Celtic travelled to the Astana Arena to face Shakhter Karagandy in the first leg of the final qualification round of the Champions League on Tuesday.
The away side impressed in the early stages, but it was the Kazakhstan outfit that took the lead after 12 minutes courtesy of a close-range finish from Andrei Finonchenko.
The expected response from Celtic just never arrived, with Sergey Khizhnichenko adding Shakhter's second ahead of the return leg in Scotland next week.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Afternoon all! Celtic continue their quest for the group stages of the Champions League with a trip to Kazakhstan to face Shakhter Karagandy. You could be forgiven for not knowing too much about the home side, but you can be certain that Hoops boss Neil Lennon has done his homework ahead of this European fixture.
It is at this point that I would discuss the recent meetings between the two sides, but it does not come as much of a surprise that this will be the first time they have met in any competition. As mentioned, should the home side overcome Celtic over the two legs, they would become the first club from Kazakhstan to reach the group stages of the competition.
Of course, Celtic will enter this match as firm favourites to secure a positive result ahead of the second leg. But you can be certain that Shakhter will give everything in the biggest occasion in their history. Just a reminder that the draw for the group stages of the Champions League will take place a week on Thursday, but just who is in it remains to be seen.
TEAMS:
SHAKHTER: Mokin; Simcevic, Poryaev, Vasiljevic, Maliy; Dzidic, Ghazaryan, Vicius, Canas; Khizhnichenko, Finonchenko
CELTIC: Forster; Lustig, Mouyokolo, Van Dijk, Izaguirre; Forrest, Brown, Ledley, Mulgrew; Commons, Samaras
So there we have it. James Forrest and Virgil van Dijk both return to the Celtic team this afternoon after appearing off the bench in their league win over Aberdeen at the weekend. Dirk Boerrigter misses out altogether through injury, but Anthony Stokes and Tom Rigic are on the bench. Meanwhile, Kris Commons and Joe Ledley both start. For the home side, Colombian winger Roger Canas returns to their side on the right of midfield, while there are also starts for Sergei Khizhnichenko and Andrei Finonchenko in attack.
Let’s take a look at how the home side booked their spot in this stage of the competition. Shakhter were huge underdogs when they were drawn against BATE Borisov in the second qualification round, but they shocked the Belarusian side with 1-0 wins home and away enough to book their spot in the next stage of the competition.
Next came a tricky clash against Albanian title holders KS Skenderber. They were beaten 3-2 in the away leg, but they advanced courtesy of a 3-0 victory in the home leg at the end of July. Without sounding disrespectful, it is a minor miracle that the club have been able to advance this far. However, their recent performances have shown that they can cause teams problems.
They will also enter this match full of confidence after a morale-boosting 2-1 win over Astana in their domestic league at the weekend. They currently sit in third position in the table, just three points behind leaders Aktobe. They are the current champions of their Premier League, while they were also triumphant in 2011.
Unlike their opponents, meanwhile, Shakhter will have no worries about fatigue ahead of the game having rested their entire team for the victory over the second-top team in the league. That decision was confirmed by their boss Viktor Kumykov, who revealed that all of his first-team players will return for this match.
“We decided to divide our squad into two groups because we have a lot of games coming up. So the players who will meet Celtic were all rested,” Kumykov told reporters at a press-match press conference. We have not heard from the players, however, who have been banned from talking to the media in the build-up to this match.
Celtic, meanwhile, will be wary of falling at this stage after exiting in the final qualification round in three of the last four seasons. They will enter the match full of confidence, however, after progressing into the knockout stages of the Champions League last season, only to lose 5-0 on aggregate to Italian champions Juventus.
The Scottish champions have not really been tested in the qualification process thus far with a 5-0 aggregate victory over Cliftonville booking their spot in the next round of the competition against Elfsborg. They did find it tougher against the Swedish side, but a strike from Kris Commons in the home leg ensured that they reached the final qualification stage.
Unsurprisingly, Celtic have also won both of their league matches this season, with a 2-1 win over Ross County on August 3 followed by a 2-0 win over Aberdeen at the weekend. The Scottish outfit also recorded a 1-0 victory over Liverpool in a friendly last week, with their performance certainly handing them a confidence boost.
In terms of domestic success, Celtic win the battle hands down. Their opponents this afternoon might be current champions of their division, but Celtic have won the Scottish title 44 times. They also have European success to their name after winning the 1967 European Cup with a 2-1 win over Italian side Inter Milan.
This afternoon’s match will also be played on a plastic pitch, which has been criticised in various quarters. However, Celtic skipper Scott Brown, who spoke to reporters at a press conference on Monday, has insisted that it will not be a problem. The Scotland international said: “I don't think it is ideal, but we played on one in Elfsborg in the last round so we know what to expect.”
