UEFA Europa League
Third qualifying round, second leg
Thursday, August 12, 2021
Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC…3
(Turnbull 24 & 53, Forrest 72)

FK JABLONEC…0

Celtic win 7-2 on aggregate

Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic side produced another impressive performance at Paradise, beating FK Jablonec 3-0 on the night for a 7-2 aggregate win and a place in the play-off round of the Europa League.

The Hoops will face Dutch side, AZ Alkmaar, and will go into that match full of confidence on the back of another thrilling display of attacking football.

A packed Paradise didn’t have long for their first moment of excitement when Tom Rogic threaded a wonderful pass through to Kyogo inside the first 60 seconds, putting him in one-on-one with the Jablonec goalkeeper.

Fans were on their feet, ready to celebrate another goal from the Japanese striker, but goalkeeper Jan Hanus managed to get a foot to the ball as the Celtic forward tried to go round him.

Kyogo’s movement was cause the visitors’ defence problems, and the Jablonec keeper was forced to rush out of his box to clear the ball after David Turnbull slid a ball into the striker’s path.

After 12 minutes, Kyogo did have the ball in the net, finishing off a sweeping move which started inside the Hoops’ half and ended with James Forrest setting up his team-mate to finish, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Jablonec were unable to get a foothold in the game such was Celtic’s control, and it took until the 18th minute before their first chance – a shot from the edge of the box that went over the bar.

At the other end, David Turnbull fashioned an opportunity outside the area after being set up by Forrest, but the keeper saved well.

However, Turnbull was not to be denied and on 24 minutes he opened the scoring. Greg Taylor latched on to a clearance some 30 yards from the Jablonec goal, danced past two defenders before threading a superb ball through to Turnbull, and he clipped the ball beyond the keeper and into the net.

It was no more than Celtic deserved for their efforts, and they continued to push forward in search of a second goal.

Celts thrill packed Paradise with superb Euro performance