UEFA Champions League League phase, matchday seven Wednesday, January 22, 2025 Celtic Park, Glasgow CELTIC 1 (Benito 85og) YB BERN 0 Celtic secured UEFA Champions League knockout football with a 1-0 victory over Swiss side, YB Bern, at Paradise. It was a game that Brendan Rodgers’ side dominated, and they had three disallowed first-half goals as well as a missed penalty to show for their efforts. And it took an own goal with just five minutes remaining for Celtic to take all three points, on a night when Kasper Schmeichel also produced some stunning second-half saves to ensure another clean sheet. It was the visitors who provided the first attacking threat of the game, surging into the Celtic area inside the first couple of minutes. The danger was quickly cleared, and it would be another half-an-hour before they threatened Kasper Schmeichel’s goal again. In the intervening period, Celtic dominated the game and had the ball in the net three times courtesy of Kyogo, though two of those goals were ruled out for offside while the other was disallowed following a VAR review which penalised Callum McGregor for a foul in the build-up to the goal. The first of those disallowed goals came in the sixth minute when Kyogo latched on to a through ball from Arne Engels, but the Japanese striker was just ahead of the last defender when the pass was made and the goal was ruled out. However, Brendan Rodgers’ side remained on the front foot, with the pace and power of their play proving difficult for the Swiss side to handle. Reo Hatate had an effort in the 25th minute from the edge of the box saved, while five minutes later Kyogo thought he’d given Celtic the lead. Callum McGregor won possession about 40 yards from goal and slotted the ball to the Hoops striker, who fired the ball home. But the Norwegian referee was advised by the VAR officials to review the goal, and he subsequently ruled that McGregor had fouled his opponent in the build-up to the goal. Just three minutes later Celtic scored again and, once more, it was disallowed, with Kyogo ruled offside as he slotted the ball into the net from a Daizen Maeda cross. The visitors hit Celtic on the counter-attack in the 36th minute, firing a dangerous ball across goal which was knocked out for a corner by Alistair Johnston. And just three minutes later, the Hoops spurned a great opportunity to open the scoring. Greg Taylor was pulled down inside the box, with the referee pointing to the spot, but Arne Engels’ penalty was saved by the YB Bern goalkeeper. The second half began in the same manner as the first, with Arne Engels fashioning space inside the box and hitting a shot which was blocked by the keeper, and Daizen Maeda couldn’t direct the header from the rebound on target. And both players combined again to set up a chance for Maeda, which was pushed behind for a corner. On 55 minutes, Auston Trusty came close with a header from a corner, but his effort hit the top of the bar and went over. Three minutes later Callum McGregor had a superb 20-yard effort pushed behind for a corner as Celtic continued pushing for the opening. However, at the other end they had Kasper Schmeichel to thank as he produced a stunning double save to deny Darian Males from giving the visitors an undeserved opening goal. With the game at a stalemate, it took some great play and good fortune for Celtic to score the opening goal in the 85th minute. Reo Hatate threaded a superb ball through for substitute Adam Idah, and while his initial effort was saved by the keeper, it was bundled into the net by YB Bern skipper, Loris Benito. There was still late drama as Daizen Maeda was initially booked for a tussle with a YB Bern player, only for the decision to be upgraded to a red card following a VAR review. It made for a tense five added minutes, and with the last kick of the game, the Swiss side had a chance but Schmeichel again produced a stunning save to ensure a 1-0 victory for Brendan Rodgers’ side. 🍀Subscribe today to the official YouTube of the world’s first Quadruple Treble winners, Celtic Football Club:
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