It is worth nothing that the loser in this two-legged affair will compete in the Europa League next season. Therefore, Karagandy will make history by becoming the first Kazakhstan team to compete in the group stages of a European tournament. Of course, they want that to be the Champions League, but Europe’s second competition would be some consolation that is for certain.
It will not come as much of a surprise to learn that the away supporters have travelled in their numbers for this match. It doesn't matter who or where the Scottish champions are playing, they always bring such a strong following. Those particular fans are in full voice with little under 10 minutes until kickoff.
Shakhter Karagandy's official stadium is the 19,000-capacity Shakhtyor Stadium. However, they have moved the match 114 miles to Astana, which is the capital of Kazakhstan. You just get the feeling that the home side need to pick up a victory this afternoon if they are to have a chance of progressing next week.
Right, we are about five minutes from kickoff in this Champions League tie. Just about time for my pre-match prediction. Karagandy will enter the match full of confidence following an impressive run in the competition this season, while they have fresh legs in their first XI this afternoon. However, I expect Celtic to secure a professional victory ahead of the return leg at Celtic Park next week.
Just a reminder of the main team news. Van Dijk comes in for his full debut for Celtic, while there are also starts for Lustig, Ledley, Forrest and Samaras. The home side hand starts to Finochenko and Khizhnichenko in attack, while Canas and Vicius are also included. We are almost ready to get the action underway.
The pre-match handshakes have been undertaken and the flags have been exchanged. It must be said that the Astana Arena is a very impressive stadium. There is a five-hour time difference from the United Kingdom, however, which the away side must overcome. Right, Celtic get the action underway in this Champions League tie.
Plenty of flags on display this afternoon with the home supporters turning up in their numbers. The stadium has not been packed out, but there is a strong atmosphere inside the Astana Arena. Positive start from the away side, who have taken control of the possession inside the opening two minutes.
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the opening stages of this Champions League tie, but it would be no exaggeration to say that the home side have not had possession for an extended period thus far. Izaguirre threatens for Celtic with a deep cross towards Samaras, but Maliy puts it behind for the first corner of the match.
CHANCE! Wonderful opportunity for Celtic to take the lead as Van Dijk meets a corner from Commons, but somehow his header stays out. The resulting corner hands Celtic another chance with a header from Samaras, but the home side manage to bundle clear. Celtic should be ahead inside six minutes at the Astana Arena.
First sign of the home side as an attacking threat as Khizhnichenko collects a pass from Vicius down the right, but the forward loses control at the vital moment. Finonchenko threatens with a mazy run moments later, but his cross is straight into the arms of Forster. Pulsating start as another corner causes problems to Mokin in the Shakhter goal.
Celtic could and perhaps should be a couple of goals ahead here with the home side simply unable to deal with their power from set pieces. Finonchenko attempts to create an opportunity for Canas with a searching pass down the right, but Mulgrew is across to challenge. End-to-end football with 10 minutes on the clock.
The bright start from Celtic continues as Commons collects possession outside the box before striking an effort towards the top corner, but it was always moving high and wide of the target. A poor pass from Forster hands a half-chance to Canas moments later, but Izaguirre just manages to clear at the vital moment.
GOAL! Shakhter 1-0 Celtic (Finonchenko)
The home side lead! Incredible scenes inside the stadium as a long throw causes all sorts of problems in the Celtic penalty area, allowing Finonchenko to burst into the box and turn home from close range. What a moment!
Just a reminder that nothing will be decided this evening with the second leg to come at Celtic Park next week. It has been a strong response from the away side with Ledley and Brown both delivering low crosses into the box, but Samaras has been unable to influence proceedings thus far. The noise inside the stadium is just electric.
One-way traffic in the last few moments with Celtic passing and probing outside the home side's penalty area. A half-chance does come to Shakhter as Simcevic strikes an effort from outside the box, but it was always moving wide of the post. The next goal - if there indeed is one - is vitally important in this match.
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last few moments, but the away side are dominating the possession. Shakhter's threat continues to arrive on the counter with Canas and Vicius, but Celtic are standing up to the threat. Another goal for the home side and the cheers would be heard from Scotland.
CROSSBAR! Stunning effort from Commons as the Celtic midfielder collects possession outside the box before thumping an effort towards goal, but it smashes off the crossbar before bouncing into the arms of the goalkeeper. Good grief that was some hit from the Scottish international.
Football is just wonderful isn't it? Little old Shakhter leading the Scottish champions in this Champions League encounter. You get the feeling that they need to take a lead into the second leg next week and if they do, anything could happen. They are more than holding their own here with a spell of possession in the Celtic half.
