Feyenoord overcomes 9-man Celtic 2-0 in Champions League opener

By: The Associated Press Posted: 4:47 PM CDT Tuesday, Sep. 19, 2023

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — Celtic had Gustaf Lagerbielke and Odin Thiago Holm sent off within five minutes of each other as the Scottish club opened its Champions League campaign with a 2-0 loss at Feyenoord on Tuesday.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/09/2023 (1109 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Calvin Stengs put the hosts ahead in first-half stoppage-time with his 30-yard free kick past a poor defensive wall.

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart saved a penalty after Lagerbielke received a second yellow card and substitute Holm soon got a straight red in the 68th minute.

Celtic's goalkeeper Joe Hart, center, and teammates after losting their Champions League Group E soccer match between Feyenoord and Celtic at the Kuip stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Alireza Jahanbakhsh got the home side’s second goal.

There was a lively atmosphere inside De Kuip for the first meeting between the teams since Feyenoord’s 1970 European Cup final triumph.

Celtic looked set to go into the interval deservedly level before Matt O’Riley gave away a free kick. Celtic’s wall failed to provide much protection, especially as Kyogo Furuhashi inadvertently got out of the way of the ball as he jumped. Stengs’ shot curled away from Hart with the goalkeeper unable to keep it out despite getting his hands on it.

Celtic was down to 10 men when Lagerbielke, who had been booked in the first half, caught Igor Paixao in the throat with his arm. Hart saved Paixao’s penalty as he dived to his right.

But Celtic dropped to nine players after Holm lunged in for a challenge and caught Mats Wieffer high up his shin. Stengs set up Lutsharel Geertruida to score from the resulting free kick but the goal was ruled out for offside following a VAR check.

The extra men counted in the 76th, though, when Jahanbakhsh fired high into the net from 12 yards.

In the other Group E game, host Lazio snatched a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid after goalkeeper Ivan Provedel came forward and headed in a stoppage-time equalizer.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer