Efe Ambroses' Celtic out of Champs League

Efe Ambrose

Efe Ambrose

Efe Ambrose
Efe Ambrose

Celtic’s second attempt at qualifying for the group stages of the Champions League ended in failure as a Tavares goal handed unheralded Slovenian champions Maribor a 1-0 win to earn them a 2-1 aggregate win in their play-off match on Tuesday.

The players exited to boos from their fans and pressure will grow on manager Ronny Deila after a lacklustre start to his term in charge.

Celtic, who had been defeated 6-1 by Legia Warsaw in their third round match, had been handed a reprieve when the Polish champions were thrown out of the competition for fielding an ineligible player.

However, the Scottish giants, who earned a 1-1 draw in Slovenia in the first leg, failed to grasp their chance as they failed to score for a second consecutive match for the first time since August 2011.

An encouraging start from Celtic which saw them come close through Jo Inge Berget and Virgik van Dijk soon gave way to nerves as Maribor grew in confidence.

Celtic emerged re-energised after the break and came close to breaking the deadlock when Callum McGregor’s shot hit the bar but the warning signs were there when Craig Gordon produced a superb save to deny Dare Vrsic.

The home side’s failure to clear their lines then cost them dearly as Tavares pounced to scoop a shot over Gordon.

Van Dijk blew a golden opportunity to level the tie in stoppage time as Celtic drop down to the group stages of the Europa League.

Deila admitted his side didn’t deserve to go through.

“I think the first half was not good enough. There was too little energy and aggression,” the Norwegian said.

“In the second half we went out a lot more aggressive and it was more even but they were more effective than us. In the end we haven’t been good enough and that’s what we have to work on.”

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Maribor manager Ante Simundza was delighted after leading his side to the group stages for the first time since 1999.

“I expected Celtic to start slow and then come out strong in the second half but I was always confident we could score,” Simundza said.

“It is very important for the club, the fans and a great thing for Slovenia.”

A combination of Celtic’s high-pressing game and quick tempo at the start of the match almost saw them break the deadlock in the fifth minute when Berget’s cut-back was turned narrowly wide of his own post by Marko Suler.

Celtic came close again as van Dijk sent his header from an Anthony Stokes corner just by the post.

The Slovenian champions slowly began to impose themselves more further up the field and could have gone ahead when Mitja Viler cut in from the left and tried his luck with a curling shot that Gordon spilled into the path of Tavares.

However, the keeper was relieved to see the ball rebound back into his arms off the striker’s knee.

Celtic pushed forward for the goal that would give them some breathing space and almost got it in the 56th minute.

Stokes drove to the by-line and cut the ball back for McGregor whose rising shot came crashing back off the crossbar before Kris Commons sent a trademark dipping shot just over.

Opportunities had been scarce for Maribor in the second period but Celtic had Gordon to thank in the 67th minute when he blocked a low drive from Vrsic after he found himself with room in the box.

Celtic failed to heed the warning signs and disaster struck in the 76th minute when Tavares lifted a shot over a helpless Gordon and into the net after Emilio Izaguirre and Charlie Mulgrew failed to clear their lines.

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