Celtic crash out of Europe

Celtic crashed out of Europe as their miserable away record in the UEFA Champions League continued against Aalborg.

Aalborg defeat leaves Strachan's men in despair

Celtic crashed out of Europe as their miserable away record in the UEFA Champions League continued against Aalborg. Gordon Strachan's side needed victory in Denmark to have any chance of progressing, but would have been knocked out even if they had won after Manchester United drew away to Villarreal. Barry Robson headed the visitors into a precious lead early in the second half as he powered the ball into the bottom corner of the net after Mark Wilson's inviting cross. But Caca levelled for the hosts 17 minutes from time when his long-range effort struck Stephen McManus and flew over the stranded Artur Boruc. And with just three minutes remaining a comedy of errors in the Celtic defence ended with Gary Caldwell putting through his own net to leave Aalborg in the Uefa Cup and Strachan in despair.

Threat

Celtic were first to threaten and in the sixth minute Shunsuke Nakamura curled in a wonderful pass from the left which evaded the Aalborg defence, but also Georgios Samaras who arrived just too late. Three minutes later the talented Japan international passed up a great chance to forge his team ahead. Scott McDonald's first-time ball to the right put Nakamura clear through on goal but from just inside the box he knocked the ball over Aalborg keeper Karim Zaza and the bar. In the 22nd minute Aalborg eventually offered something of a threat when Thomas Enevoldsen headed a Martin Pedersen free-kick past Boruc's right-hand post. The Danish club appeared strangely nervous and subdued with striker Jeppe Curth offered no support from his team-mates as he struggled to get any change from Glenn Loovens and McManus. As the game drifted towards the break the home side struggled to impose themselves. However, in the 35th minute Caca had a shot from 25 yards which was deflected for a corner and when the ball came in from Martin Pedersen, Boruc pulled off a fine save under the bar from Michael Jakobsen's header. But four minutes from half-time Celtic missed another gilt-edged chance after Caca had fouled Wilson outside the box on the left-hand side. Nakamura flighted the free-kick into the six-yard box to the unmarked Samaras who headed past the far post when it looked like he should have at least hit the target.

Urgency

When the second half restarted Celtic were soon in control again. In the 51st minute McDonald was sent tumbling in the box by Zaza but Austrian referee Konrad Plautz ignored desperate and apparently valid claims from the Hoops players and supporters for a penalty. But soon after there was plenty for the small band of Celtic fans to cheer about when Robson put them ahead with a wonderful diving header. The Parkhead side again moved up the park with ease and when Wilson's cross came in from the left, the former Dundee United midfielder stretched to guide the ball past Zaza and into the corner of the net. For the first time in the game the Danish side showed signs of urgency and in the 63rd minute Enevoldsen had a close-range header but his effort failed to trouble Boruc. Celtic, however, sensed there was a second goal there for the taking and Caldwell skipped his way through the Aalborg defence before sending in an angled shot from 10 yards which Zaza blocked at his near post. Tension grew as the game stretched further and in the 71st minute Nakamura broke before firing in a 30-yard drive which bounced past Zaza's left-hand post. But a minute later the visitors were stunned when Caca picked up a Kasper Bogelund pass and sent in a drive from 25 yards which took a deflection off McManus before going over Boruc. Celtic were on the back foot and there was further misery when Loovens thrashed a clearance from Andreas Johansson off Caldwell and into his own net from close range.

Aalborg BK	Team Statistics	Celtic
2	Goals	1
0	1st Half Goals	0
4	Shots on Target	4
1	Shots off Target	7
2	Blocked Shots	1
7	Corners	4
13	Fouls	13
3	Offsides	3
1	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
73.7	Passing Success	77.5
25	Tackles	20
76	Tackles Success	80
50	Possession	50
41.5	Territorial Advantage	58.5