UCL: Celtic Secures Champions League Knockout Berth with Late Win Over Young Boys

Celtic secured a spot in the Champions League knockout stage for the first time since 2013, defeating Young Boys 1-0 thanks to a late own goal.

Celtic secured a spot in the UEFA Champions League knockout stage for the first time since 2013, thanks to a late own goal that sealed a narrow 1-0 victory over Young Boys in Glasgow. The win was a historic moment for the Scottish club, and it came against an opponent that had lost its previous six fixtures.

The atmosphere at Parkhead was electric, with the expectant crowd in full voice as Celtic took control of the match from the start. The hosts' spirits could have been dampened when Kyogo Furuhashi's sixth-minute strike was ruled out for offside, but instead, the energy levels increased. The fans were nearly rewarded for their enthusiasm when Reo Hatate sent a brilliant banana shot towards the bottom corner, only for Marvin Keller to make a superb save down to his right.

Despite the officials' interventions, it seemed only a matter of time before Celtic would break the deadlock. However, the referee and assistant referees were kept busy, correctly disallowing two more Kyogo goals. The first was chalked off due to a foul on Cheikh Niasse by Callum McGregor in the build-up, while the second was thwarted by the offside flag, denying the Japanese international once again.

Celtic's frustration grew as the match wore on, and tensions escalated when Arne Engels' penalty was saved by Marvin Keller after Greg Taylor was fouled in the box by Darian Males. The penalty miss was a letdown for the hosts, who had been pushing hard for a breakthrough.

The visitors, Young Boys, emerged from the halftime break with a renewed sense of defensive solidity, thanks likely to a stern halftime talk from Giorgio Contini. Even when Celtic managed to breach the back line, Keller was on hand to make another crucial save, this time denying captain Callum McGregor's 25-yard effort. Meanwhile, Kasper Schmeichel made a terrific double reaction stop at the other end, thwarting two powerful strikes from Males.

As the prize of a spot in the Champions League knockout stage hung in the balance, Celtic's frustration turned to infuriation as they struggled to find a way past their Swiss opponents. However, the hosts refused to give up, and their persistence finally paid off when Adam Idah's shot was saved, only for Loris Benito to divert the rebound into his own net, securing a 1-0 win for Celtic.

Celtic battle to earn 3 huge points 💪#UCL pic.twitter.com/ttFQbbpQb0

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 22, 2025

The drama wasn't over yet, as Celtic's Daizen Maeda was sent off in the dying minutes after VAR intervened to show him a straight red card for petulantly kicking out at Mohamed Ali Camara. Despite being reduced to 10 men, Celtic clung on for a 1-0 win that guarantees their spot in the top 24 and a place in the knockout stage. This marks a milestone for Brendan Rodgers, who has guided a side out of this stage of the competition for the first time in his career.