Football news - Leigh Griffiths nets late winner for Celtic against Rosenborg
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Updated 20/09/2018 at 22:04 GMT
Europa League Group B, Celtic Park - Celtic 1 (Griffiths 87') Rosenborg 0
Leigh Griffiths of Celtic celebrates after scoring his team's first goal with his team mates during the UEFA Europa League Group B match between Celtic and Rosenborg at Celtic Park on September 20, 2018 in Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Image credit: Getty Images
Leigh Griffiths made the difference for Celtic in their Europa League opener, coming off the bench to score a late winner against Rosenborg.
Brendan Rodgers’ side laboured for much of the match, spurning the few opportunities that they created. But it wasn’t until the second half introduction of Griffiths from the bench that the Hoops made the breakthrough.
Frustration was building within the home support when Griffiths got on the end of a Dedryck Boyata knockdown from a Scott Brown lofted pass into the box, firing a header into the back of the Rosenborg net.
Red Bull Salzburg scored a late winner in the Red Bull derby against RB Leipzig to go top of the group after the opening round of Group B games, but Rodgers and his players will just be pleased to be off to a winning start and will have some questions to answer after this below-par performance.
TALKING POINT
Will Leigh Griffiths be Brendan Rodgers’ first choice striker after this? Odsonne Edouard started as Celtic’s favoured striker for this game, but it wasn’t until Griffiths came off the bench that the Hoops were sparked into life. Griffiths gestured ‘number one’ to the crowd after scoring the winner, leaving no doubts over the point he was making to Rodgers. So after this performance will Griffiths be Celtic’s first choice striker over Edouard? Or could the two play together?
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Leigh Griffiths of Celtic celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Europa League Group B match between Celtic and Rosenborg at Celtic Park on September 20, 2018 in Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Image credit: Getty Images
MAN OF THE MATCH
Kieran Tierney (Celtic)
Standout performers were few and far between for Celtic as they struggled to a far from impressive home win over Rosenborg, the poorest team in their Europa League group, but Kieran Tierney was his consistent self. He was the only player who provided an outlet for the Hoops throughout, making cross after excellent cross. Unfortunately for him, though, nobody in a great and white shirt seemed to be on the same wavelength as the youngster.
PLAYER RATINGS
Celtic - Gordon 5, Lustig 5, Boyata 6, Benkovic 5, Tierney 7, Brown 5, Rogic 6, McGregor 6, Ntcham 5, Forrest 5, Edouard 5. Subs - Griffiths 7, Johnston 6, Sinclair 6.
Rosenborg - Hansen 5, Hedenstad 5, Reginiussen 6, Hovland 6, Meling 7, Denic 5, Jensen 5, Konradsen 4, De Lanlay 5, Soderlund 6, Jebali 6. Subs - Lundemo 5, Trondsen 5, Levi 5.
KEY MOMENTS
23’ Edouard was close! That's the closest we have come to a goal in these opening exchanges. Rogic surged through midfield and played a pass in behind for Edouard, but his shot flashes over.
41’ Rosenborg survive! Finally, Celtic create a golden opportunity, with Rogic forcing the diving save from Hansen. Then the goalkeeper gets up to make the save on the rebound from Edouard.
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Rosenborg's Norwegian defender Birger Meling (C) vies with Celtic's Scottish midfielder Scott Brown (L) and Celtic's Swedish defender Mikael Lustig during the UEFA Europa League group B football match between Celtic and Rosenborg at Celtic Park stadium in
Image credit: Getty Images
61’ Sinclair comes close! Johnstone gets the cross into the box, with Sinclair meeting it on the volley. But the winger's cushioned effort flashes just past the far post. Not far away from Sinclair.
80’ Johnstone scoops over! That was the chance for the youngster! Tierney picks out the run of Johnstone inside the box, but he scoops over his finish from about 10 yards out.
87’ GOAL! Celtic 1-0 Rosenborg: Finally! Celtic have got the goal they have laboured to find! They went direct, with Boyata knocking on a Brown long ball for Griffiths, who headed into the corner of the net! How Celtic needed that goal!
KEY STATS
Leigh Griffiths scored the 300th goal of Brendan Rodgers’ tenure as Celtic manager.
This was the first time ever that Celtic have won their opening game of a European group stage campaign (first win in 14 opening group stage games).
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