Martin O’Neill wrote a memorable final postscript in his history with Celtic in Europe as the interim manager led his team to a 3-1 win over Feyenoord.
Goals from Yang Hyun-jun and Reo Hatate saw Celtic come from behind before half-time and the substitute Benjamin Nygren added a late third as the Scottish champions revived their Europa League campaign.
It was their first away win in Europe since victory over Ferencvaros under Ange Postecoglou four years ago and a first in the Netherlands since a 3-1 win over Ajax in O’Neill’s maiden Champions League qualifier in charge in 2001.
The 73-year-old is expected to make way for Wilfried Nancy before Roma visit Celtic Park on 11 December. The Hoops now have seven points from five games and also play Bologna and Utrecht in the league phase.
Martin O’Neill is expected to be replaced as Celtic manager by Wilfried Nancy before their next European fixture. Photograph: Peter Dejong/AP
Celtic were caught out by a ball over the top in the 11th minute with centre-back Auston Trusty on his way back from a solo run deep into the Feyenoord half. Sem Steijn laid the ball off for Ayase Ueda to finish. The goal sparked a flurry of red flares flying in from outside De Kuip, which had a stand closed as UEFA punishment for fireworks use.
The visitors were soon in trouble following a cross but Leo Sauer shot over from six yards. Celtic responded but Luke McCowan could not control Yang’s cross. The former Dundee player made up for his missed chances by playing a key role in Celtic’s 31st-minute equaliser. His lofted pass found Hatate, who hooked the ball to the far post where Yang netted from close range.
Celtic had two major let-offs before going ahead. They were firstly caught on the break, but Ayase Ueda’s shot was saved by Kasper Schmeichel. Another Ueda shot appeared to hit the hand of Callum McGregor but penalty appeals were waved away.
Celtic profited from pressing Feyenoord back to their goalkeeper two minutes before half-time when Maeda charged down Timon Wellenreuther’s attempted pass and the ball broke for Hatate, who finished first time from 22 yards.
Engels had a free-kick well saved before the hosts forced some sustained pressure, hitting the bar through Gaoussou Diarra’s header.
The home side were growing increasingly confident until some positive play from a limping Colby Donovan set up the 82nd-minute clincher. Maeda once again disrupted Wellenreuther and the ball broke for Nygren, who fired in off the bar from eight yards.
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Glasner rues Palace misses in Strasbourg
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Oliver Glasner admitted missed chances cost Crystal Palace after they slipped to a 2-1 Conference League defeat in Strasbourg.
Tyrick Mitchell’s first-half goal had put the Eagles on course for a third win from four European matches. But they were pegged back by the Chelsea-bound striker Emanuel Emegha and then sent packing by a first senior goal from teenager Samir El Mourabet.
Crucially, Palace hit the woodwork twice with open goals to aim at after the eccentric Strasbourg goalkeeper Mike Penders, on loan from Chelsea, went walkabout. Ismaïla Sarr’s 30-yard shy at an empty net hit the foot of a post and Adam Wharton’s half volley crashed back of the crossbar.
Palace manager Glasner told TNT Sport: “It’s easy, when you have twice the empty goal in front of you and you miss the goal twice hitting the post. Could be, should be 3-1 up and then we have a big chance and in the next situation you are 2-1 down. We’ve had this too often, to be honest, this season that we didn’t decide the game when we could decide it.
“Strasbourg, they are very good, they have very quick players, we knew it. You can concede the equaliser but then we have the next empty net goal we are missing and then we have the next big chance.
“Then you lose a game and I think that’s why we deserved to lose today.”
Palace are down in 18th place in the 36-team league with six points after two wins and two defeats.
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James Tavernier scored a penalty as Rangers earned their first Europa League point of the season with a 1-1 draw at home to 10-man Braga. Danny Röhl’s side recovered from a slow start to claim a first-half lead but conceded a soft goal to Gabri Martínez in the second period, shortly after Rodrigo Zalazar had been sent off for violent conduct.
Rangers’ Mohamed Diomande was also shown a red card in stoppage time for a second bookable offence. The point lifts Rangers off the foot of the 36-team league but leaves them up against it if they are to qualify for the knockout stages with just three matches left to play.
Referee Allard Lindhout points to the tunnel after showing Rangers’ Mohamed Diomande (second left) a red card in the second half. Photograph: Robert Perry/EPA
Olympique Lyonnais went top of the Europa League standings with a 6-0 victory against Maccabi Tel Aviv with Corentin Tolisso netting a hat-trick. The French side took the lead in the fourth minute with Abner Vinícius tapping in at the back post after Maccabi failed to deal with a ball across the six-yard box at the TSC Arena in Serbia.
Tolisso nodded in a cross floated to the far post to double the lead after 25 minutes and 10 minutes later Moussa Niakhaté converted a penalty after Sagiv Jehezkel fouled Pavel Sulc. The Lyon captain then scored two in quick succession after the break and Adam Karabec wrapped up the win just past the hour mark. Maccabi, who had Jehezkel sent off in added time, are second-bottom with one point.
AS Roma ended Midtjylland’s perfect record in the Europa League with a 2-1 home win. Midtjylland were the only side on maximum points after four matches but it was Roma who went in front at the Stadio Olimpico in the seventh minute.
Zeki Celik’s floated pass into the box was met by the crisp volley of Neil El Aynaoui to put the Serie A leaders in control, and Roma looked to have wrapped up the win seven minutes from time with Stephan El Shaarawy’s side-footed finish.
