Aalborg 2 Celtic 1: Caldwell's late own goal leaves Celtic stunned

Published on Tuesday 25 November 2008 23:34

CELTIC were evicted from Europe last night like impoverished tenants who had failed, once again, to make the rent. Their 18th winless Champions League group match away from home meant that the arrears had continued to mount to the point where they became unserviceable.

In truth, the Scottish champions passed up their most promising chance yet, failing to exploit so many solid scoring chances before Barry Robson gave them a second-half lead that was equalised by the Brazilian, Caca, and finally, sickeningly, overtaken by Gary Caldwell's unfortunate own goal just three minute from the end. The result denied Celtic even the parachute into the Uefa Cup that would have been the reward for finishing third, rather than bottom, of Group E.

Whatever anxieties the Celtic players and their 800 supporters may have taken into the match would not have been eased by the squandering of two exceptional scoring opportunities in the first ten minutes of an opening period in which Gordon Strachan will never have seen his team so dominant on foreign soil.

The Danes were made to look more like the visitors as the Scottish champions, playing the ball quickly and fluently through midfield, regularly surged towards Karim Zaza in the home goal, their efforts effectively rendered futile by the profligacy of Georgios Samaras and Shunsuke Nakamura when served with the kind of chances that are rare in this kind of assignment.

It was, ironically, Nakamura who created the first of them when he took possession on the left from Robson and delivered a low, curling cross into the area that was clearly heading straight for Samaras. Between the big striker and the ball was the lunging Steve Olfers, but the Aalborg defender's attempt at interception always looked unlikely to succeed.

Samaras, however, hesitated in his forward run as though anticipating Olfers's intervention, rather than betting on his failure. That momentary uncertainty was enough to leave him a foot short of connecting just six yards out, where the merest contact would have been sufficient to take the ball over the line.

If anything, Nakamura's miss was the less forgivable. Samaras began the move which eventually sliced the home defence open, supplying Scott McDonald in the inside-left position. The little striker held the ball until Nakamura made his run past Martin Pedersen on the right side of the area. The pass was impeccably measured, allowing the Japanese midfielder to take the ball in his stride, with only Zaza to beat from eight yards. Instead of sliding the ball past the goalkeeper, as he had done so expertly against St Mirren three days before, he scooped the shot several feet over the bar, a shocking miss for a player of his skill.

The escapes, predictably, encouraged Aalborg in the belief that they were being looked after by some unseen providence, although working their way back into the match took some time. Indeed, it was not until the 36th minute that they produced their first authentic opportunity, the first alarm in the Celtic defence, and it came from a set piece.

It was Thomas Enevoldsen's corner kick from the left which Michael Jakobsen, quite unchallenged, reached close to the near post, sending a powerful header towards Artur Boruc's top right-hand corner. The big goalkeeper made a good save, conceding what proved to be a fruitless corner by tipping the ball over. Had Samaras made a similar job of his header soon after, Celtic would surely have taken the lead. This time, it was Nakamura's free kick from the left which gave the towering Greek the chance, but he allowed the ball to skid off his head and wide of Zaza's left post. It seemed clear at that point that Samaras's recent absence through injury was having its effect, his timing and reactions in need of sharpening.

Strachan waited until the 69th minute before replacing Samaras, his lack of match fitness having finally proved insurmountable. But, by then, Celtic had scored the goal that had given them a lead that was long overdue. It arrived just a few seconds after they felt they had been denied a penalty kick, making Robson's strike all the sweeter, but Aalborg's equaliser 19 minutes later the sourer.

It was McDonald who fell under the challenge from Zaza, the Celtic players in the vicinity claiming vehemently for the award that was refused by the Austrian referee, Konrad Plautz. But, almost immediately, Mark Wilson took possession on the left and sent his cross straight to the head of Robson, whose glanced header from around the penalty spot took the ball low and far to the left of the goalkeeper.

The equaliser also caused consternation among the visitors because the referee refused what appeared to be a sound appeal for a free kick when McDonald was taken down deep inside the home half. He waved play on, the ball was played forward to Caca and the Brazilian's shot took a deflection from Stephen McManus which sent the ball spinning over the head of Boruc.

The strike brought a scoreline which flattered the Danes, although Scott Brown, industrious as ever, wasted a very convertible opportunity to restore the advantage not long after.

The ball broke to the midfielder inside the penalty area but he failed to get properly over the ball as he attempted the volley, sending it high over the bar.

It was yet another frustrating moment in a match in which the Parkhead side should have secured victory long before that shocking second goal was conceded.

Caldwell was left helpless when Glenn Loovens' attempted clearance of a cross from Andreas Johansson struck him and bounced over the line.

RATINGS

Artur Boruc 6/10

Made a fine instinctive save to keep out Michael Jakobsen's first half header. The Polish goalkeeper had no chance with either Aalborg goal before desperately joining his attack in stoppage time.

Andreas Hinkel 5

Recovered from an early mistake to deliver a reasonably steady performance, but still fails to provide the quality and contribution Celtic are entitled to expect.

Glenn Loovens 4

The Dutch defender never appeared comfortable, guilty of ball watching and poor positional sense. His unhappy evening was sealed when his late attempted clearance cannoned off Gary Caldwell and into the Celtic net.

Stephen McManus 5

The Celtic captain does not look as assured without regular partner Caldwell beside him. Made a couple of timely clearances, but his attempt to close down Caca merely saw the Brazilian's shot deflect off him for Aalborg's equaliser.

Mark Wilson 6

Got forward effectively throughout the evening and was generally solid in defence. The full-back delivered a fine cross to set up Barry Robson's goal.

Shunsuke Nakamura 5

The Japanese playmaker created two terrific openings for Georgios Samaras but missed Celtic's best first-half chance himself when he blazed over.

Gary Caldwell 7

A solid midfield shift, which saw him denied a remarkable solo goal by Aalborg 'keeper Karim Zaza's save, was spoiled by his inadvertent late own goal which knocked Celtic out of Europe.

Scott Brown 5

The midfielder was in typically combative mood but was guilty of conceding free-kicks in dangerous positions on the edge of his own penalty area. Missed a decent chance to make it 2-1 for Celtic in the 78th minute.

Barry Robson 7

It looked as if the former Dundee United man had made up for his penalty miss against the Danes at Celtic Park when he headed Celtic in front but the goal proved in vain. One of his team's best performers.

Georgios Samaras 4

The Greek international striker is clearly still lacking in both confidence and match sharpness following his return from injury. Missed two glorious close-range opportunities in the first half. Made way for Cillian Sheridan in the 69th minute.

Scott McDonald 5

Unfortunately none of Celtic's chances fell to him, although the little striker did well to set up Nakamura's first half opportunity. Fortunate to escape a caution late on.

SUBSTITUTES

Cillian Sheridan Missed late chance.

Shaun Maloney Introduced in 90th minute

• Ratings by Stephen Halliday