Celtic progress virtually guaranteed after four-goal salvo but Rangers falter

MTK Hungaria 0 Celtic 4

Henrik Larsson opened the scoring and that was followed by goals from Didier Agathe, Stilian Petrov and Chris Sutton to hand the Hoops a massive boost ahead of the return leg of the third round qualifier at Parkhead.

Celtic, playing in their all-black away strip, tried to put MTK Hungaria under pressure straight away and Stilian Petrov had a couple of early chances for the Hoops without really troubling goalkeeper Zoltan Vegh.

It was Celtic who grabbed a vital away goal when Paul Lambert fired a ball into the area to the feet of Henrik Larsson and Roland Juhasz and Oliver Pusztai both failed to clear the danger, thus allowing the Hoops striker to lob the goalkeeper and hand Celtic the lead.

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill’s joy at Larsson’s opener quickly turned to physical pain when he leaped off his seat to celebrate and smacked his head on the dug-out.

Celtic doubled their advantage after 35 minutes. Petrov supplied the cross for a great Chris Sutton shot, which was parried by Vegh, but the ball fell to the feet of Didier Agathe on the six-yard line and all that was required was a simple tap in.

Celtic were looking hungrier by the minute and they could have added to their lead further when Petrov fed the ball through to Sutton on the edge of the area but Fuzi managed to keep his cool to clear the danger.

A couple of minutes later the Hungarians were unlucky not to pull a goal back when substitute Sandor Torghelle saw his lopping header smack off the crossbar.

Celtic showed they were not rattled by the close call when they surged up the park and netted their third goal of the night.

Thompson showed great skill to surge into the area from the left wing only for Vegh to block his shot at the near post. The ball fell to Petrov, who rounded Gabor Halmai, before slotting home.

But Celtic saved the best for last when Sutton produced an amazing diving header from a Larsson pass to nod the ball into the net in the final minute of the game

That left Celtic with happy in the knowledge that progression to the group stages of the Champions League is now firmly in their own hands.

MTK HUNGARIA: Vegh, Molnar, Juhasz, Pusztai, Suzi, Zavadszky, Halmai, Jezdimirovics, Rednic, W Silva, Illes.

CELTIC: Douglas, Valgaeren, Balde, Varga, Agathe, Lennon, Lambert, Petrov, Thompson, Sutton, Larsson.

Rangers 1 FC Copenhagen 1

Rangers’ chances of reaching the Champions League were dealt a mighty blow by Todi Jonsson’s second-half equaliser for FC Copenhagen.

It cancelled out Peter Lovenkrands’ early opener and the away goal was fully deserved for the Danish champions.

Peter Lovenkrands fired Rangers into an early lead against FC Copenhagen but the Scottish champions were made to fight to hold on to it at half time.

Jonsson provided the equaliser in the 51st minute, although there was an element of luck involved when a team-mate’s shot was deflected into his path.

There was no doubting the quality of the finish however as he turned to lash the ball low past Klos on the edge of the box.

RANGERS: Klos, Ross, Moore, Khizanishvili, Ball, Ricksen, Ferguson, Arteta, de Boer, Lovenkrands, Mols.

FC COPENHAGEN: Raboczki, Rooba, Svensson, Norregaard, Albrechtsen, Tobiasen, Mykland, Nielsen, Roll Larsen, Jonsson, Zuma.