Two goals should have got us through - Larsson

Lyon 3 Celtic 2

Raging striker Henrik Larsson has taken a swipe at his team-mates and referee Urs Meier by accusing them of destroying Celtic’s Champions League dream.

Swiss official Meier awarded Lyon a controversial late penalty which Juninho converted to clinch a 3-2 victory for Lyon and put them on top of Group A and into the knockout stages.

But Swedish striker Larsson felt that his team-mates, especially the defence, were as much to blame for Celtic’s failure after conceding three soft goals.

“To come from behind twice and still not go through is hard to take,” snapped Larsson.

“I didn’t see the penalty properly and I am not sure that the referee saw it 100%.

“When you get back to 2-2 you hope to keep it going and get the result in the end but it is unbelievable we are out.

“To score twice away from home you should not lose the game and at least draw the game – it is as simple as that.”

Furious and frank-talking Neil Lennon also branded Celtic’s defending a “joke” – which was even more laughable than Meier’s decision to give Lyon a last-gasp penalty.

Meier sent the Glasgow giants crashing out of the Champions League by awarding the French champions a contentious 86th-minute spot kick for a Bobo Balde handball.

But former Northern Ireland midfielder Lennon could not hide his frustration at Giovane Elber’s opener and Juninho’s first goal.

Brazilian Elber was given a free header after Juninho’s free-kick had come back off the crossbar and Magnus Hedman was at fault for Juninho’s long-range effort.

“We were in a good position and we didn’t see it through,” moaned Lennon. “The first two goals we lost were a joke.

“Nobody followed in Giovane Elber in for the first goal and the guy scored the second goal from 40 yards. The third goal just ripped our hearts out.

“We were minutes away from a place in the last 16 and now we are out and I don’t know what to say.”

The late drama rekindled painful memories of the night that Juventus were wrongly given a late penalty to beat Celtic in Turin two seasons ago.

They have the consolation of a place in the UEFA Cup, which they got to the final of last season, but Lennon insisted that it should have been different.

He added: “I don’t think the referee saw it at all.”

Unsurprisingly, Lyon manager Paul Le Guen felt that justice was done and backed the decision.

His side now go through as Group A winners and Bayern Munich as the second-place side.

Le Guen said: “There was a handball so I think the penalty was justified.

“I am very proud of the players’ efforts and I think they deserved to win the match over the 90 minutes.

“It was a very emotional evening for everyone involved and I am delighted we have come through it. I think the fans deserved the prize that is the second leg being at home in the last 16 because of winning the group.”