Bhoys bow to 10-man Belgians

Anderlecht 1 Celtic 0

Anderlecht held Group A leaders Bayern Munich but their defence were under pressure early on.

From Neil Lennon’s free-kick, Henrik Larsson spun off John Hartson and received his pass, but his cross was well cut out by goalkeeper Daniel Zitka.

But Anderlecht came within inches of taking the lead in the ninth minute with their first purposeful attack of the game. Olivier Deschacht exchanged passes with Dindane Aruna and curled a right-foot shot past Magnus Hedman, but could only watch as the ball bounced off the crossbar.

Aruna was showing why he has been linked with a move to Manchester United when he threatened to run clear, but Balde made a timely tackle.

Celtic were given a big present by the referee in the 26th minute when he harshly showed de Boeck his second yellow card, followed by a red.

Hartson appeared to go down theatrically under the challenge of the captain just outside the box, but Stuchlik had no hesitation in reducing the Belgians to 10 men.

Larsson failed to compound their misery from the free-kick by hitting the wall before Celtic found themselves under pressure.

Varga breathed a sigh of relief when Aruna went down under his challenge in the box. Ivica Mornar then fired high and wide in the 31st minute. But the officials then turned against Celtic when Hartson had a goal ruled out for offside after Zitka had failed to hold Larsson’s header from Thompson’s cross

Larsson then had calls for a penalty turned down when Deschacht seemed to send him sprawling in the area before Sutton hit a right-foot shot off target.

Despite having just 10 men, Anderlecht continued to cause Celtic problems in defence and they again went close on the hour.

Mornar got away from the back three and with Hedman rushing out to meet him, he clipped the ball over him, but, fortunately for the visitors, wide of the post.

That again sparked a Celtic reaction and Sutton was just inches away from getting a touch to Larsson’s cross after a good through ball from Sutton.

Petrov felt the wrath of Stuchlik moments later when he brought down Aruna and was rightly shown the yellow card.

Larsson again headed wide when he met Thompson’s corner at the near post before the 10-man Belgium side stunned Celtic by taking the lead.

Christian Wilhelmsson crossed to the superb Aruna on the edge of the box and he coolly steered the ball beyond the hand of Hedman and into the bottom corner.

Even Larsson lost his cool and he was booked after Michal Zewlakow had vented his anger at him for a late challenge on Zitka.

The goalkeeper was then busy keeping out the Swede’s left-foot shot at the third attempt before O’Neill brought on Liam Miller for Lennon with 10 minutes remaining.

ANDERLECHT: Zitka, Deschacht, De Boeck, Zewlakow, Baseggio, Kolar, Hasi, Wilhelmsson, Mornar, Aruna, Kompany.

CELTIC: Hedman, McNamara, Balde, Sutton, Varga, Agathe, Petrov, Lennon, Thompson, Larsson, Hartson.

Referee: Fritz Stuchlik (Austria)