Celtic secured a spot in the Champions League playoff round after a dramatic late own goal against Young Boys at Celtic Park. The victory, while hard-fought, underscored Brendan Rodgers’ determination to guide his team further into Europe’s elite competition. Despite struggling to break down the Swiss side for much of the game, Celtic’s perseverance paid off, ensuring they will continue their European campaign.
The visitors arrived in Glasgow with poor form, both domestically and in Europe, having lost all six of their group-stage matches. Despite their struggles, Young Boys displayed moments of resilience and physicality that tested Celtic’s composure. The Scottish champions, who had previously claimed points against Atalanta and RB Leipzig, approached this game as favorites, but the evening proved far from straightforward.
Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi had the ball in the net within ten minutes, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. This would set the tone for the Japanese forward’s night, as he later saw two more goals disallowed for the same reason, making him the unfortunate holder of a disallowed hat-trick. Meanwhile, Young Boys occasionally threatened on the counter, with Joël Monteiro forcing Kasper Schmeichel into a sharp save.
The first half was a mix of frustration and missed opportunities for Celtic. Callum McGregor, who was instrumental throughout, thought he had set up a goal for Furuhashi, but VAR intervened, ruling that McGregor had fouled Cheikh Niasse in the buildup. Later, Celtic were awarded a penalty after Greg Taylor was brought down in the box, but Arne Engels’ tame effort was easily saved by Marvin Keller, leaving the scoreline goalless at halftime.
The second half began with Celtic ramping up the pressure. Auston Trusty came close to breaking the deadlock with a header that struck the crossbar, while Daizen Maeda tested Keller with a powerful shot. However, Young Boys continued to pose a threat on the break, with Schmeichel producing a stunning double save to deny Darian Males.
Rodgers made tactical changes as frustration grew, replacing Taylor with Álex Valle and later introducing Adam Idah in place of Furuhashi. These changes initially disrupted Celtic’s rhythm, allowing Young Boys to enjoy a brief spell of dominance. With time running out and tension rising, Celtic’s playoff hopes hung in the balance.
The breakthrough finally came in dramatic fashion. Reo Hatate played a ball through to Idah, whose shot was parried by Keller. The rebound struck Young Boys captain Loris Benito and ricocheted into the net, sparking jubilant celebrations among the home crowd. The own goal, while fortuitous, was the culmination of Celtic’s relentless pressure.
Even a late red card for Maeda, following an off-the-ball incident with Mohamed Ali Camara, could not dampen the celebratory mood. The victory ensures Celtic’s progression to the playoff round, where they will face tougher challenges against Europe’s best teams. Despite the chaotic nature of the match, Rodgers and his team can take pride in achieving their goal and extending their European journey.
