Impressive Celts see off Helsinki
Sonera Stadium
Helsinki
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
HJK HELSINKI…0
CELTIC…2
Ledley 67, Samaras 86
TEN-MAN Celtic reached the UEFA Champions League play-offs with an impressive 2-0 away victory over HJK Helsinki, a result which gave them a 4-1 aggregate triumph over the Finnish outfit.
After dominating proceedings, and fashioning a number of excellent chances, second-half goals from Joe Ledley and Georgios Samaras finally made the Hoops' superiority count.
Defending a 2-1 lead from last week's first-leg in Glasgow, all the pressure was on the Scottish champions but they looked confident and composed and thoroughly deserved their place in the next round..
Even Victor Wanyama's sending-off in the 71st minute failed to diminish Celtic's control of the game and they will now take their place in Friday's draw in the final qualifying stage of Europe's premier competition.
Neil Lennon had promised his team would adopt an attacking approach and that was confirmed when the starting XI was announced, with Gary Hooper spearheading the attack, supported by Kris Commons and Samaras on either flank.
In a boost to the manager, Scott Brown, who missed the weekend win over Aberdeen, was passed fit to start in midfield, while James Forrest, another absentee against the Dons, was selected on the bench. The Influential Charlie Mulgrew also returned to the defence following his one-match suspension.
And starting the match briskly, it was the visitors who created the first opening. Brown held the ball up and released Adam Matthews on the right and the full-back's low cross narrowly evaded both Hooper and Commons.
The loose ball broke for Brown at the edge of the area but the skipper's effort was blocked. Demba Savage replied for the hosts, cutting inside Matthews and firing harmlessly over. However, the Hoops remained the greater threat and spurned a golden opportunity to break the deadlock.
Mulgrew chipped the ball over the top of the defence and found Brown in acres of space but the midfielder steered his shot wide of the post with only Ville Wallen to beat.
Brown had been at the fulcrum of the Hoops' most productive attacking moves and he led a dangerous breakaway from the halfway line but Commons' cross was too high for Ledley.
Shortly after, Commons found Samaras in space at the far post and the Greek striker flashed a wide of the far post as Celtic continued to dominate proceedings.
Celtic had the ball in the net just before the half hour mark as Hooper swept home after fastening onto Victor Wanyama's shot but his celebrations were curtailed by the linesman's raised flag.
Fraser Forster was finally called into action towards the end of the first half as Mika Vayrnynen fired a shot straight down the throat of the big Englishman. Savage also should have done better when he missed his kick at the back post.
But it was largely one-way traffic and from the Scottish champions and they fashioned another excellent chance as Commons' perfectly-weighted ball released Hooper. However, the hitman's first touch took him too wide and he was unable to find a way past Wallen.
Celtic made another purposeful start to the second half but were nearly undone by a swift counter-attack from the hosts. As the cross came into the box from the left, it fell invitingly for Sebastian Sorsa but his shot was deflected inches past the post.
A header from Mathias Lindstrom which forced Forster into an unconventional save was bookended by two efforts from Wanyama as the match swung from end to end.
However, while the home side were committing were more forward, gaps began to open up for Celtic to exploit, and Samaras' searching cross was heading for Hooper in space until a vital interception from Mikko Sumusalo.
But in the 67th minute, they finally found opened the scoring. Mulgrew made a run forward from defence and made progress down the right. Looking up, he spotted Ledley at the back post and the Welsh midfielder chested the ball into the net.
Wanyama harshly received his marching orders for a second yellow card but Forster's goal never looked in serious danger as Celtic formed a stubborn defensive shell.
And in the closing stages they rounded off an excellent performance with a terrific goal. After yet another piece of industry from Brown, Ledley raced onto a long ball and backheeled the ball to Samaras who finished with aplomb.
It was a fitting way to end a wonderful night's work in the Finnish capital.
CELTIC (4-3-3) Forster; Matthews, Rogne, Mulgrew, Izaguirre; Brown Wanyama, Ledley; Commons (Forrest 74) Hooper (Kayal 74) Samaras (Murphy 88
Not Used: Zaluska, Stokes, McCourt, Lustig
HJKL HELSINKI (4-5-1) Wallen; Sorsa, Lahti, Lindstrom, Sumusalo; Mannstrom, Vayrynen, Perovuo (Sadik 70) Schuller, Savage; Pohjanpalo (Pelvas 78_
Not Used: Sahlgren, Kansikas, Okkonen, Hakanpaa
Website Man of the Match: Scott Brown
MotM fĂĽr mich ganz klar Mulgrew.
