Celtic 4-2 Utrecht: Club record set as Hoops qualify for Europa League play-offs | OneFootball

Celtic claimed a 4-2 victory over Dutch side Utrecht in the Europa League at Parkhead tonight.

The Hoops took the lead in the sixth minute, with Benjamin Nygren tapping home Kieran Tierney’s cross from close range.

Nygren was involved again in Celtic’s second goal after 10 minutes, intercepting a poor back pass from Vasilis Barkas and forcing Nick Viergever into an own goal.

This was the earliest time that Celtic had taken a 2-0 lead in a major European game.

Nygren was close to getting his second of the night after whipping a free-kick towards the bottom corner, but Barkas turned it away.

The Hoops were awarded a penalty after Auston Trusty’s header hit Dani de Wit’s hand. Arne Engels fired the penalty into the top corner.

De Wit halved the deficit on the stroke of half-time, leaving Kasper Schmeichel rooted to the spot.

The Danish goalkeeper then made a super save, ensuring that Celtic went into the break with a two-goal cushion.

Nygren continued where he left off after the interval, but Barkas tipped his effort over.

Utrecht made it 3-2 after the hour mark, when Adrian Blake beat Schmeichel from range.

Any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Trusty guided Engels’ corner into the net.

Martin O’Neill’s side finished 21st in the standings to claim one of the knockout round play-off spots.