CELTIC 0 KAIRAT ALMATY 0
CELTIC fired blanks in a night of frustration and they have it all to do when they face Kairat in Kazakhstan on Tuesday.
The best chance for the Hoops came 15 seconds after the interval when James Forrest fired in a low drive that looked destined for the net, but Aleksandr Zarutskiy got a fingertip to push it onto the left-hand upright and the rebound went straight back into the arms of the grateful keeper.
Daizen Maeda also blew a wonderful opportunity deep into stoppage time, but he contrived to hit a timid shot at substitute netminder Gheorghe Anakeerov to seal a dismal display by the hosts in the first leg of the Champions League play-off.
ANGUISH…Daizen Maeda winces after his late miss.
In a first-half festooned with wayward and ill-judged passes, the Hoops failed to get a solitary shot on target to trouble the opposition shotstopper.
The was the story of an exasperating opening period where Kairat proved to be surprisingly adventurous and eager to come forward to catch the Hoops on the back foot.
The Kazakhs snapped into challenges and were quick to exploit spaces in midfield with the Hoops struggling to take control.
The visitors did have the ball in the net in the 11th minute, but Alyaksandr Martynovich was clearly offside as he tucked the ball behind Kasper Schmeichel following a cross in from the right.
Worryingly, the Celtic players’ accuracy in the final ball was miles off as passes went astray all over the place. Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate, normally so composed in their delivery, were among the culprits,
KNOCK ON WOOD…James Forrest is left frustrated after striking the post.
In the 32nd minute, Alistair Johnston was stretchered off with what looked like a hamstring strain and Anthony Ralston came on two minutes later after extensive onfield treatment for the Canadian international.
Summing up a fairly alarmingly inept first-half, Maeda had time to send in an inviting cross from the left, but overhit the pass to the extent the ball sailed towards the crowd in the stands.
Brendan Rodgers looked somewhat perplexed as he headed for the dressing room at the interval. An expression that continued all the way to the full-time whistle.
For the start of the second-half, Yang Hyun-jun was on for Adam Idah who had contributed little during his time on the pitch. Meada took over as attack-leader with the South Korean moving to the left-wing berth.
Within seconds, Yang had played in Forrest, but the veteran’s low shot was deflected onto the upright and then seized by the grounded keeper.
In the 57th minute, Celtic escaped after a moment of lack of control and concentration from Cameron Carter-Vickers.
UP AND OVER…Liam Scales is off target with a close-range header.
The centre-back back allowed the ball to roll under his foot straight to Brazilian Edmilson who attempted an ambitious effort from 40 yards,
Kasper Schmeichel backtracked furiously and was relieved to see the ball carry just inches over the bar.
Arne Engels came on for Forrest in the 70th minute and moments later he delivered a superb right-wing corner-kick into the box that was glanced over the bar by Liam Scales.
Four minutes later, Rodgers sent on Auston Trusty and Shin Yamada for Tierney and Nygren as he tried to change the complexion on the game.
Alas, it was to no avail. Maeda had his late chance and fluffed his lines and now Celtic step onto a £40million tightrope on Tuesday.
The danger signals are flashing.
TEAM: Schmeichel; Johnston (sub: Ralston 34), Carter-Vickers, Scales, Tierney (sub: Trusty 77); Nygren (sub: Yamada 77), McGregor, Hatate; Forrest (sub: Engels 70), Idah (sub: Yang 46), Maeda.
