UEFA Youth League
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
The City Stadium

CELTIC… 2
(Dobbie 7, Kelly 32)

FEYENOORD… 3
(Sliti 68, Kraaijeveld 89, Groen 90+6)

Celtic FC B suffered defeat in the final match of their UEFA Youth League campaign, slipping to a late 3-2 defeat against Feyenoord.

After taking a two-goal lead through Lewis Dobbie and Daniel Kelly heading into half-time, the Bhoys look to be on their way to a positive end to their European campaign.

However, three second half goals from the visitors sealed all three points for the Dutch side, who scored in the last minute of additional time.

Heading to The City Stadium for their final home match in the UEFA Youth League, the Celts were looking to follow up a fantastic result in Rome.

And after just seven minutes, the Celts opened the scoring through Lewis Dobbie. Against Lazio, it was the combination of Dobbie and Daniel Kelly who played their part in the opener in that match, and that combination was on hand once more against Feyenoord.

Laying a low cross into the box, Kelly found the feet of the Celtic forward who produced a first-time finish into the bottom corner.

On the half hour mark, things got even better for the Hoops as they doubled their advantage through Daniel Kelly.

Scoring his third goal in fourth appearances for the young Celtic side, the midfielder’s first-time finish from the edge of the box expertly found the bottom corner of the net.

Putting in a dominant first-half display, it could have been even more for the Bhoys had it not been for a solid save by the Feyenoord goalkeeper to deny Rocco Vata.

Heading into the second half, with a place at the top of Group E still up for grabs for the visitors, Robin Van Persie’s Feyenoord side started to pile the pressure on.

Hitting the post just before the hour-mark was the warning sign for the Celts, and it didn’t take much longer for them to find a way back into the game as Aymen Sliti headed the ball into the net at the back post.

Both sides continued to try and fashion more opportunities in front of goal, and at one stage they both had the ball in the net, but on both occasions the flag was quickly up for offside.

As the closing stages of the match approached, the Dutch side finally found a leveller on 89 minutes as Thijs Kraaijeveld fired the ball home from close-range after a low cross into the box.

The game was up for grabs in the six minutes of stoppage time, and Vata had a great chance to score a late winner, which was once again saved by the goalkeeper.

However, it was the Hoops who were made to pay as the away side grabbed the winner in the last minute of stoppage time as Nesto Groen produced a fantastic finish into the top corner to give Feyenoord a 3-2 victory.

CELTIC: Morrison, Mackenzie, Ferns, Agbaire, Quinn (Hatton 62), Bonnar (Osagie 82), Ure (Thomson 65), Carse, Kelly, Vata, Dobbie.
Subs: McLean, Haddow, Hatton, McArdle, Thomson, Cummings

Late heartache for Hoops in UEFA Youth League clash with Feyenoord