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Wednesday, August 29, 2012
 Full Time
Celtic
2
 
0
Helsingborgs IF
G. Hooper  30' 1-0 
V. Wanyama  88' 2-0 
Aggregate: Celtic 4-0
HT: 1-0
Celtic Park (Attendance: 60,000)
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo
Stats
CommentaryLineupsPlayer Stats Events Shotchart
Celtic vs. Helsingborgs IF
Minute Commentary
90' SUMMARY
And boy do they deserve it. One of the most professional displays over two legs that you could wish to see. Yes the opposition may have been a little sub-standard, but in past years Celtic still would have found a way to mess it up. Not this year though - they were faultless and Neil Lennon can be hugely proud of his players. Helsingborgs enjoyed a lot of possession tonight but the Hoops stayed calm, took their time and once they forged the lead on the night the tie was over. It's the likes of Barcelona, Manchester United and AC Milan next up, not to mention a £15million jackpot. Not bad for a night's work. Full time at Celtic Park, Celtic 2 Helsingborgs 0 (4-0 on aggregate).
90' FULL TIME
And that's it! Celtic are in the Champions League group stages.
90' CELTIC SUB
Lennon gives Hooper a moment to milk the applause of the home fans. Paddy McCourt gets a handy appearance fee.
90' HE'S EVERYWHERE
And now Wanyama is back in his own penalty area, taking the ball off Accam with a brilliant challenge. The fans absolutely love that.
88' CELTIC 2-0 HELSINGBORGS
It's a comprehensive win for Celtic now. Hansson pulled off a double-save to deny Brown seconds earlier but he's helpless to prevent VICTOR WANYAMA from nodding home from the resulting Commons corner.
87' ANOTHER YELLOW
Nikola Djurdjic had some handbags with Scott Brown after that Wilson foul and also picked up a booking.
86' BOOKING
Daft yellow this, so daft. The game is won and Wilson brings down Accam with a silly foul just outside the Celtic box. Nordmark lashes the free kick over the bar.
84' DECENT CONTEST
All told it's been a decent contest this evening. Helsingborgs took decent enough to go on a run in the Europa League, but they've been outclassed by Celtic over two legs.
82' OFF THE POST
Nearly the icing on the cake for Celtic as Forrest whacks a scorching drive off the post from the edge of the box. Hooper follows up and hits the other post, but is flagged offside.
82' SOLID
Defensively, Celtic have been very solid tonight, which augers well for their Champions League campaign. Kelvin Wilson in particular has impressed.
80' NO DANGER
Absolutely no danger of any late drama here. In fact Celtic look the more likely goalscorers - Commons is pulling the strings in midfield.
78' CELTIC SUB
Swede Mikael Lustig comes on to face his countrymen, with Adam Matthews getting a breather.
76' HELSINGBORGS SUB
Mattias Lindstrom replaces Erik Wahlstedt for the beleagured visitors.
75' LIVELY
This kid Tony Watt looks pretty lively. He's already grabbed a few goals in the green and white and he's putting himself about in what has already been an impressive cameo tonight.
72' THURSDAY DRAW
Celtic fans can start dreaming about the kind of draw they might be handed tomorrow when the group stage line-ups are announced. They could potentially get Real Madrid, Manchester City and Juventus - the champions of Spain, England and Italy respectively. Tasty.
69' CELTIC SUB
The imperious Georgios Samaras departs to a terrific ovation. He's given a magnificent forward display tonight - as good as anything he's produced on the European stage for Celtic. Not a bad time to enter the fray for 18-year-old striker Tony Watt.
66' DOMINANT
Just over a quarter of the game to go - or one eighth of the tie - and Celtic are in complete command. The party is just warming up at Celtic Park, with the home fans still in fine voice.
63' BOOKING
David Accam - who goes by the name of Titi on the back of his shirt - is horrendously high with a tackle on Emillio Izaguirre, catching him on the knee. He's very fortunate to pick up just a yellow card. Neil Lennon is furious.
61' HELSINGBORGS SUB
First change for the visitors - David Accam replaces Thomas Sorum.
58' POSSESSION
Good possession from the Swedes in the past few minutes, but in general they're creating very little from open play. Let's be honest, Celtic were delighted when they were given this draw for the play-off stage, and Helsingborgs are proving why. They're a tidy team but lack genuine quality where it counts.
54' SIDE NETTING
Wonderful chance for Nikola Djurdjic to give Celtic something to think about. A left-wing corner is nodded to the striker who is free on the left of the six-yard box, but he volleys into the side netting. A let-off for the Hoops.