Good possession for Celtic in the last few moments with Brown and Ledley enjoying plenty of the ball in the middle of midfield, but they have been unable to find that elusive pass in the final third. Commons attempts tries his luck from outside the box, but his effort is high and wide of the crossbar. Shakhter still lead with 26 minutes on the clock.
Samaras is the target from a long clearance from Forster, but the Greek striker cannot collect under pressure from Maliy. Slightly scrappy period of the match in the last few moments, meanwhile, with the referee forced to intervene following a number of late challenges. Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining at the Astana Arena.
Half-chance for the home side as Maliy is allowed time and space in the penalty area, but the can only plant his header over the crossbar. Celtic are down the other end moments later with Samaras, but again he loses possession, before Forster is forced to leave his penalty box to clear a through pass from Canas.
CHANCE! Wonderful opportunity for Celtic to level as Samaras meets a free kick from Mulgrew, but the striker can only plant his header wide of the post. That was inches away from levelling the scores in the latter stages of the first period.
The high ball into the box is causing Celtic all sorts of problems at the moment with Lustig forced to head behind under pressure from Canas. The resulting corner is delivered onto the head of Vasiljevic, but his header is high and wide of the crossbar. What an opening 35 minutes we have had in this Champions League tie.
Not too much to report in terms of opportunities in the last few moments, but Celtic have started to take control of the possession once more. The home side remain a threat on the counter, however, with Finonchenko dictating the tempo from a deep position. They deserve their lead with little over five minutes of the first period remaining.
Vicius tries his luck from some 30 yards, but the midfielder's effort is straight into the body of Forster, who has been busier than he would have expected that is for certain. This opening 40 minutes has just flown past. Who would have predicted that Celtic would be trailing at this point? Very few I suspect.
The home side continue to struggle with the long throw into the penalty box, but this time Lustig does manage to clear. It falls to Canas, who thumps an effort towards goal, but again the danger is cleared by Lustig. Shakhter are ending the first period the stronger there is no question about that.
You have to wonder whether Celtic expected an easier match this afternoon? They have almost been utterly shocked by the quality from the home side. A half-chance does arrive for the Scottish outfit as Brown finds Commons just inside the box, but his low cross is blocked by a combination of Maliy and Dzidic.
Half-chance for Celtic as Van Dijk meets a corner from Commons, but his header is straight into the arms of Mokin, who has been a spectator for long periods. Samaras wants a penalty moments later after falling under a challenge from Poryvaev, but the referee is not interested.
HALF-TIME: Shakhter 1-0 Celtic
So there we have it. Stunning half of football at the Astana Arena with Celtic trailing against their Kazakhstan opponents courtesy of a close-range finish from Andrei Finonchenko. It has not been a backs-to-wall performance from the home side, however, who have more than matched their opponents in the first period.
STATISTICS: The away side have had more the possession with 59%, but both sides have had eight attempts in the first period. You could have been forgiven for thinking that this would be a walkover for the Scottish champions, but it has been anything but in the first 45 minutes of action.
BENCH WATCH: The home side have a host of attacking options on their bench in the shape of Murtazaev, Zenkovich and Baizhanov. Meanwhile, Celtic boss Neil Lennon could look to Stokes and Kayal in the second period. What a half of football it has been for the Kazakhstan outfit.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the second period. Just a reminder that nothing will be decided this afternoon, or evening local time, with the second leg at Celtic Park to come next week. Right, the home side get the second period underway.
On the face of it, Celtic would still be massive favourites to advance in the second leg even if they lose this afternoon, but it would go down as one of their worst results in their history there is no question about that. Bright start from the Scottish outfit, however, who have forced an early corner after good work from Forrest.
I suspect that there were some stern words said by Lennon at the interval and his side have responded in the early stages of this half. The home side continue to look long towards Khizhnichenko, but the number 91 has been isolated in attack thus far. Neither side has looked to their bench thus far with 50 minutes on the clock.
Slightly scrappy period of the match in the last couple of moments with both sides guilty of losing possession in the middle of the park. You just get the feeling that if Celtic can score in the next five or 10 minutes, then they will go on to claim the victory. Can Shakhter continue this level of performance throughout the remaining 40 minutes?
Yet more evidence that the home side's goalkeeper is not too happy with high balls into the box as Mokin is forced to flap under pressure from Samaras. Celtic had a couple of opportunities to test his reactions inside the opening two minutes, but they have been unable to force the issue since. First sign of frustration from Lennon, meanwhile, who gives the referee an earful.
CHANCE! Wonderful opportunity for Celtic to level the scores as Izaguirre drives into the box before firing towards the top corner, but he can only strike his effort into the stands. It just has to be better from that position. Finonchenko has a half-chance down the other end moments later, but Forster manages to collect at the vital moment.
