UEFA Champions League
First qualifying round
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC…6
(Elyounoussi 5 & 91, Adalsteinsson og 16, Jullien 31, Taylor 46, Edouard 71)

KR REYKJAVIK…0

Celtic booked their place in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League with a comfortable 6-0 win over KR Reykjavik at Celtic Park.

It took Neil Lennon’s side just five minutes to open the scoring and from the moment Mohamed Elyounoussi latched on to a ball over the top from Christopher Jullien, rounded the goalkeeper and slotted the ball into the net, the outcome of the tie was never in doubt.

Elyounoussi was impressive throughout the match and could have added to his first-half tally, as could have Celtic, such was their dominance in the game, though they did manage three in the opening 45 minutes.

The second goal came in the 16th minute, with Hatem Elhamed surging down the right flank and firing a dangerous ball into the six-yard box which Amor Adalsteinsson deflected into his own net while under pressure from Odsonne Edouard.

It took KR Reykjavic until the 24th minute to register their first shot, but Oskar Hanksson’s shot from outside the area was a tame effort. However, Vasilis Barkas, who had been a virtual spectator for much of the first-half was called into action in added time when he produced a fine save from a powerful Kristjan Finnbogason shot.

By that time, Neil Lennon’s side were 3-0 ahead courtesy of Jullien’s header from a Ryan Christie corner on the half-hour mark.

Celtic were laying siege to the Reykjavik goal, and only a few fortuitous saves from keeper, Beitir Olafsson, kept the score down at the break. He made a number of blocks to deny Ryan Christie, Callum McGregor and Scott Brown, while he produced a point-blank save in the 41 minute when it looked as though Elyounoussi would score, while Edouard’s follow-up was cleared off the line by a defender.

However, it took less than 60 seconds of the second-half for Neil Lennon’s side to extend their lead, and it was a first Celtic goal for Greg Taylor, the left-back nodding home an Elhamed cross at the back post.

Chances were not so frequent in the second period, with a lull in the action, but the Hoops remained in complete control while the Icelandic side focused on damage control.

But when Celtic’s fifth of the night came, it was a piece of individual brilliant from Odsonne Edouard. The French striker picked the ball up on the edge of the area and waltzed through the Reykjavik defence before coolly slotting the ball home.
It was to be his final contribution of the game as he was replaced by new Bhoy, Albian Ajeti.

Reykjavik had a couple of chances late in the game, including one chance in the 83rd minute that was ruled out for offside, while on the stroke of full-time, Man of the Match, Elyounoussi slid in to guide the ball home from eight yards out. The Norwegian internationalist had started and finished the scoring on an impressive night for the Hoops.

Celtic now await the winners of the tie between Ferencvaros and Djurgarden, with that game being played on Wednesday night

CELTIC: Barkas, Jullien, Taylor, Bitton, Brown (Ntcham 62), Christie (Klimala 72), Edouard (Ajeti 72), Elyounoussi, McGregor, Elhamed, Forrest.
Subs: Bain, Rogic, Frimpong, Ajer.

KR REYKJAVIK: Olafsson, Kristinsson, Adalsteinsson, Margeirsson, P.Palmeson, Chopart, Punyed, Jonsson (A.Sigurjonsson 46), Finnbogason (Jonasson 72), Hauksson (Hilmarsson 72), F.Palmason.
Subs: G.Sigurjonsson, Bernhardsson, Bjarnason, Geirsson

Website Man of the Match: Mohamed Elyounoussi

Elyounoussi at the double as Celts hit Reykjavik for six