51' GOOD SAVE
Fifty-one minutes in and Forster is finally called into action. It's a good save too - Uronen's long-range free kick is swerving at pace, but Forster parries wide.
49' COVERED
Brilliant play from Samaras yet again as he ambles past Jere Uronen before delivering a decent cross. Erik Wahlstedt heads a little too strongly back to his own keeper, but Hansson has it covered.
48' KITCHEN SINK?
I would say we can expect Helsingborgs to throw the kitchen sink at Celtic in the second half, but judging by the way the Swedes retreated into their shells after Hooper's opening goal, I wouldn't bet on it.
46' SECOND HALF
We're back playing again at Celtic Park. The Hoops are 45 minutes away from the Champions League.
45' HALF TIME
A perfect scenario for Celtic. They're 3-0 up and Fraser Forster has yet to make a save. Neil Lennon's team talk won't be too difficult.
45' BOOKING
Adam Matthews goes in the book for needlessly dragging back Christoffer Andersson.
43' CUT OUT
Another great run from the Greek down the right but his cross is cut out. Helsingborgs are there for the taking.
42' KEY MAN
Samaras has been absolutely everywhere for the Hoops. Great movement, great skill and a very handy assist - not a bad half's work from the Greek. He'll be a key player for Celtic in their European campaign.
40' POZNAN
And now a 60,000-strong rendition of the Poznan. Not much action on the pitch right now so they're not missing anything looking the other way.
39' ENDLESS
Endless noise inside Celtic Park - these fans are having a great night. And why not? It's not every night you qualify for the Champions League.
38' DEFLATED
Poor reaction from Helsingborgs since the goal - in their heart of hearts they know the tie is beyond them. Remember, they need three unanswered goals to knock Celtic out now on away goals.
34' LUCKY
Victor Wanyama scythes through Baffo with a ridiculous tackle. He got the ball but took the man, and then some. With the tie almost in the bag there's just no need for that and he's very lucky to avoid a booking.
32' FREEDOM
Another corner for Celtic as they ramp up the pressure. They can start to play with a bit of freedom now. More goals may be on the cards.
30' CELTIC 1-0 HELSINGBORGS
That's the goal they craved. A corner comes back out to Brown who hammers it into the box where Samaras nudges across the six-yard box for GARY HOOPER to stab home. Calls for offside but he was level with the Greek when the ball was played across. Celtic Park erupts.
27' NO PEN
Loud shouts for a penalty but Forrest is barely touched and goes to ground far too easily.
24' LONG WAIT
Celtic last reached the Champions League group stage in 2008, when they qualified automatically. They famously held Man United to a draw at Celtic Park, as well as beating Villarreal, but three defeats on the road meant they finished bottom of the group behind Danish side Aalborg. Winning 2-0 in Sweden hints their away woes may be behind them this year.
21' GENIUS
A moment of genius from Georgios Samaras who skips past two clueless defenders in one movement before moving towards the left of the box. He opens up his body and aims for the far corner but can't quite get the curl on it and Par Hansson saves. The crowd loved that.
20' TESTING
Testing times for Celtic here. The Swedes are moving the ball around nicely, although their bark is louder than their bite at the moment with Fraser Forster yet to be forced into action.
16' BEDOYA SHOT
Alejandro Bedoya takes the ball off Izaguirre with a crunching sliding challenge on his own, 30 yards out. He advances to the box before crashing a wild shot off target. Danger from the Swedes though, who are improving as the game goes on.
14' GREAT CHALLENGE
What a tackle this is from Kelvin Wilson. With Sorum lining up a shot it has to be perfect - and it is. Couple of feeble cries for a penalty from visiting players but that's poppycock. Brilliant challenge.
12' HARMLESS
Nikola Djurdjic fires a harmless effort over the bar. Helsingborgs are enjoying a lot of possession.
10' CORNER
Corner now for the visitors, but it's easily cleared. They lacked quality in the final third in the first leg and will need to do better tonight.
9' FIRST ATTACK
Christoffer Andersson overlaps on the left before his low cross is cleared. First attack from the Swedes, who have Baffo back on the field.
8' MAN DOWN
Helsingborgs are already at a two-goal disadvantage but they're a man down now to boot. Joseph Baffo is struggling with a knock.
7' FIRST GOAL
It's all about the first goal tonight isn't it? If Celtic strike first the tie is surely over, but Helsingborgs will sew those seeds of doubt if they break the deadlock.
4' BROWN SHOT
Celtic have started like they mean business. Good hold-up play from Samaras before Brown lashes over from the edge of the box.
2' CHALLENGE
Kris Commons raises the noise level a notch - if that were possible - with a crunching tackle in midfield.