Again it is more nervy defending from Celtic as Van Dijk fells Finonchenko in a wide position. The home side's skipper steps up before clipping a dangerous cross into the box, but Brown manages to clear. It has not been the best of performances from Van Dijk on his first start for Celtic. Little over 30 minutes remaining of this Champions League fixture.
Again it is more nervy defending form Lustig as the Celtic full-back loses possession inside the box, Canas collects before delivering a low cross towards Vicius, but the danger is cleared at the vital moment. The home side want a penalty moments later as Van Dijk appears to handle in the box, but replays have shown that it struck the chest of the centre-back. Good pressure from Shakhter with 62 minutes on the clock.
Usually the sign of a Mexican wave means that there is not much happening on the pitch, but that is not the case here. Celtic just cannot get out of their own half at the moment with the home side first to every single ball. A 2-0 result would give them a real chance in the second leg next week there is no question about that. But Celtic will have other ideas with 25 minutes remaining.
Half-chance for Celtic as Mulgrew meets a cross from Commons, but his volley is straight into the arms of the goalkeeper. Commons is again a danger moments later as he combines with Samaras before finding Brown on the edge of the box, but the Scot's effort is blocked by Vicius, who has been imperious in the middle of midfield.
Half-chance from Khizhnichenko this time as the number 91 outmuscles the Celtic defence before turning and striking an effort on goal, but Forster makes the save. Celtic's defence has been really poor this afternoon there is no question about that. Little over 20 minutes of football remaining as Celtic make their first change with Adam Matthews replacing Lustig.
We are entering the stage in the match where surely the home side will start to tire. They have worked so hard for the first 71 minutes, but there is still a lot of football to be played. A deep free kick from Commons threatens to cause problems in the Shakhter box, but Poryvaev manages to clear under pressure from Samaras.
CHANCE! Good opportunity for Celtic to level as Forrest collects a pass from Samaras before turning and striking an effort on goal, but his effort is high and wide of the post. I suspect that we could see the home side look to their bench as the legs begin to tire with little over 15 minutes remaining.
Good spell of possession for Celtic in the last few moments, but they just cannot find that elusive pass in the final third. They do have Stokes on the bench, but without Gary Hooper, you wonder who is going to pop up with a goal? Forrest has a half-chance with a header from close range, but his effort is straight at the goalkeeper.
No sign of those tired legs that I mentioned earlier with the home side still looking forward at every opportunity. Another half-chance arrives as Canas threatens to meet a through pass from Vicius, but Mouyokolo manages to clear at the vital moment. Still 1-0 to the home side with little over 10 minutes of football remaining.
GOAL! Shakhter 2-0 Celtic (Khizhnichenko)
The home side have their second! What an incredible moment as Khizhnichenko rises highest in the box before guiding his header into the bottom corner. The striker might have had a goal moments before, but now he has sent his side into a 2-0 lead.
Good grief, what on earth has happened to Celtic? They have just not been in the second period with the home side dominating the last 20 minutes or so. Celtic need an away goal ahead of the second leg, but aside from a couple of half-chances, it has not looked like arriving. Can they force the issue in the latter stages?
Celtic desperately attempt to force the ball into the penalty area with Mulgrew planting his cross under the crossbar, but Mokin manages to clear at the vital moment. However, the home side are just starting to drop deeper and deeper. Could they be made to pay for retreating?
The home side make their first change of the match five minutes from time as the skipper Finonchenko is replaced by Zenkovic. What a sensational reception from the home supporters for their departing captain. Still no sign of Stokes for Celtic, with Amido Balde instead entering in place of Izaguirre.
Celtic might be trailing 2-0, but an away goal at this point would change the entire complexion of this tie. The Scottish outfit have dominated the possession in the last five minutes or so, but they cannot find that elusive pass in the final third. Little over three minutes of normal time to play at the Astana Arena.
Half-chance for Celtic as Van Dijk strikes a free kick from outside the box, but it was always rising high and wide of the crossbar. It has not been his finest match there is no doubt about that. It is a case of anywhere will do for the home side as we enter the final stages of this first leg.
Celtic desperately attempt to force the issue in and around the opposing penalty area, but they just cannot make the breakthrough. Van Dijk has a header moments later, but he can only plant his effort over the crossbar. Meanwhile, the fourth official indicates that we will play an additional three minutes and we are indeed into the second of those.
FULL-TIME: Shakhter 2-0 Celtic
So there we have it. The referee brings the match to an end with Shakhter beating the Scottish champions 2-0. Just a reminder that the second leg will take place next week, with Celtic having a mountain to climb. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Good evening!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
