CELTIC 1 FERENCVAROS 3
THE misery continued at Parkhead this evening as fragile Celtic collapsed to a bewildering Europa League defeat to Ferencvaros.
It was agony overload under the lights in the east end of Glasgow and just to compound another unacceptable error-ridden display the killer goal was scored by former Hoops loanee Daniel Arzani.
Only minutes after the restart, with the Hungarians leading 2-1, the Australian, who spent two years in Glasgow on a temporary transfer from Manchester City, was allowed to waltz away from the cumbersome Cameron Carter-Vickers before having a look up and taking aim.
Arzani’s drive from 20 yards thundered unerringly into the top left-hand corner of Viljami Sinisalo’s net and Celtic were already staring a second embarrassing loss in the face.
After Ibrox, the home fans turned up in their thousands in the hope of seeing their favourites quickly show their comeback qualities.
They’re still waiting.
BLUNDER BHOYS…Liam Scales and Cameron Carter-Vickers allow Kristoffer Zachariassen to flick in Ferencvaros second goal from four yards.
With about 15 minutes still to go, the stands began emptying as the same supporters realised there was no way back against the Hungarians.
The Hoops shot themselves in the foot twice in a mistake-riddled first-half as they once again mystifying lost control of the game.
They started well with a good tempo and James Forrest was threatening to run amok on the left wing as he put in more crosses in five minutes than Sebastian Tounekti managed in his 45 minutes at Ibrox.
In the eighth minute, the evergreen winger teased his way to the touchline before whipping over an inviting cross to the near post, but Camilo Duran failed to make a clean connection and his effort flew wide of the target.
This turned out to be an evening the Colombian will not remember fondly.
A few moments later, Forrest fashioned an opening for himself with a quick turn to race into the box, but his drive was too close to Adam Varga and the keeper shovelled the ball past the post.
The Hungarians, though, weathered the early storm and came back to stun the home crowd by taking the lead with a disastrous own goal from a struggling Liam Scales.
The dangerous Bamidele Yusuf on the right wing was allowed to run in and flash a low cross into the box.
It looked as though it was going wide before the defender threw out a lazy left leg to deflect the ball past the startled Sinisalo low into the net.
It was a horrendous goal to concede and only two minutes later Sinisalo prevented the visitors from doubling their advantage.
Arzani, who looked lively on the left wing, once again cut inside, eased past Carter-Vickers far too easily and fired a reverse shot low to the keeper’s right-hand post.
Sinisalo, however, reacted with lightning reflexes to get down swiftly to turn the drive wide of the upright.
At this stage, the Hoops were all over the place as Martin O’Neill looked on anxiously from the touchline.
They were being carved open all too easily and Oliver Sorensen, in for Banjamin Nygren, had difficulty in picking up the pace.
Haissem Hassan on the right was looking sluggish and the home side just could not get back into their stride.
However, they managed to grab the equaliser in the 44th minute following a superb break on the left.
Forrest released Tierney with a fine pass, the left-back whipped a cross into the penalty area and Mika Baur met the ball perfectly with his left foot from 10 yards and his low drive flashed past Varga to his left.
Astoundingly, the visitors allowed Ferencvaros to regain the lead in first-half stoppage-time.
Yusuf got past Tierney in the box and hit a low ball to the near post. Scales and Carter-Vickers were not quick enough to react and Kristoffer Zachariassen got between the pair to backheel the ball past Sinisalo from only four yards.
It was a totally ridiculous goal to concede and the central defenders could only stand and look at each other.
THREE AND QUEASY…Daniel Arzani celebrates scoring Ferencvaros’ third goal.
Unsurprisingly, O’Neill replaced the ineffective Sorensen with Kasper Hogh at the interval and changed the shape of the team, but it made no difference when Arzani was allowed to rifle in the third goal.
In the 57th minute, Nygren and Tounekti came on for Forrest and Hassan.
Celtic continued to toil and there appeared to be a huge lack of character among the players as they attempted to get back into the contest.
Possession was waywardly gifted to the grateful opposition and in the space of only a few minutes Scales gave the ball directly to opponents on three occasions as frustration grew among the support.
Luke McCowan was sent on for the tiring Baur in the 66th minute, but the change made no appreciable difference.
Highlighting Celtic’s chronic lack of finishing ability, Nygren was presented with an open goal after a misplaced clearance from keeper Varga under pressure from Duran.
The Swede had the time to get the ball under control and look up before sending a 30-yard effort sailing harmlessly over the bar.
Anthony Ralston replaced Donovan in the 80th minute as the clocked ticked down towards another inevitable and puzzling defeat.
A hat-trick of horror on Sunday is unthinkable.
TEAM: Sinisalo; Donovan (sub: Ralston 80), Carter-Vickers, Scales, Tierney; Sorensen (sub: Hogh 46), McGregor, Baur (sub: McCowan 66); Hassan (sub: Nygren 57), Duran, Forrest (sub: Tounekti 57).
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