Celtic have been knocked out of the Champions League in the qualifiers courtesy of a 2-1 aggregate defeat to Slovenian side Maribor.
Ronny Deila‘s side, who had previously been restored to the competition following Legia Warsaw’s disqualification, were beaten 1-0 at Celtic Park this evening having held their opponents to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture.
The hosts almost took the lead in fortuitous fashion inside five minutes when Marko Suler turned Jo Inge Berget’s cross narrowly past his own post.
Maribor came close themselves after quarter of an hour as Agim Ibraimi tries his luck from distance, sending an effort whistling just wide.
Celtic’s best chance of the half came 10 minutes later when Virgil van Dijk latched on to an Anthony Stokesdelivery, only to send his header wide.
The visitors threatened again at the other end just before the half-hour mark, but Craig Gordon was equal to Mitja Viler’s swerving effort.
Stokes caused the Slovenian side problems with his deliveries throughout the night, and it was from that route that Celtic almost took the lead 10 minutes after the restart, with Efe Ambrose flicking an effort wide.
The hosts then came within the width of the crossbar of taking the lead when Callum McGregor fired Stokes’s cutback against the woodwork.
Deila’s side continued to pile the pressure on and came close again in the 65th minute as Kris Commonsdrilled a powerful effort inches too high.
The opening goal arrived with 15 minutes remaining as Celtic failed to clear a cross, allowing Marcos Tavares to pounce on a loose ball and fire an untidy finish over the keeper.
Maribor almost made it two in as many minutes when Jean Philippe Mendy found space to shoot, but Gordon made a fine stop to deny the Frenchman.
Celtic pushed for a late equaliser that would force extra time and came within inches of grabbing it when Ambrose glanced Stokes’s cross just wide.
The visitors had a glorious chance to seal the victory in the 88th minute when Tavares picked up a pass from Damjan Bohar, but the Brazilian blasted his effort over the top.
Celtic then had a chance of their own late on, but Van Dijk was denied by the keeper as Maribor hung on to progress into the group stages.
Source: SportsMole
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