VfB STUTTGART 0 CELTIC 1 (Agg: 4-2)
MARTIN O’NEILL and his battling much-changed Celtic team made history tonight with the club’s first-ever victory in Germany.
The Bundesliga outfit went into the encounter with an unbeaten home record in the Europa League and were 4-1 ahead from last week’s disastrous first leg at Parkhead.
In fact, only Bayern Munich had beaten Stuttgart in their stadium this season – before O’Neill’s men upset the formbook with an astounding triumph, but, unfortunately, still toppled out of Europe.
But this was a lot more like the Celtic team that we know and love.
Breathtakingly, O’Neill’s men were ahead in just 29 SECONDS to momentarily silence the home support and give the visiting fans something to cheer.
It was a superbly-crafted goal with an excellent finish to match the build-up.
Yang Hyun-jun whipped a pass inside from the right to Junior Adamu who placed an expert ball in front of Luke McCowan.
The midfielder raced into the box before sliding a perfect low, angled ball past the sprawling keeper into the right-hand corner of the net.
LIGHTNING LUKE…quickfire hero Luke McCowan celebrates his winning goal inside half-a-minute in Stuttgart.
It was a mesmerising start from O’Neill’s men and, astonishingly, they had the opportunity to double their advantage in the fifth minute when Adamu again provided a pinpoint delivery, this time from wide right.
It fell to Daizen Maeda, but last season’s 33-goal top scorer, missed completely with a wayward swipe six yards out at the near post and the chance was gone.
In the 16th minute, Viljami Sinisalo, making a rare first-team appearance in place of the benched Kasper Schmeichel, made a brilliant save to prevent an equaliser.
Right-winger Badredine Bouanani was given time to line up a shot from outside the box and his ferocious drive skipped off the surface just in front of the Finnish international netminder.
Sinisalo maintained his concentration as he got down swiftly at his left-hand upright to touch the ball away for a corner-kick.
Even Schmeichel, sitting among the sand-by squad, applauded the outstanding stop from his glove rival.
Colby Donovan was putting in a good shift at right-back up against the lively Jamie Leweling. Unfortunately, the teenage defender was booked just before the interval for what looked an innocuous block on his pacy rival.
Adamu was showing up well and he caught the eye again with a bit of improvised keepy-up before releasing the ball to Maeda who infuriatingly conceded possession for the umpteenth time.
Yang was busy on the right while Callum McGregor, as usual, patrolled the midfield, helping out in defence and attack.
The Hoops survived a lightning raid at the start of the second period before Yang whipped over a low cross to the near post, but keeper Alexander Nubel was swift to react to grab the ball as Maeda challenged.
In the 55th minute, O’Neill made his first changes when he replaced Donovan and Adamu with Anthony Ralston and Tomas Cvancara.
Ten minutes later, Sinisalo produced another stunning save to deny Bouanani for a second time in this dramatic encounter.
The keeper got a strong hand to a screamer from the wide player to divert the ball to safety.
In the 68th minute, Benjamin Nygren and Sebastian Tounekti joined the action as they replaced matchwinner McCowan and Yang.
THE THINKER…Martin O’Neill ponders his next move.
Seven minutes afterwards, the hosts celebrated what they hoped was the leveller when a rasping first-time half-volley from Deniz Undav whizzed low past Sinisalo.
However, VAR proved Chris Fuhrich was offside in the build-up and the effort was rightly ruled out.
O’Neill went for it when he threw on Kelechi Iheanacho for Reo Hatate in the 78th minute as he switched to two up front with the Nigerian international playing alongside Cvancara.
Sinisalo took centre stage again with another acrobatic save to deny the Germans before, in the first minute of stoppage-time, Tounekti squandered the opportunity to score an amazing second goal.
The Tunisian was left with a clear shot at goal, but struck the ball straight at the keeper who then fumbled before grabbing the rebound before Iheanacho could pounce.
The full-time whistle signalled well-merited Celtic celebrations on and off the field.
Now for Ibrox on Sunday!
TEAM: Sinisalo; Donovan (sub: Ralston 55), Murray, Trusty, Saracchi; McCowan (sub: Nygren 68), McGregor, Hatate (sub: Iheanacho 78); Yang (sub: Tounekti 68), Adamu (sub: Cvancara 55), Maeda.
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