Celtic squander golden opportunity

Anderlecht 1 Celtic 0

Martin O’Neill’s men squandered a golden opportunity to lay their hands on a precious first Champions League away victory after 10-man Anderlecht snatched the three Group A points in the Stade Constant Van Den Stock despite having captain Glen de Boeck sent off.

After talk of a crisis at the Belgium club, last season’s UEFA Cup finalists were expected to comfortably secure their second win of the campaign when the home side were reduced to 10 men after 26 minutes.

But Celtic were stunned as Anderlecht fought back from that setback to move into second place in Group A thanks to a glorious strike from man-of-the-match Dindane Aruna.

Anderlecht had been beaten Manchester United here three seasons ago and held Group A leaders Bayern Munich this term, 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 Aruna and curled a right-foot shot past Magnus Hedman, but could only watch as the ball bounced off the crossbar.

The home side threatened again moments later as Aruna got on the end of Walter Baseggio’s cross, but failed to get the power to beat the Celtic goalkeeper.

The visitors came charging back, but Chris Sutton blazed high over the bar after Larsson had played the ball back into his path from the edge of the box.

Referee Fritz Stuchlik made his first contribution to the game in the 16th minute, but he had no choice but to book De Boeck for a reckless challenge from behind on Larsson.

The Swede got up and almost got on the end of a one-two with Sutton, three minutes later, but Zitka rushed off his line to save his bewildered defenders.

At the other end Aruna showed why he has been linked with a move to Manchester United when he sprinted clear, but Bobo Balde showed he too was no slouch to make a timely tackle.

But Celtic were given a big present by the referee in the 26th minute when he showed De Boeck his second yellow followed by a red.

Hartson seemed to be pulled down by the defender just outside the box and 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 he headed Thompson’s corner wide at the near post.

Celtic found themselves under pressure despite their extra man advantage and Stanislav Varga breathed a sigh of relief when Aruna went down under his challenge in the box, but this time the whistler was not interested.

Ivica Mornar then fired high and wide in the 31st minute when he had time to take the ball closer to the goal.

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 whistled a right-foot shot off target.

But a minute before the break, Celtic had Varga to thank for preventing Aruna from getting away in the box and testing Hedman with a vital challenge.

O’Neill was forced to make a change at the break with McNamara being replaced by Belgian international Joos Valgaeren for his first appearance since August 23.

Petrov came to his side’s rescue in the 50th minute after Hedman had fired the ball straight to Baseggio. His his goal-bound shot was deflected wide by the Bulgarian.

That prompted an instant response from the visitors, who should have gone ahead in the 50th minute.

Thompson’s cross fell to Varga and bounced off him, but with Zitka grounded he was stretching and could only screw his effort wide from just four yards.

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.

The youngster carved out a great chance for Hartson to equalise in the 88th minute, but his shot was saved by Zitka.

At the other end Hedman saved another rasping shot from Aruna.