstan has been lost.
In the opening stages at the Astana Arena we looked miles ahead before Shakhter scored a 12th minute opener. We continued to dominate possession – 61% overall – but failed to put the ball in the net, before conceding a late second, which must have delighted and surprised the Kazaks in equal measure.
A 2-0 loss away in Europe is a bad result, but the nature of the game gave plenty of room for encouragement. We were clearly a better team, but didn’t have our act together, especially in defence.
This game was the one and only start for that urban legend, Steven Mouyokolo, who partnered Charlie Mulgrew in central defence to give new guy, Virgil van Dijk, his second start, making a very unaccustomed appearance at full back. What did we expect? It wasn’t a surprise that we did enough in the return leg with a more conventional look at the back (Mouyokolo and van Dijk were both dropped).
Astana have several things in their favour. They are fully fit, 21 games into their league season, and 10 points ahead, so they’ve had the luxury of resting players as the qualifiers approached. Shakhter Karagandy have also agreed to postpone their scheduled game on Saturday, so Astana won’t play until they face Celtic next week. By contrast, Brendan Rodgers still needs game-time to work his players up to full fitness.
Last season Astana reached the Champions League group stage, eliminating Maribor (cough), HJK Helsinki and APOEL Nicosia along the way. Their group performances against Atletico, Benfica and Galatasaray were more than credible – two defeats and four draws, achieved by defending in numbers across all six games.
Listen carefully to the confidence the Shakhter manager who faced us three years ago has in his fellow Kazaks. Astana will be buoyed by last season’s achievements and will have watched the debacle in Gibraltar. They think they are the stronger team and, unlike their group stage games last season, will attack Celtic at home.
The last time they attacked at home in Europe was a year ago against HJK Helsinki, who scored three on the counter-attack but conceded four. There will be space to exploit on that bumpy plastic surface in central Asia. Defend, forget faux comforts like 61% possession, and have Leigh, Patrick, James and Callum hit them on the break.
600 Comments- Pages:
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Burnley 78,
We pay good wages at Celtic. We put most other clubs from those countries you mention in the shade in terms of wages.
Yes Hearts are out at the hand of a Maltese team. We hammered the Imps at home. One of our second tier teams just beat a Danish team in their back yard. Aberdeen? Are they not through?
The Town I Loved So Well- Luke Kelly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55OBEs98Pj4
Tambourine Bhoy of 1967 on 23rd July 2016 1:38 am
GREENPINATA
Anti-Americans? They’re nae trouble. It’s the koonts who are anti-anything just because ‘society’ says so…. feck’em.
Shhh….. between us (winky face)
HH
-Tambo
……………………………………………………………….
Cultural Marxists?
haha
Got a headache after trying to read that last post on previous page! Nae offence, but jeeziss!
Goodnight folks. Best to yiz. I’m ootahere.
-Tambo
Gordon
Lustig, Erik, Ambrose, Tierney
Janko, Brown, Biton, Armstrong,Izzy
Griff
Get out of Asia with Astana 0
Surely Brendan can at least match Ronny against Qarabag
On that note fellow Celtic fans good morning & God bless
Pete
Thank you for Annie. Aberdeen’s finest voice.
Little Bird
I’m not a racist or a Homophobe. I’m an Anti Marxist kind of person.
Trump is despicable, I’d rather have him than all the Anti Family options on offer.
Hitlery Abortion City Clinton – No Thank You.
All you do gooders ever thought of that unborn Child
Feckers insinuate that I don’t give a feck because I don’t post condolences, too many have now said the same, Shame on the Originator of that horrible CRAP.
Always do yer Good Works in Secret. This Site is crumbling when 16 Roads leaves.
MULLET AND CO 2 on 23RD JULY 2016 1:52 AM
FC ASTANA Premier Liga UEFA Champions League Qualification Kazakhstan
FC Astana
Competition: Premier Liga Kazakhstan – 1. league
Squad size: 23
Average age: 26,0
Foreign players: 8 34,8 %
Current A national players: 13
Nat. championship titles: 2 latest 14/15
Nat. cup victories: 2 latest 11/12
Stadium: Astana Arena 30.000 Seats
Current transfer record: £-153k
ø Market value: £565k
Total market value
£13.01m
Should make you wonder why the lily livered quislings in our support are so fearful.
PETEC
Stop it! This is a can of worms best left unopened, haha.
