Celtic take a beating in Copenhagen

FC Copenhagen 3 Celtic 1

Celtic completed their Champions League Group F fixtures with a disappointing 3-1 defeat by FC Copenhagen at the Parken Stadium.

Goals by Atiba Hutchinson, Jesper Gronkjaer and Marcus Allback put the home side into a comfortable lead by the 57th minute, before Jiri Jarosik scored a consolation for the visitors, who never really recovered from going behind after just 90 seconds.

Although the Hoops will go through to the last-16 draw as group runners-up next week, they are still awaiting their first away victory in the competition after 12 attempts.

The start to the match could hardly have been more dramatic.

Celtic midfielder Thomas Gravesen had the ball in the net after just 20 seconds.

However, striker Kenny Miller was adjudged to have run the ball past for a goal-kick before cutting it back to the former Everton player.

A minute later, the home side snatched a sensational lead.

With the Hoops defence still trying to settle, Hutchinson played a one-two with Allback before slotting the ball past mesmerised Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc from 12 yards out.

The stunned visitors spent the next few minutes trying to compose themselves.

However, in the 14th minute, they escaped the loss of a second goal when they failed to clear a Tobias Linderoth free-kick from wide on the left after Mark Wilson had fouled Gronkjaer.

The ball bounced around the area before Allback crashed his drive from eight yards out off the crossbar, the power of the effort allowing the Glasgow side to clear the rebound.

At the other end, the unmarked Miller headed over from a Lee Naylor cross to let the Danes off the hook.

Then Miller raced onto a Naylor pass and rounded Copenhagen keeper Jesper Christiansen, but defender Michael Gravgaard got back to block the shot from an acute angle.

Neither defence was inspiring confidence but it was Celtic who were made to pay in the 27th minute when they fell further behind following a Linderoth corner from the left.

The high ball to the back post was headed back across goal by Gravgaard and Gronkjaer, with plenty of time to set himself, volleyed high into the net from close range.

In the 42nd minute, Aiden McGeady seemed to draw back in a confrontation with Christiansen after Gravesen had sent him clear with a defence-splitting pass, the Copenhagen keeper able to clear his lines after running from his penalty area.

In the 53rd minute, after Copenhagen defender Brede Hangeland had given possession away with a loose pass, Jarosik put Maciej Zurawski in at the edge of the Danes’ box.

However, the Pole’s drive from 16 yards was saved by Christiansen low at his right-hand post at the second attempt, with Miller waiting to pounce.

The brief spell of pressure counted for nothing and in the 57th minute the visitors found themselves three goals behind after another defensive calamity.

A routine Linderoth free-kick from the centre-circle landed inside the Celtic area with the help of Gravgaard’s head.

The alert Allback beat Hoops defender Bobo Balde and the hesitant Boruc to hook the ball in from around eight yards out.

Strachan then introduced Shunsuke Nakamura and Stephen Pearson for Gravesen and McGeady in a desperate attempt to rescue the game.

In the 75th minute, the changes paid dividends when Nakamura sent in a free-kick from the left, which Jarosik latched onto at the back post to stab home past Christiansen.

For the first time in the match Copenhagen looked vulnerable, but only a great save by Boruc from Gravgaard’s close-range header prevented the Danes from restoring their three-goal lead.

Moments later, with the Celtic defence stretched, Copenhagen midfielder Michael Silberbauer’s cross from wide on the right clipped the Celtic crossbar before bouncing clear.