first-leg defeat puts braga in the driving seat
Laura Brannan
NEIL Lennon’s first competitive game in charge as the Celtic manager ended in a 3-0 defeat at the hands of SC Braga in the first-leg of the Champions League third round qualifier.
The Hoops battled through the Portuguese heat but went down to a soft penalty in the first half and were punished twice in the second, setting up a difficult return leg next Wednesday in Glasgow.
Lennon fielded a new look side to the one which finished last season, with four new players making their competitive debuts for the Hoops. Cha Du-Ri, Charlie Mulgrew, Efrain Juarez and Joe Ledley made the starting XI along with Shaun Maloney, who returned after nine months on the sidelines. Dutch defender Jos Hooiveld also started for what was his third competitive appearance following a number of lengthy injuries.
It was a promising start from Celtic who enjoyed most of the early possession in Braga’s half, but without actually creating a chance on goal.
The home side’s first real effort came after 17 minutes, when Lukusz Zaluska parried away a low drive coming in from the left. Salino slipped before he could reach the loose ball but Andreas Madrid got onto the end of it and thumped it high over the bar.
The first half was dogged with unnecessary stopping from the referee and it failed to get into flowing fashion. On 24 minutes, play was halted again as Braga were awarded a penalty for a foul by Ki Sung Yueng which Alan coolly converted to put the home side 1-0 up.
The goal sparked Braga into life as they piled pressure on Celtic and came close to doubling their lead almost instantly.
But the Hoops controlled the play well and looked sharp on the ball in the first-half, despite the match coming at such an early point in the season.
Celtic headed into the break one goal down, with their best effort falling to Scott Brown on 37 minutes. His quick flick skimmed the wrong side of the post but was flagged for offside mid-strike.
The visitors started the second half brightly with some delightful passing play but despite not letting Braga near the ball, Celtic still couldn’t get into the final third. Too many slack balls prevented the Hoops from bringing the score back to level and they were eventually punished for it.
Zaluska was forced to clear a dangerous Braga cross out for a corner with his knee on 74 minutes. The resulting corner was met by Elderson in the centre of the box who struck the ball through the crowded area and into the net, doubling the home side’s lead.
Mulgrew had a good opportunity to pull a goal back from almost 40 yards, but Braga keeper Mario Felgueiras got a hand to the ball and knocked it wide of his left post to safety.
Substitute, Matheus, struck a late blow to put the first-leg beyond Celtic’s reach three minutes from time when he cracked home a stunning free-kick from 35 yards.
Despite looking organised and holding on to possession for long spells, the Hoops couldn’t find that crucial away goal and have been left with a mountain to climb when Braga come to Glasgow next week.
UEFA Champions League Qualifier
Third round, first-leg
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Estadio AXA
BRAGA 3
(Alan pen 26, Elderson 75, Matheus 87)
CELTIC 0
Attendance: 12,295
BRAGA (4-4-2) Felgueiras; Rodriguez, Garcia, Lima (Matheus 65), Elderson; Moises, Madrid, Salino, Valadinho; Alan (H. Barbosa 90), Cesar
Subs not used: Artur, Keita, Meyong, Silvio, Anibal
CELTIC (4-5-1) Zaluska; Cha, Loovens, Hooiveld, Mulgrew; Maloney (Murphy 70), Ki, Juarez (Forrest 79), Brown, Ledley; Samaras
Subs not used: Cervi, Rogne, Crosas, McCourt, Fortune
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