Celtic FC were in desperate need of a victory in their UEFA Europa League campaign, and it showed as they downed Sturm Graz 2-1 at Celtic Park. On Thursday night’s match, the preview mostly focused on Brendan Rodgers’ side putting up a spirited performance. They reacted accordingly after coming under enormous pressure following a lackluster 2-0 home loss to Dundee only days before. This victory is a relief for Celtic as it’s their first victory in the current season’s tournament and raises some eyebrows regarding their form.
Alistair Johnston, a highly anticipated return to the starting XI, replaced Anthony Ralston at right back. Arne Engels replacing Yang Hyun-Jun in the middle, Celtic tried to restart their form. Despite early setbacks, including Kelechi Iheanacho’s hamstring injury that forced him off the pitch, the team rallied to turn the match in their favor.
Early Challenges and Resilience
Sturm Graz played to their strengths early, and opened the scoring on the quarter-hour mark with a wonderful team goal that left Celtic reeling. With one bit of a break defensively, the Austrians made the home side pay and left the U.S with a mountain to climb. More than anything in the early going, Celtic just couldn’t seem to get into a preferred rhythm in the first half. As they tried to equalize, the pressure kept building.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was forthright about the challenges his side encountered. He emphasized the importance of character in such situations, stating, “Sometimes with players you have to be harsh to be clear, and then you hope that you get that reaction.” His words struck true as Celtic required their best reaction after such a poor performance in their previous 3-1 loss.
As the match wore on, it became clear that Celtic just didn’t have it in them. Rodgers hailed his team’s performance as a “Range Rover Sport, not a Ferrari,” a sign that there remains much room for improvement. The manager was still positive on their resolve and industry all the way through the fixture.
Turning the Tide
Suddenly, Celtic’s fortunes turned completely around just past the hour mark. They netted just two goals in three minutes, both off of corner kicks. It was Liam Scales with the opening goal, just a few minutes later leveled by Benjamin Nygren. The quick succession of goals turned the match on its head, showcasing Celtic’s attacking prowess despite their earlier struggles.
Rodgers’ major credit was for how his players showed their fight and creativity to come back from behind to win. He noted, “I thought the performance was outstanding… the two young guys [Kenny and Colby Donovan] that came on, they worked their socks off and contributed to the performance.” As Celtic looked to take the game by the scruff of the neck, their contributions proved vital.
In a moment of tension, Tochi Chukwuani received a red card in the 70th minute for a reckless challenge on Callum McGregor. Even after Sturm Graz had been reduced to ten men, they were unable to capitalize on the advantage. On the other hand, Celtic did a masterful job of preserving their lead.
A Step Forward
With this victory, Celtic not only secured their first points in the Europa League group stage but broke a streak of potential back-to-back losses. This was something they had not experienced in four years. Pieces of their game, far from perfect, were evident that they were getting better and performing with a sense of urgency.
Rodgers summed up his feelings on the match by saying he’s excited for the direction the team is headed. He remarked, “Everything that you want in a team, the tempo, the speed, the aggression, the energy, everything was there against a good side.” This victory should be a springboard for more sustained success in future games.
Leave a Reply