‘Cultural’ Marxism? Shooorly there’s just one kind of Marxism? Aaaw, maybe I’m thinking of communism. I always get all that bullshit mixed up, haha ;-)
Anyhoo…. have a good one, be good and be green :)
-Tambo
ACGR & St Stivs
I do this undercover work for the good of CQN :-))
Just in from a good Celtic night
HH
For those of you looking for EDB’s post it’s on page 5
EDB – God bless you pal. I hope you go on and see many more dubious Celtic 3rd/away strips in the many years to come!
HH jamesgang
Delaneys Dunky on 23rd July 2016 2:03 am
Pete
Thank you for Annie. Aberdeen’s finest voice.
Little Bird.
…………………
The Battle is the Lords
Ephesians.CSC
Tambourine Bhoy of 1967
Respect
Check it out
GOD is such an Amazing Father.
Yes
Yes
Yes
PETEC
Thank you. You’re a proper good’un.
HH
-Tambo
Tom Paxton “Buy A Gun For Your Son”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WphNO24h9nA
HH
I’m the Biggest Sinner EVER ever.
Good night bhoys 2-1to the good guys on Wednesday to celebrate the new arrivals
HH
All is forgiven.
….. within reason, of course! ;)
Tambourine Bhoy of 1967 on 23rd July 2016 2:17 am
PETEC
Thank you. You’re a proper good’un.
HH
-Tambo
………………………………………………..
I will be Very disappointed if you Trust me totally. Pedro failed in a simple task, or did He?
Respect Celtic Dude.
Tom Paxton – Johnny Got A Gun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rltmCsfsF_8
HH
I know Foxy what is their to be fearful of people should think positive which leads to positive outcomes not negative which leads to negative outcomes my team for next wednesday would be
Gordon
Lustig – Erik – The Norwegian Bhoy & Tierney
Forrest, Christie-McGregor-Roberts
Dembele & Leigh
Subs:-Rogic-Alan-Brown-Commons-Henderson Bailly
Would be my personal choice but we will leave the
team selection to the gaffer (BR) who I’m sure he will
now know which is the best selection
Come-On-The-Hoops
True Love can be hard to Find.
N-Joi.CsC
AKBW1888 on 23RD JULY 2016 1:52 AM
350 words in 2 sentences ~ incredible! ~ but some good points bhud.
BTW where does the Baretek Astana come from? Never seen this before ~ just curious.
HH
I think we’ll win on Wednesday.But what do I know?
Anywho,just a quick visit to post some tunes.
It’s good being a tim,just enjoy it.
G’nite,love n peace.
Verve – History
http://youtu.be/2jmf9UQ3YIs
ABO – Cherry Lips
http://youtu.be/DfGJmpJ2-iw
Doors – Riders On The Storm
http://youtu.be/Wbx6gULYNbc
FOREVERANDEVER!!!
PETEC
I’d be disappointed if I trusted you totally! Haha.
To answer your question: Yes. From where I see things, he failed…. if not him, somebody sure did! Oh feck, I’ve just fallen off the fence. Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.
I’m no accountant or businessman, but from my humble and uneducated view, it seems there could be a ‘risky’ £5 million to spend on a proper, ready-to-go CB.
Fecksake Petec, I try to avoid these conversations! Haha. Out of respect, I spilled my bit.
-Tambo
Phil Ochs – Here’s to the State of Misssippi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7fgB0m_y2I
HH
I forgot Stuart Armstrong who played well the other night through the middle
I would have him on the bench as well to be played through the middle not
out on the wing which RD insisted in playing him last Season which was no
use Stuart is best utilized through the middle HH All
Phil Ochs: What are you fighting for?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N93OCCBXGXc
HH
AKBW1888 on 23RD JULY 2016 2:25 AM
I see what you did there. Leaving out our wild card indeed :-)
HH
Tambourine Bhoy of 1967,
Everyone who works for Celtic, is working for Celtic.
I sincerely hope that to be the case.
The Youth coming through, and I know so little, I think is going to Elevate Celtic UP.
I miss the Right Winger Kojo and philvisreturns.
Celtic Greats
Neil Lennon & McCartney (The Beatles Now That Was A Very Good Band)
Astana which some people call them is in actual fact FC Baretek Astana
Check out their official website Bud.
Also you will see wee Lenny trying to kick a ball in the photographs of
their Stadium which also the National team plays @ as well
HH Foxy :-) :-)
Way you look tonight – Frank
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9ZGKALMMuc
HH
EDB
You have my respect, my prayers, and my best wishes. Don’t be a stranger mate, carpe diem.
Janet Devlin – Whisky Lullabies
If you have fell out with a Family member – Do the Loopy petec a wee favour, I never ask much, go and make up.
The Family is oh so Important now.
Beyond The Sea – Bobby Darin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bRAtV-jgoQ
HH10