In the final moments of their Champions League match at Parkhead against Feyenoord, Celtic eventually ended their lengthy wait for a victory, thanks to an unexpected hero in Gustaf Lagerbielke.
After the excellent Liam Scales was taken down, Luis Palma’s penalty in the 33rd minute got the home team back on track. However, Yankuba Minteh’s goal for the Dutch champions tied the score in the 82nd minute.
But in stoppage time, on his first game since September, substitute Lagerbielke smashed home his first Celtic goal and earned a 2-1 victory.
It was also Celtic’s first Champions League group stage victory at home since overcoming Ajax in October 2013, and their first in 16 games after they defeated Anderlecht six years prior, during Brendan Rodgers’ first term as manager.
The exciting finale made up for a dull home crowd and guaranteed that bottom-of-Group E Celtic doubled their two-point total from the year before.
Tomoki Iwata and Mikey Johnston received their third consecutive start, however the Japanese midfielder was pulled off the pitch after just 19 minutes due to injury, making way for Paulo Bernardo.
Feyenoord made five changes after failing to finish higher than third. There were noticeable pockets of away fans in the home sections, but their supporters came out in full force overall.
The first quarter was behind both teams. Scales played through Furuhashi, but Justin Biljow made a great stop to deny him. The Mexico attacker rushed on to a long pass, but the goalkeeper made a diving save to keep it out. Santiago Jimenez was then called offside after circling Joe Hart and netting.
When Ramiz Zerrouki tackled Scales as Feyenoord was defending a corner, Celtic took the lead. Replays supported French referee Benoit Batien’s verdict despite the guests’ loud protests. Batien had identified the violation without the use of VAR. After the uproar, Palma maintained his composure to convert.
Up until Lagerbielke’s winner had a lot of supporters rushing onto the field to celebrate, it appeared like just another Celtic late-life drama. One made Rodgers furious, as the manager stormed along the touchline and cursed the fan before stewards escorted him out.
Celtic’s lead was held off by a Hart stop, a Johnston block, and another goalmouth scramble that came just before the final bell.
