CELTIC 1 BAYERN MUNICH 2
CELTIC displayed spirit, but ultimately committed soccer suicide against Bayern Munich in the Champions League play-off first leg at a pulsating Parkhead this evening.
The Hoops lost their first game in Paradise since going down to Hearts in December 2023 – and they have no-one to blame but themselves as they travel to Bavaria on Tuesday trailing by a goal.
Some absolutely atrocious defending allowed Harry Kane to score the deciding goal to inflict maximum punishment.
Remarkably, the German team’s main threat was allowed the freedom of the east end of Glasgow and was left totally unguarded when a left-wing corner-kick dropped into the box in the 49th minute with the Germans already leading with a Michael Olise goal.
The Bayern top scorer couldn’t believe his massive good fortune with the opposition nowhere to be seen and he launched a first-timer from a mere four yards past the helpless Kasper Schmeichel for what turned out to be the winning goal.
THE WINNER…the unmarked Harry Kane nets the deciding goal past Kasper Schmeichel and Adam Idah.
There can be no excuses – it was inexplicably lack of awareness from the Hoops back lot and questions must be asked.
The game finished with Brendan Rodgers’ side furiously looking for an equaliser after Daizen Maeda had pulled one back in the 79th minute, but, alas, it wasn’t to be.
Unless there is a miracle around the corner, Celtic’s European adventure is over for another season.
But it could have been so much different.
The first-half had a sensational start and an equally remarkable conclusion with the hosts on the receiving end of a snarl from Dame Fortune on both occasions.
Nicolas Kuhn had a goal ruled out inside 25 SECONDS and the Germans took the lead just moments from the break through Olise.
In between the dramatic occurrences, Rodgers’ side had been up against opponents who enjoyed a huge percentage of possession as Celtic displayed a worrying disconnect in midfield among Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and Arne Engels.
The skipper spent way too much time deep in his own half to affect traffic in enemy territory while his colleagues failed to impose themselves trying to go forward.
MAKING A POINT…Callum McGregor speaks to boss Brendan Rodgers.
A sell-out Parkhead exploded in joy inside a minute when it looked as though Kuhn had netted a lightning strike against his countrymen after he accepted a pass from Engels, stepped inside, carried the ball into an excellent shooting opportunity and then flashed a low shot at goal.
Manuel Neuer stretched to his right as the effort swept low past him into the net to cue bedlam on the park, on the touchline and in the stands.
Unfortunately, Adam Idah had strayed into an offside position in front of the legendary keeper and the standside linesman was quick to raise his flag.
Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manazo agreed with his assistant and silence descended upon the east end of Glasgow.
It was cruel, but images did highlight the Republic of Ireland international was in an illegal position and interfering with the Bayern captain’s view, so, alas, the decision was correct.
The visitors recovered quickly to take control of the middle of the park and Schmeichel had to react swiftly in leaving his line on three occasions to bail out his defence.
He was given an early warning in the 13th minute that Olise was in the mood when the former Crystal Palace winger far too easily tricked his way past Auston Trusty to whip in a low drive, but the Great Dane reacted brilliantly to divert the ball round his left-hand post for a corner-kick.
Schmeichel also showed lighting reflexes to dive and smuggle a six-yard header from Kane off his line, but once again images proved the England international striker was just a shade offside when he made contact with the left-wing cross.
The netminder didn’t know that, of course, and it was a first-class save.
However, he didn’t have a chance as the first-half was drawing to a close when Bayern broke on the right.
Olise lost control for a moment, but the ball bobbled off the shins of the hesistant Greg Taylor back into his path and the Londoner lashed an unstoppable drive into the top left-hand corner of the net.
FIST IN TIME…Kasper Schmeichel dives full length to clear his lines.
And Celtic Park was silenced again when Kane, of all people, was left unmarked by a dozy defence to claim what turned out to be the deciding goal.
There were hopes of a penalty-kick award for the Hoops six minutes later after VAR intervened to instruct the referee to look again at a challenge on Engels by Dayot Upmecano.
The game was delayed for about four minutes before the Spanish official returned to dash the hopes of the hosts.
The first hour past without Neuer having a single shot to save as Rodgers’ side toiled to get a foothold in proceedings.
There was no surprise in the 65th minute when Idah and Taylor were removed with Filipe Jota and Jeffrey Schlupp thrown on as Celtic tried valiantly to turn to the tide.
In the 74th minute, Maeda latched onto a slack passback, dragged the ball past the isolated Neuer and attempted to slide the ball in at a tight angle, but, unfortunately, his effort was wide of the target.
HEAD BHOY…Celtic’s top scorer Daizen Maeda nets his 23rd goal of the season with a close-range effort beyond Bayern Munich keeper Manuel Neuer.
Three minutes later Yang Hyun-jun was introduced for Kuhn who had drifted out of things and in the 79th minute there was a reward as Maeda pulled one back from close range.
Engels whipped in an inviting corner-kick from the right, there was a touch from a Bayern defender before Trusty put it back into the mix and Yang helped it on.
Maeda materialised smack in front of goal to head the ball home to set up a furious climax with seven minutes added on.
And only a smart save from Neuer when he fisted an Alistair Johnston drive over the bar in the first minute of stoppage time prevented the strike that would have brought the house down.
At the end, it was too little too late for the champions who will reflect on the moment they allowed Bayern’s dangerman a clear shot at goal from four yards to decide the outcome.
TEAM: Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Taylor (sub: Schlupp 65); Engels, McGregor, Hatate; Kuhn (sub: Yang 77), Idah (sub: Jota 65), Maeda.
