Vigo Hammer Blow Leaves Celtic's Euro Dream Hanging by a Thread
Mika Baur put Celtic ahead. Then Javi Rodriguez ripped the night apart in three crazy minutes.
Celtic led Celta Vigo at Celtic Park and threw it away. It finished 1-2, the boos rang out at full time, and Martin O'Neill's side are still pointless in the Europa League after three games.
Sunday's heroes, Thursday's heartbreak
Four days ago Celtic smashed seven past Hearts. The fans walked into Paradise believing.
Celta had other ideas. The Spaniards had the ball for long spells in the first half without really hurting anyone. Liam Scales and Dane Murray blocked just about everything. Ferran Jutgla fired one just wide and forced Sam Johnstone into a sharp stop before the break.
Celtic wanted a penalty when Callum Osmand went down under a push from Javi Rueda. Replays showed it was just outside the box. The referee waved play on. It was 0-0 at half-time.
Baur breaks the deadlock
Barely a minute after the restart, Parkhead erupted.
Haissem Hassan finally got past former Chelsea man Marcos Alonso and swung in a cross. It was only half cleared. Baur was waiting. A cool, low side-foot finish past Ionut Radu. 1-0 on 47 minutes.
For a spell Celtic were flying. Scales rose to meet a header and smacked the crossbar. A second goal there and it's a different night.
Three minutes of madness
It never came. Celta did.
On 68 minutes a deep free-kick from Hugo Alvarez found Rodriguez, and his thumping header beat Johnstone. O'Neill was fuming. BBC Sport reports the manager was raging that a clear-looking foul on Camilo Duran went unpunished just before Celta won that free-kick.
Three minutes later it got worse. Celtic could not clear their lines. Rodriguez took a touch and lashed a 20-yard screamer into the net. 1-2. The 3,000 Celta fans in the away corner went wild.
No way back
O'Neill threw on James Forrest, Kasper Hogh, Oliver Sorensen and Sebastian Tounekti. It did not change the story.
Celta looked more likely to score again. Substitute Pablo Duran hit a post but was flagged offside. Williot Swedberg and Andres Antanon both went close. Sorensen headed wide at the other end and Colby Donovan's late effort was easy for the keeper.
Frustration boiled over. Scales and Sorensen were booked late on, and Donovan picked up a yellow for dissent in stoppage time. Camilo Duran had been booked in the first half. Nobody was sent off.
The verdict
This one stings. Celtic had the lead, had the crowd and had the momentum from Sunday. Then they wilted.
Former Scotland forward James McFadden summed it up on BBC Sportsound: "As soon as Celtic face a little bit of adversity you see the same frailties in them."
Defeats to Ferencvaros and Benfica, and now Celta. Three games, zero points. The Europa League dream is hanging by a thread.
Celtic: Johnstone, Donovan, Murray, Scales, Tierney, McGregor, Baur (Sorensen 79), Nygren, Hassan (Hogh 73), Osmand (Forrest 58), C Duran (Tounekti 80).
Scorers: Celtic: Baur 47. Celta Vigo: Rodriguez 68, 71.
Bookings: Celtic: C Duran, Scales, Sorensen, Donovan.
Sources: BBC Sport match report and live coverage; Sky Sports result.