CONOR HAZARD was on the receiving end of a quickfire blitz in the Europa League last night – while Albian Ajeti escaped a six-goal mauling.
Celtic’s Northern Ireland international keeper was a hero as his 10-man HJK Helsinki side – who had defender Miro Tenho red-carded after only 15 minutes – held out for a goalless interval scoreline against Roma in the Italian capital.
However, the roof fell in on Hazard and his Finnish team-mates when the Serie A outfit fired in two goals in three minutes after the restart through Paulo Dybla and Lorenzo Pellegrini.
IN THE FIRING LINE…Conor Hazard faced a tough time in Rome.
MISSING…Albian Ajeti was a no-show in Rotterdam.
It was all over by the time Andreas Belotti notched the third in the 68th minute.
Hazard’s season-long temporary deal at the Finns expires in December when he is due to return to Parkhead.
Flop striker Ajeti, who agreed a 12-month switch to Sturn Graz last month, was nowhere to be seen in the Austrians’ 22-man squad for the match against Feyenoord in Rotterdam for their Group F confrontation. The 25-year-old forward may have been injured.
The Swiss international, who has scored a mere nine goals in 48 Hoops’ appearances following his £5million arrival from West Ham in the summer of 2020, has yet to register for his new club after three outings.
He was missing from the player pool that was walloped 6-0 with the Dutch side four goals ahead by the interval.
Depending on the conditions of his contract, Ajeti could be returned to Ange Postecoglou’s club in January in the same manner Dundee allowed Leigh Griffiths to go back to the champions before the former Scotland international’s terms were scrapped.
