It isn't always easy, but it's always worth it

A rollercoaster ride!​

Celtic smash 5 goals past Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the Champions League playoff, 1st leg.​

UEFA Champions League
Play-off first-leg
Wednesday August 17, 2016
Celtic Park

CELTIC - 5
(Rogic 9, Griffiths 39, 45, Dembele 73, Brown 86)

HAPOEL BE’ER SHEVA - 2
(Maranhao 55, Mellikson 57)



What a result! Celtic blitz Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the first half, then recover from two sloppy goals to restore a comfortable lead. The game finished 5-2 and in truth Celtic could have scored more.


The game began at a fast pace, with Celtic looking to make full use of the home advantage in the first leg. Little was known about Hapoel Be'er Sheva before the match, but having eliminated Greek side Olympiakos in the previous round, they were given the respect they deserved.

Some of the pre-match build up was side tracked with many focusing on the issue of flying Palestinian flags inside and outside the stadium. The support of solidarity with the Palestinian people was fantastic but once the game got underway, it was all about the football.




The playoff sees the return of the Champions League music to Paradise, and every Celt inside the stadium is desperate to hear more of it this season, especially the players. The attitude and determination on display from the Hoops squad was fantastic. There's a belief and level of commitment, instilled by Brendan Rodgers that is evident for all to see.

Careful signings since arriving at the start of the summer have taken a squad that was bereft of confidence, to a team capable of blasting in 10 goals in the previous two competitive matches. The impact of Rodgers' management has been utterly delightful.

Celtic's earliest chance in the match came from Scott Brown, who hit a left footed shot across goal, which was tipped wide by Be'er Sheva's goalkeeper. With the fans in full voice, the atmosphere was rocking and you could sense something special in the air.

It didn't take long for Celtic to break the deadlock, with Leigh Griffiths chipping a high through ball to Scott Sinclair, on a great run, only for the goalkeeper to clear it to the well positioned Tom Rogic. The Aussie midfielder showed the composure he is renowned for and placed that ball around the two retreating defenders, into the back of the net. Celtic Park positively erupted with joy!

The visitors attempted a quick response, aiming to string passes together to create an opportunity on the Celtic goal, but the Hoops defence stood firm, with new signing Toure adding a stability the team previously lacked.

Toure wasn't just aiding the cause in defence, a mazy run forward, through the centre of the pitch took Be'er Sheva's players by surprise, as he took as many as 6 players out of the game before passing the ball onwards to Sinclair. The new bhoy, already highly rated by the fans, spun anti clockwise and laid the ball off for James Forrest.

Having enough time to lift his head and spot Griffiths lying deep in the box, Forrest floated a beautiful cross into the danger area, with Super Leigh Griffiths timing his run to perfection, beating the defender to the ball and powering a header to the ground and then into the goal.



This was a striking blow to Hapoel hopes, half time was approaching and the Israeli side were trying to play their way into the game.

Griffiths wasn't done, however. Surging forward, he was fouled just outside of the box and the players line up in the box. Griffiths had been hitting free kicks sweetly, but his best result in a match from one, had been hitting the bar... until tonight.

BOOM! What a night to score his first free kick! The technique was phenomenal, Celtic fans were jumping around in ectasy, not quite sure if they were dreaming.

Half time came and the adrenaline was coursing through our veins, with the excitement that only Celtic can bring on nights like this.

The Hapoel manager used the break to rally his players and attempt to salvage something from the match. They started the second half very well, taking advantage of Celtic's sloppiness.

Lucio Maranhao received a pass through on goal, where he jinked the ball to the outside before unleashing a powerful shot past Craig Gordon's near side post. The Celtic goalie's critics will be quick to vent their frustrations on Gordon for being beaten at his near side post, but Callum McGregor was also at fault for not tracking his man, lazily attempting to play the offside trap.

Shortly after this, what felt like a sickening blow (and a stark reminder of Malmo), was delivered by Hapoel. They scored a second goal, with much of Celtic's excellence in the first half undone by sloppy play. The second Hapoel goal was a low powerful drive from the edge of the box and unfortunately, Gordon's outstretched hand wasn't able to meet the ball.

Rodgers has impressed the support with his use of substitutions in recent games and this continued, as the Celtic boss brough on Nir Bitton for McGregor, then Saidy Janko for Lustig. Finally, Dembele was brought on for Rogic around the 70 minute mark.

2 minutes after Dembele's introduction, Celtic had a corner. Leigh Griffiths decided to take it and duly swung a stunning ball into the box. Three Celts went for the header and it was Moussa Dembele who headed the ball into the back of the net, making it 4-2. The Celts had regained their composure and belief after conceding two sloppy goals, with the fans urging them on for another.

Be'er Sheva had another great chance on goal, but a great shot stopping save from Craig Gordon, kept Celtic's 2 goal cushion intact. This proved vital, with Scott Brown marauding forward, mishitting a shot with his left, then taking advantage of the fortunate rebound, driving the ball home on a half volley with his right foot. This made it 5-2 to the Scottish champions and the Israeli team looked shell-shocked.

Celtic could have had a 6th, with Scott Sinclair finding himself through on goal, but his shot was saved and put wide by the Be'er Sheva goalkeeper. Griffiths looked understandably annoyed as he was waiting for Sinclair to square the ball to him, the Celtic talisman looking for a hattrick.

Four minutes of injury time were added on by the referee, in which Celtic held firm. They now travel over to Israel with a three goal lead, ready for possibly the biggest match of the season. Celtic are on the front foot in this tie, but nothing can be taken for granted. A positive result in Israel will see a Celtic return to the Champions League and the Celtic faithful will remain in dreamland for a while longer.

CELTIC (4-2-3-1) Gordon; Lustig (Janko 63), Toure, O’Connell, Tierney; Brown, McGregor (Bitton 60); Forrest, Rogic (Dembele70), Sinclair; Griffiths.

Not used: Fasan, Christie, Sviatchenko, Henderson

HAPOEL BE’ER SHEVA (5-4-1) Goresh; Bitton, Hoban (Buzaglo 79), Taha, Tzedek, Davidzada; Melikson, Radi (Broun 85), Ogu, Nwakaeme; Maranhao (Sahar 67).

Not used: Haimov, Turjman, Ohayon, Shabtai