SOCCER/Celtic - 4 Artmedia Bratislava - 0: Celtic bowed out of European competition at the earliest opportunity last night, despite a spirited and at times memorable performance at Parkhead.
Gordon Strachan's men came within a goal of forcing the tie into extra time and completing the greatest comeback in Champions League history, but ultimately could not recover from their 5-0 thrashing in Slovakia last Wednesday.
Strachan, Celtic's recently installed but already under pressure manager, handed the Polish goalkeeper Artur Boruc his first competitive start, after the previous first-choice David Marshall followed that first-leg defeat by conceding another four at the weekend.
Boruc's compatriot, Maciej Zurawski, also took his place in the starting XI after missing the 4-4 draw at Motherwell. Bobo Balde was restored to the centre of defence alongside Stephen McManus, due to Stanislav Varga's groin injury.
After a low-key build up both inside and outside the ground, Artmedia kicked off to a deafening noise from the home support. Zurawski created the game's first opening down the Celtic left-hand side, but Daniel Tchur headed away from the lurking Ross Wallace at the back post.
Wallace then blazed over from the angle of the penalty area after six minutes, after neat set-up play between Neil Lennon and John Hartson. It was all Celtic by this point, with the visitors already content to play out time and indulge in some unsurprising spells of play-acting. Branislav Fodrek cut a lonely figure as the visitors' sole attacker.
As the half wore on, the Slovakians gradually appeared to find their feet as Celtic's early impetus faded. A Branislav Obzera cross was smartly held by Boruc, while Balde headed a Jan Kozak free-kick behind.
But Celtic were handed the chance to keep the tie alive after 22 minutes, when Ondrej Debnar was adjudged to have pulled Zurawski down inside the box. Alan Thompson made no mistake from the resultant penalty.
The tide of the game briefly turned once again, as a resurgent home side laid siege on the Atmedia goal. The lively Zurawski forced Juraj Cobej into a low save, but a slip from Telfer at the other end almost let in Branislav Obzera for what would have been a crucial equaliser.
Hartson knocked in a lifeline for Celtic with seconds of the first half remaining, though, latching onto a Wallace flick-on to blast the ball home, low to Cobej's right.
That second goal visibly lifted the home fans and players alike for the start of the second half, with Celtic obtaining Strachan's pre-match wish of at least a two-goal interval lead.
Shaun Maloney was brought into the fray after just eight minutes of the second half, replacing Wallace as Celtic went all-out for goals. And McManus, a 22-year-old defender, stooped to head home the substitute's cross just seconds later, with the aid of a slight deflection.
It was all to play for now, and how the home side knew it. Hartson lobbed just over after a blunder in the Artmedia defence, with Strachan now urging his team forward at every opportunity. His intentions were clear when he sent on Craig Beattie, the scorer of Celtic's last-minute equaliser at the weekend, for Zurawski after 63 minutes.
Strachan was opting for pace as the primary weapon against the battle-weary Slovakians, who by this time were simply unable to get out of their own half, such was the ferocity of the home side's attacking play.
Cobej saved from Maloney, after a slick move involving Hartson and Thompson, as Celtic desperately pushed for the extra goals they needed. It was one-way traffic, and Artmedia were reduced to further play-acting simply to stem the tide.
The Bulgarian Stilian Petrov saw an acrobatic overhead kick go inches wide, while a Beattie header came back off Cobej's right-hand post. The small band of Artmedia fans now sensed time was running out for Strachan's men. But they kept their hopes alive with eight minutes remaining, Beattie powerfully latching on to Mo Camara's cross from the left wing to head past Cobej.
With redemption, in the form of a fifth goal that would have extended Celtic's interest in the competition for at least a further half-hour, now in sight the home side flooded forward, but the vital breakthrough would not come in the end.
Guardian Service
CELTIC: Boruc, Telfer, Balde, McManus, Camara, Petrov, Lennon, Thompson (Aliadiere 87), Wallace (Maloney 53), Zurawski (Beattie 63), Hartson. Subs Not Used: Marshall, McGeady, O'Dea, Lawson. Booked: Thompson, Balde. Goals: Thompson 22 pen, Hartson 45, McManus 54, Beattie 82.
ARTMEDIA BRATISLAVA: Cobej, Obzera, Debnar, Durica, Vascak (Mikulic 74), Tchur, Halenar (Bukvic 87), Borbely, Fodrek, Burak (Stano 67), Kozak. Subs Not Used: Hellebrand, Kotula, Gomez, Kollar. Booked: Debnar.
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain).
