Celtic slump to defeat

Ajax 1 Celtic 0

Celtic’s Champions League hopes are hanging by a thread after they slumped to the bottom of Group H with a 1-0 defeat by Ajax at the Amsterdam ArenA.

Lasse Schone, who had scored after coming on as substitute in the 2-1 defeat at Celtic Park, grabbed the winner with a well-taken goal in the 51st minute to sink the Scottish champions who were far from their best in what was a mostly scrappy game.

Hoops keeper Fraser Forster strengthened his claim for an England cap with two good saves in the first-half which was bereft of quality and in which Neil Lennon’s men hardly threatened.

The game opened up after the break. Schone struck just after Celtic midfielder Beram Kayal had missed a good chance for the visitors and before Anthony Stokes failed with a good opportunity to level.

Celtic, whose Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk was immense, remain on three points with two fixtures remaining.

Ajax move above them on four points with Barcelona having qualified following their 3-1 win over AC MIlan at the Nou Camp.

AC Milan visit Celtic Park later this month before the Hoops travel to the Nou Camp in December to play Barcelona.