Celtic secured their progression to the Europa League play-offs with a commanding 4-2 victory over Dutch side FC Utrecht in their final group stage match at Celtic Park on Thursday evening. The Scottish champions raced into an early three-goal lead but faced a spirited comeback from the visitors before sealing the win.
Fast Start Propels Celtic to Early Dominance
Celtic knew beforehand that a victory was likely necessary to advance, and they delivered with a blistering start. Manager Martin O’Neill made two enforced changes, bringing in Sebastian Tounekti and Colby Donovan for the ineligible loan signings Tomas Cvancara and Julian Araujo. This reshuffled lineup wasted no time, taking the lead after just six minutes.
Early Goals Set the Tone
Colby Donovan combined with Callum McGregor from a short corner before finding Kieran Tierney, whose cross was tapped in by Benjamin Nygren for a simple opener. Celtic doubled their advantage in the 10th minute when a mistake from former Celtic goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas led to an own goal by Nick Viergever, deflecting Nygren’s cross into his own net.
The home side continued to press, and a penalty awarded for a handball by Dani de Wit allowed Arne Engels to calmly convert from the spot, giving Celtic a 3-0 lead after 19 minutes. At this stage, the match seemed all but settled, with Utrecht—already eliminated from the competition—struggling to contain the onslaught.
Utrecht Fightback Tests Celtic’s Resolve
However, Utrecht refused to capitulate and mounted a spirited comeback. Dani de Wit reduced the deficit with a low shot past Kasper Schmeichel just before halftime, injecting hope into the Dutch side. After the break, Utrecht pushed forward, and Adrian Blake’s long-range effort beat Schmeichel in the 62nd minute to make it 3-2, suddenly putting Celtic under pressure.
Trusty’s Header Seals the Deal
With nerves rising at Celtic Park, the home side responded swiftly. Just minutes after Utrecht’s second goal, Auston Trusty rose to meet Arne Engels’ corner, glancing a header beyond Barkas to restore Celtic’s two-goal cushion. This fourth goal effectively ended Utrecht’s resistance, ensuring Celtic’s safe passage to the next round.
Looking Ahead to the Play-Offs
The victory sets up a Europa League play-off clash for Celtic, who will face either Hungarian side Ferencvaros or German club Stuttgart in a two-legged tie scheduled for February 19 and 26. Despite a mid-game wobble, Celtic demonstrated both attacking flair and resilience, ultimately getting the job done to keep their European campaign alive.
This result highlights Celtic’s ability to perform under pressure, with key contributions from players like Nygren, Engels, and Trusty proving decisive. As they await Friday’s draw, the focus now shifts to preparing for a challenging play-off encounter that could define their season in European competition.
