Hapoel Tel-Aviv 2 - 1 Celtic - newsweekly's Blog

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Hapoel Tel-Aviv 2 - 1 Celtic

Posted on September 18, 2009 at 12:43 AM.

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Celtic players are dejected after losing the late goal in Israel

Celtic could not survive sustained Hapoel pressure in the second period

Celtic surrendered the lead as Hapoel claimed a deserved win in their Europa League Group C opener in Israel.

Following a slow start, Georgios Samaras fired Celtic ahead on 25 minutes with a well-taken low strike.

The Scots controlled the rest of the half, but Hapoel emerged for the second period re-energised.

With the visitors pinned back, Nemanja Vucicevic slammed in the leveller before Maaran Lala stabbed in the winner from close range on 88 minutes.

The defeat will leave a sour taste in the mouth for Celtic after leading for so long in the game, but their second-half display left a lot to be desired.

As a result of the reverse Tony Mowbray's men sit in third place in the group as Rapid Vienna recorded a 3-0 win over German league leaders Hamburg.

Having proven against Dinamo Moscow that they are capable of winning away from home after a barren six years of on their travels optimism was high that Celtic could repeat the feat against Hapoel, who have had an unremarkable start to their domestic campaign.

But in the stifling Israeli heat the hosts began, perhaps understandably, with much more pace than the Scottish visitors.

Hapoel's Bebars Natcho in particular looked energetic darting forward from midfield and with less than a minute on the clock he had a headed chance which he was unable to keep down.

Celtic, with a cautious 4-5-1 formation, had most of their early possession along the back four as the Israeli team retreated to defend en masse.

But the Glasgow club were denied the lead on 11 minutes when goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama made a dextrous save to tip Samaras' header on to the bar from Shaun Maloney's corner.

However, Celtic had Artur Boruc to thank at the other end for staying on level terms when he saved low from Vucicevic after a slide-rule pass had split the Scots' defence.

Samaras' goal was not enough to give Celtic victory

With 25 minutes played Celtic made the breakthrough.

Gary Caldwell, playing in a holding midfield role, picked out Samaras with a long pass, which the lone striker controlled on his chest before lashing low inside the far post.

Celtic looked comfortable following the goal, stringing passes together and slowing the match down, as Hapoel's early eagerness seemed to dissipate.

Zurab Menteshashvili stung Boruc's palms with a long-range effort towards the end of the half.

But a good first-half showing for Celtic was somewhat sullied by Aiden McGeady picking up an unnecessary booking for reacting to a foul.

Soon after the restart Uefa's extra official behind the Celtic goal remained impassive amid Hapoel penalty claims when a ball into the box flicked off Stephen McManus' arm.

And moments later Natcho's calls for a spot-kick were rewarded with a yellow card for a theatrical dive with no defender nearby.

But Hapoel had started the second period in the same vein as the first, and Boruc was again called upon to parry away a fierce Gil Vermouth shot.

As the half wore on Celtic posed less and less of a threat and eventually they were undone.

Right-winger Samuel Yeboah's ball across goal was only knocked weakly into the path of Vucecevic, and the Serbian midfielder cracked the ball into the roof of the net from 10 yards.

In the closing 15 minutes, Celtic survived a number of scares as Hapoel looked the more likely side to claim victory.

And agonisingly for Celtic, Lala lunged on the the six yard box to knock Vermouth's pass into the net for a deserved victory, as the visitors paid the price for a largely toothless second-half display.