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Padraig Whelan·26 August 2021
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Padraig Whelan·26 August 2021
It is play-off night across both the Europa League and Europa Conference League.
This is what went down.
Celtic survived an onslaught in Alkmaar as a crucial Kyogo Furuhashi goal early helped them to a nervy play-off win in a relentless contest.
The Hoops got off to a dream start when Kyogo scored his seventh goal for the club from close range following a perfect Liel Abada delivery.
But a calamity of errors, firstly from a Stephen Welsh and Joe Hart combination and then from Carl Starfelt who put through his own goal under no pressure put the hosts in front on the night.
However, each of those guilty parties had some big moments under severe second half pressure as Celtic held on in nervy fashion to secure continued Europa League football.
A COVID-ravaged Rangers booked their place in the group stage with a comfortable yet drab draw in Armenia against a poor Alashkert outfit.
Alfredo Morelos missed several chances against the hosts, who played much of the game with 10 men after James Santos’ first half dismissal, but it was his first leg strike which proved the difference.
A day after pledging his future to Tottenham, Harry Kane assumed the armband against Paços and swiftly helped his side into the Conference League group stage.
Typically, it was the returning striker who proved to be the hero as he pounced twice in the first half to turn the tie around for a team who were much improved from the first leg.
Giovani Lo Celso added a third from a dangerous free-kick delivery to wrap up a successful evening in north London.