Celtic put one foot in Uefa Champions League group stage as Griffiths stars in thrashing of Hapoel Beer-Sheva
Scottish champions put one foot in the group stages after recovering from a second-half scare to seal a commanding 5-2 win over Israeli champions
Celtic have one foot in the group stages of the Champions League as they recovered from a second-half scare to seal a commanding 5-2 victory over Israeli champions Hapoel Beer-Sheva.
A dominant first-half display appeared to have Celtic cruising to victory at Parkhead as Australian international Tom Rogic fired home a ninth-minute opener, before Leigh Griffiths doubled Celtic’s advantage with a 39th-minute header.
However, Hapoel’s Lucio Maranhao hauled one back for the visitors in the 55th minute, before captain Maor Melikson’s strike two minutes later looked to have changed the complexion of the tie.
Moussa Dembele, the hero of the last round when his penalty sealed victory over Astana, then headed home in the 73rd minute following an inspired substitution from manager Brendan Rodgers.
Captain Scott Brown made it 5-2 in the 85th minute to ease the pressure for the return leg in Israel next Tuesday, as the Scottish champions hope to clinch a place in the group stages of Europe’s elite competition for the first time in three years.