Advertisement
Celtic advanced despite a disappointing loss at home. Danny Lawson
survive and advance

Spurs and Celtic both into the Europa League last 32 despite contrasting results

Spurs squeaked by Partizan while Celtic lost at home to Salzburg.

IT WAS A good night for British teams with Everton, Spurs and Celtic all booking their places in the Europa League round of 32.

Everton had won 2-0 in Wolfsburg earlier in the evening after goals from Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas.

Tottenham advanced from Group C thanks to a 1-0 win at home to Serbian league leaders Partizan Belgrade and a 3-1 loss to Salzburg in Glasgow could not prevent Celtic from going through with a game to spare.

Tottenham recorded their third straight win in Group C, beating Partizan at White Hart Lane in a game that was halted for around 10 minutes in the first half due to three separate pitch invasions.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side secured European football in the new year thanks to a solitary goal by French midfielder Benjamin Stambouli four minutes into the second half.

Stambouli got his first goal since his summer move from Montpellier by stabbing home the rebound after a Roberto Soldado shot hit the post.

The London club now know that a draw in Istanbul in two weeks against Besiktas — who have also qualified — will see them win the group.

In a disastrous start, Celtic fell 2-0 behind inside just 13 minutes against already-qualified Salzburg as Brazilian forward Alan netted a brace.

Stefan Johansen soon got one back when he connected first-time with Emilio Izaguirre’s cross from the left, but the Scottish champions could not find an equaliser and it was game over when Naby Keita headed home in stoppage time.

Nevertheless, Astra Giurgiu’s 1-0 win against Dinamo Zagreb means that Celtic qualify from Group D regardless and renders their game in Croatia in two weeks meaningless.

© AFP 2014

Dave Whelan is in trouble with the FA for the controversial remarks he made last week

Spurs’ Europa League game was thrown into disarray after three first half pitch invasions

Your Voice
Readers Comments
3
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.