2' PACKED
Celtic Park is full to the brim tonight and the home fans are generating a superb atmosphere. Not much beats European nights in this arena.
1' KICK OFF
Celtic get the ball rolling.
0' FULL LINE-UPS
Neil Lennon makes three changes from the first leg, bringing in Kelvin Wilson, Victor Wanyama and the fit-again James Forrest. Thomas Rogne drops to the bench, while Beram Kayal and Joe Ledley miss out through injury. Full line-ups: CELTIC: Forster, Matthews, Wilson, Mulgrew, Izaguirre, Commons, Wanyama, Brown, Forrest, Samaras, Hooper. Subs: Zaluska, Lustig, Rogne, McCourt, Twardzik, Murphy, Watt. HELSINGBORGS: Hansson, Christoffer Andersson, Atta, Sadiku, Uronen, Wahlstedt, Mahlangu, Gashi, Bedoya, Sorum, Djurdjuc. Subs: Daniel Andersson, Baffo, Nordmark, Lindstrom, Bouaouzan, Accam, Santos.
0' PREVIEW
Despite their two-goal advantage from the first leg Celtic have endured enough European heartache over the years to know not to get complacent, particularly when the stakes are so high. The Champions League - and the glamour and riches that come with it - is within touching distance, but Neil Lennon will not forgive his team if they let their foot off the gas. One slip-up and Helsingborgs will look to take advantage. A potentially nervy night lies in store.
CommentaryLineupsPlayer Stats Events Shotchart
Celtic
No. Player MinP G YC RC GA Svs
1Fraser Forster 90 - 0 0 0
2Adam Matthews 76 0 1 0 - -
3Emillio Izaguirre 90 0 0 0 - -
6Kelvin Wilson 90 0 1 0 - -
8Scott Brown 90 0 0 0 - -
9Georgios Samaras 70 0 0 0 - -
15Kris Commons 90 0 0 0 - -
21Charlie Mulgrew 90 0 0 0 - -
49James Forrest 90 0 0 0 - -
67Victor Wanyama 90 1 0 0 - -
88Gary Hooper 89 1 0 0 - -
Substitutes
20Paddy McCourt 1 0 0 0 - -
23Mikael Lustig 14 0 0 0 - -
32Tony Watt 20 0 0 0 - -

Helsingborgs IF
No. Player MinP G YC RC GA Svs
30Par Hansson 90 - 0 0 2
4Walid Atta 81 0 0 0 - -
6May Mahlangu 90 0 0 0 - -
8Ardian Gashi 90 0 0 0 - -
11Thomas Sorum 62 0 0 0 - -
16Joseph Baffo 90 0 0 0 - -
18Nikola Djurdjic 90 0 1 0 - -
20Alejandro Bedoya 90 0 0 0 - -
21Christoffer Andersson 90 0 0 0 - -
23Erik Wahlstedt 75 0 0 0 - -
28Jere Uronen 90 0 0 0 - -
Substitutes
5Daniel Nordmark 9 0 0 0 - -
7Mattias Lindstrom 15 0 0 0 - -
25David Accam 28 0 1 0 - -
CommentaryLineupsPlayer StatsEventsShotchart
Celtic vs. Helsingborgs IF
Minute Event
90' Game Over  Celtic 2-0 Helsingborgs IF
90' Half Over  Celtic 2-0 Helsingborgs IF
90' Substitution  Paddy McCourt (on). Hooper (off). (Celtic)
88' Goal  Victor Wanyama (Celtic)
85' Yellow Card  Nikola Djurdjic (Helsingborgs IF)
84' Yellow Card  Kelvin Wilson (Celtic)
81' Substitution  Daniel Nordmark (on). Atta (off). (Helsingborgs IF)
76' Substitution  Mikael Lustig (on). Matthews (off). (Celtic)
75' Substitution  Mattias Lindstrom (on). Wahlstedt (off). (Helsingborgs IF)
70' Substitution  Tony Watt (on). Samaras (off). (Celtic)
62' Yellow Card  David Accam (Helsingborgs IF)
62' Substitution  David Accam (on). Sorum (off). (Helsingborgs IF)
46' Start Half 
45' Half Over  Celtic 1-0 Helsingborgs IF
45' Yellow Card  Adam Matthews (Celtic)
30' Goal  Gary Hooper (Celtic)
1' Start Half 

Players
No.Number
MinPMinutes Played
GGoals
AstAssists
SHTSShots
SOGShots on Goal
CKCorner Kicks
CRCrosses
OffOffsides
FCFouls Committed
FSFouls Suffered
YCYellow Cards
RCRed Cards
GAGoals Against
SvsSaves
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