Champions League qualifying play offs: Monaco, Celtic fail to progress

French side won the second leg 2-1 but lost 4-3 on aggregate to Valencia

PARIS: Goals from Mathew Ryan and Elderson Echiéjilé gave Monaco a glimpse of hope to progress but that was not enough as the French side exited despite coming from behind to beat Valencia 2-1 at home but lost 4-3 on aggregate in their Champions League group stage play-off on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a header by Markus Rosenberg and an own goal from Dedryck Boyata condemned Scottish champions Celtic to a second successive season without the riches to be accrued from the group stages as Malmo beat them 2-0 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate in their play off on Tuesday.

Another side who reached the knockout stages last season also failed to get over the play off hurdle this time round as Basel, who progressed at the expense of Liverpool in last season’s competition, exited after a 1-1 draw in Israel against Maccabi Tel-Avi saw the hosts progress on the away goals rule, the tie finishing 3-3 on aggregate.

Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk did make it through — they have appeared in the group stage on every occasions since the 2009-10 campaign — but were made to work hard for it drawing 2-2 at home to Rapid Vienna to qualify 3-2 on aggregate.

Celtic’s hopes took a dive in the 23rd minute, Swedish international striker Rosenberg popping up to beat Craig Gordon with a header off a corner.

It was party time for the home fans in the second half as Carvalho’s header went into the net off Celtic’s Belgian defender Boyata, who knew little about it, to leave the visitors needing two goals to reach the group stage.

Valencia had all but wrapped up business after four minutes, Alvaro Negredo chipping Subasic brilliantly with the ball going into the far corner.

The hosts, needing three goals to even take it to extra-time, replied almost immediately, Italian defender Andrea Raggi firing the ball past Australian goalkeeper Mathew Ryan from the edge of the area.

Monaco gave themselves a glimmer of hope with 15 minutes remaining as Nigerian defender Elderson knocked the ball into the net after Ryan had saved from Thomas Lemar. 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th,  2015.

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