Celtic secured Champions League progress thanks to a Young Boys own goal on a night of missed goals, missed penalties and red card drama at Parkhead.
The Hoops knew a win against the bottom-of-the-table side would only guarantee a place in the play-offs and Kyogo believed he had given them the start of their dreams only for his shot to be ruled out.
A foul on Callum McGregor saw the Japanese striker again denied before a third goal was ruled out, again offside, as they dominated against a side yet to pick up a point in the Champions League this season.
Kasper Schmeichel made a brilliant double save
Luck was not on Celtic’s side as Arne Engels easily converted a missed penalty after Greg Taylor was sent off before half-time.
Auston Trust hit the post before Kasper Schmeichel pulled off a brilliant double save to deny the Young Boys, but their fortunes turned when Loris Benito turned Adam Ida’s ball into his own net to spark wild celebrations.
Celtic had Daisen Maeda sent off for a late, pointless challenge as they cruised into the knockout stages with a game to spare.
Hoops end 12-year wait
Adam Ida celebrates full time
A draw would have left Celtic potentially needing a result at Villa Park next Wednesday, but the latest goal lifted them to 18th, level on 12 points with Juventus, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
A win in Birmingham next week is likely to see Celtic clinch one of the key play-off spots, if not the top eight, and direct entry to the last 16.
A late piece of luck was no less than Celtic deserved for a spirited 60 minute performance, with midfielders Callum McGregor, Engels and Hatate dominating the game as Celtic found space between the visitors’ back four from the start.
Maida and Nicholas Kuhn were regularly going around on the outside, but the deliveries weren’t quite falling for Furuhashi.
The Japanese striker’s first goal came from offside six minutes from time from Engels’ cross, and Kuhn was soon behind after McGregor’s cross but saw his shot deflected wide after taking three players.
Kyogo Furuhashi had a shot on goal but his shot was ruled out for offside
Hatate and Furuhashi deflected half chances before Kasper Schmeichel made his only stop of the first half to beat Joel Monteiro’s 25-metre strike.
Furuhashi then scored twice after half an hour, the first coming after McGregor robbed Niasse and stopped the centre-forward for wrong-footing the keeper, but Norwegian referee Rohit Sagi booked the Celtic captain for a foul following a VAR review.
Furuhashi thought he had given Celtic an early lead
Furuhashi then found himself offside again, turning in Maeda’s cross from close range.
Engels’ weak penalty came in the 41st minute after Taylor pulled the shirt, but the Belgian deflected the error and created several chances from set-pieces before the break, with Furuhashi and Hatate going close twice.
Arne Engels looks dejected after his first-half penalty
After the break, the pressure continued. Engels, Maeda and McGregor saved shots and Trusty headed over the bar before Celtic almost pulled one back, only for Schmeichel to save a superb double save from Darian Males.
Celtic’s energy levels began to dip and Brendan Rodgers made some changes to try to regain momentum, with Alex Valle and Paulo Bernardo coming on midway through the half before Ida replaced Furuhashi.
There was no immediate impact and the visitors threatened from some set pieces, but Ida’s backhand drive led to a goal and Schmeichel saved from Sandro Lauper in the dying seconds.
“A Little History”
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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says his players showed “maturity and development” in their 1-0 win over Young Boys to secure a place in the Champions League play-offs.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers:
“We didn’t get the penalty and it might shock you, but it didn’t happen.
“The winning goal, to show that level of composure in the 85th minute of the game, to build the play from the keeper right through the team, to go out on the edge of the pitch and then an absolutely incredible pass from Reo.
“We get that bit of luck for the winning goal, which we never had in the first half.
“I’ve been in a lot of games here where you end up drawing that play and it’s a little flat at the end, and even worse losing a game when you shouldn’t.
“For us to win it, I think it shows maturity and shows the development of this team.
“It’s a bit of a made-up story, we haven’t been in the knockout stage for a long time.
“If we look at progress, we’ve won three games, we’ve drawn one, we’ve lost one. That’s a really good consistency throughout the Champions League.”
‘A big slice of success, who cares?’
Ayda (L) celebrates after his shot bounced back into the net to secure Champions League progress
The former Celtic defender Mark Wilson on Sky Sports News:
“They certainly deserved it given the balance of the game and the chances they created. The three goals they scored were all rightly disallowed but you could see it coming and all of a sudden the game just turned and it looked like they scored. it.
“The manager is making changes at the right time and it’s Adam Ida who’s having a tough time, who’s actually taking the line well and taking the chance. Big piece of luck to get the goal, but who cares?
“There have been a lot of nights at Celtic Park that have gone the other way and Celtic are out of this competition, so I don’t think Brendan Rodgers will care too much that his side lost control in the second half, just that they got the goal that was important and it takes them to the playoffs.”
