BAYERN MUNICH 1 CELTIC 1: (Agg: 3-2)
FORTUNE certainly does not favour the brave – and that was proved so conclusively and cruelly in the Allianz Arena this evening.
Celtic’s Champions League hopes ended in the last minute of stoppage-time with the flukiest of goals that saw Bayern Munich reach the knock-out stages of European football’s most prestigious competition.
It was a real sickener for Brendan Rodgers’ side who had been leading through a strike from Nicolas Kuhn in the 63rd minute and were about to go into extra-time of a tense encounter.
With seconds left to go, Kasper Schmeichel pushed away a close-range header from Leon Goretzka that diverted across goal.
Cameron Carter-Vickers attempted to sweep the ball to safety, but his clearance ricocheted off Alphonso Davies, racing in at the back post, and into the net.
GREEN FOR GO…Nicolas Kuhn celebrates Celtic’s breakthrough goal.
It was a heartbreaking way for a heroic collection of Celtic players to exit Europe’s elite competition.
They can leave with their heads held high because everyone who wore the green of Celtic tonight did the club proud.
There was an opening Callum McGregor in the seventh minute when he robbed Michael Olise of the ball in midfield and set off in direction of the penalty box.
The alert Kuhn hared in from the right to offer support, but the skipper decided to go it alone and, unfortunately, his left-foot effort was wayward and well wide of the target as Manuel Neuer breathed a sigh of relief.
Bayern’s response was almost instantaneous with Harry Kane thumping in a snapshot, but Schmeichel was right in line to beat the attempt to safety.
Only a 16th-minute goal-line clearance from Raphael Guerreiro prevented Kuhn from snatching the advantage for the Hoops after some marvellous work on the left from Filipe Jota.
The Portuguese winger made a break to expose the hosts and picked out the German totally unmarked 10 yards out.
Kuhn didn’t quite get the oomph required with his attempt after taking a touch to set it up. Nauer was helpless, but was rescued by Guerreiro who got back to hack the ball away.
It was worked back to Arne Engels who whipped in an inviting low cross from the right, but Maeda missed as he slid in and the opportunity was gone.
DANGERMAN…Nicolas Kuhn, watched by Alistair Johnston, races at the Bayern Munich defence.
Celtic took heart and only moments later Maeda squandered a great opportunity after Kuhn had set him up after pouncing on a loose ball.
Neuer was in no man’s land, but the attack-leader rushed his shot from the edge of the box and the ball flew hopelessly wide.
He will know he should have done so much better.
Certainly, Brendan Rodgers couldn’t disguise his frustration on the touchline.
Schmeichel was called into action moments later when he punched away a deflected effort from Kane.
The tempo didn’t falter as two teams went at it halter skelter in search for the opening goal.
Alistair Johnston wasn’t getting too many opportunities to support Kuhn on the right, but, as the first-half drew to a close, the Canadian international hit the byline to fire over a cross. Neuer, though, was swift to react and collect the high ball.
Moments later, Kane, yet again unmarked by the Hoops rearguard, almost punished the visitors with a sweeping first-time drive from a right-wing cross, but his shot from 10 yards thumped off the face of Schmeichel’s crossbar and was hastily cleared.
It was a reprieve for Rodgers’ men who gifted their opponents the lead last week at practically the same stage of the first leg when Olise scored.
Celtic restarted brightly with Jota creating an opportunity for Reo Hatate, but the midfielder took one touch too many and the chance was gone.
PICK IT OUT…Nicolas Kuhn puts Celtic ahead.
It was Schmeichel to the rescue within moments when the keeper maintained his composure as Goretzka broke clean through to wallop in a drive.
The Great Dane didn’t flinch as he remained tall and blocked the attempt. It was a first-class save.
Jeffrey Schlupp, getting the nod to start ahead of Greg Taylor, was looking solid and dependable as he faced the threat of Olise while also surging forward to link well with the ever-willing Jota.
On the hour mark, the Portuguese maverick made way from Adam Idah with the Republic of Ireland international taking over the spearhead role with Maeda switching to the left.
And three minutes later, Celtic were celebrating the breakthrough goal with a combination of class, courage and killer instinct.
STOPPAGE-TIME SICKENER…Alphonso Davies deflects Cameron Carter-Vickers’ clearance past Kasper Schmeichel for Bayern’s fortunate winner.
Idah kick-started the move with a ball forward that was chased by Maeda. At one stage, the opportunity looked to have gone, but the Japanese speedster refused to give up and continued his pursuit of the ball as it was worked across the back-line.
Maeda eventually slipped a pass in front of the Kuhn, coming in from the right. He got a break of the ball and was suddenly in on Neuer.
The winger kept cool and whipped a low drive unerringly into the back of the net.
Cue bedlam on the pitch among the Hoops players, on the touchline with Rodgers and the backroom staff and the visiting fans in the stadium.
In the 70th minute, the goal hero limped off to be replaced by South Korean Yang Hyun-jun.
Nine minutes later, Schmeichel produced a wonder save to catapult to his right to fist away a vicious 18-yard drive from Joshua Kimmich after an earlier free-kick had been charged down.
It was a wonder stop from the 38-year-old netminder who looked well up for a busy night in the Bavarian capital.
But even Schmeichel had no answer when Dame Fortune scowled on Celtic once more in this competition.
Beaten, but unbowed in Bavaria, Rodgers’ men deserve every bit of praise and acclaim that comes their way.
TEAM: Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Schlupp; Engels, McGregor, Hatate; Kuhn (sub: Yang 70), Maeda, Jota (sub: Idah 60).
