In a night of crushing disappointment at Celtic Park, Brendan Rodgers' side saw their European ambitions dealt a severe blow as Sturm Graz produced a stunning second-half comeback to snatch all three points.
Early Promise Fades to Frustration
The Hoops began brightly, controlling possession and creating several promising opportunities in the opening exchanges. The breakthrough came midway through the first half when Paulo Bernardo's perfectly weighted pass found Adam Idah, who made no mistake with a clinical finish to send the home crowd into raptures.
Celtic continued to dominate proceedings, with Reo Hatate and Matt O'Riley pulling the strings in midfield. The Scottish champions appeared comfortable heading into the break, having restricted their Austrian opponents to few clear-cut chances.
Second Half Collapse Proves Costly
The complexion of the game changed dramatically after the interval. Sturm Graz emerged with renewed purpose and intensity, gradually growing into the contest and testing Joe Hart with increasing frequency.
The equaliser arrived from the penalty spot after a controversial handball decision went against Celtic. The Austrian side converted calmly, silencing the previously buoyant home support and setting up a tense final quarter.
As Celtic pushed for a winner, they were caught devastatingly on the counter-attack in the dying moments. A swift breakaway saw Sturm Graz capitalise on exposed defensive spaces, slotting home the decisive goal to complete a remarkable turnaround.
Rodgers Faces Tough Questions
The result leaves Celtic with a mountain to climb in their Europa League group, raising serious questions about their ability to compete at this level. Brendan Rodgers will need to address his team's tendency to surrender leads after promising starts.
Key talking points from the match:
- Celtic's inability to maintain first-half intensity for 90 minutes
- Defensive vulnerabilities exposed on the counter-attack
- Missed opportunities to kill the game when dominating
- Growing pressure on Rodgers in European competitions
The defeat represents a significant setback for Celtic's European campaign, leaving them with little margin for error in their remaining group stage matches. For Sturm Graz, it was a famous victory that keeps their own qualification hopes very much alive.
