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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Celtic make light work of KR Reykjavik to progress in Champions League | Celtic make light work of KR Reykjavik to progress in Champions League |
| (30 days later) | |
| It took Celtic 84 minutes to score their only goal in Reykjavik, but on Tuesday night in the unfamiliar environs of Murrayfield they wasted no time in finishing off the job. Wednesday night’s Commonwealth Games opening ceremony at Celtic Park will last for more than two hours; KR’s Champions League closing ceremony lasted only minutes. | |
| Moving east along the M8 to the national rugby stadium inconvenienced Ronny Deila’s team not a jot. Aided by uncharacteristically poor goalkeeping from Stefan Magnusson, the central defender Virgil van Dijk scored two in the opening 20 minutes. The striker Teemu Pukki added a further brace as his side eased their way to a third qualifying round tie against either St Patrick’s Athletic or Legia Warsaw, who play on Wednesday night. | Moving east along the M8 to the national rugby stadium inconvenienced Ronny Deila’s team not a jot. Aided by uncharacteristically poor goalkeeping from Stefan Magnusson, the central defender Virgil van Dijk scored two in the opening 20 minutes. The striker Teemu Pukki added a further brace as his side eased their way to a third qualifying round tie against either St Patrick’s Athletic or Legia Warsaw, who play on Wednesday night. |
| Kris Commons, especially, was unlucky not to make the night even more uncomfortable for the Icelandic team, but revelling in their night out in the capital, Celtic’s fans were more than happy with the evening’s work. A large contingent had made the journey to watch their side test out Murrayfield’s new hybrid surface. | Kris Commons, especially, was unlucky not to make the night even more uncomfortable for the Icelandic team, but revelling in their night out in the capital, Celtic’s fans were more than happy with the evening’s work. A large contingent had made the journey to watch their side test out Murrayfield’s new hybrid surface. |
| Deila, who has now successfully navigated his own first test since replacing Neil Lennon as Celtic manager, did not pretend that there had been any huge struggle in dismantling KR. “The first half was good and we started the game well,” he said. “We kept them under pressure and won the ball back when we lost it. The second half was a bit sloppy I think. We should have been keeping up the tempo so we could win [by] more. But I have to be happy. | Deila, who has now successfully navigated his own first test since replacing Neil Lennon as Celtic manager, did not pretend that there had been any huge struggle in dismantling KR. “The first half was good and we started the game well,” he said. “We kept them under pressure and won the ball back when we lost it. The second half was a bit sloppy I think. We should have been keeping up the tempo so we could win [by] more. But I have to be happy. |
| “The pitch was better than last week but we need to work in training to get the tempo even better. Today was a good start but this isn’t the best opponent we are going to get. But we have to start somewhere. We will have to take what is coming to us in the next round.” | “The pitch was better than last week but we need to work in training to get the tempo even better. Today was a good start but this isn’t the best opponent we are going to get. But we have to start somewhere. We will have to take what is coming to us in the next round.” |
| Van Dijk’s opening two goals came from Commons’ corners, and if both could be attributed to the unfortunate Magnusson, whose shot-stopping in the two ties was far better than his ability to collect high balls, Deila was pleased that some early training ground work on set pieces had borne fruit. | Van Dijk’s opening two goals came from Commons’ corners, and if both could be attributed to the unfortunate Magnusson, whose shot-stopping in the two ties was far better than his ability to collect high balls, Deila was pleased that some early training ground work on set pieces had borne fruit. |
| Pukki scored the third seven minutes later, with KR again being damaged down the left. This time it was from a low cross invitingly placed in front of the Finnish striker by Callum McGregor, the scorer in Reykjavik. | Pukki scored the third seven minutes later, with KR again being damaged down the left. This time it was from a low cross invitingly placed in front of the Finnish striker by Callum McGregor, the scorer in Reykjavik. |
| Although Celtic scored just once more through Pukki 20 minutes from the end, humiliating the Icelanders wasn’t a prerequisite for the night. The Scottish champions went about their business efficiently and with flashes of flourish against a limited side. | Although Celtic scored just once more through Pukki 20 minutes from the end, humiliating the Icelanders wasn’t a prerequisite for the night. The Scottish champions went about their business efficiently and with flashes of flourish against a limited side. |
| The only downside for Deila is that he may not have Fraser Forster to call on for much longer. Celtic are reported to have turned down a “derisory” bid from Southampton for the England goalkeeper, but that is unlikely to be the end of the matter. | The only downside for Deila is that he may not have Fraser Forster to call on for much longer. Celtic are reported to have turned down a “derisory” bid from Southampton for the England goalkeeper, but that is unlikely to be the end of the matter. |