Celtic regain some self-respect but exit Champions League

A 2-1 home win was not enough to stop Celtic crashing out of the Champions League as they exited 4-2 on aggregate to Portuguese side Braga in their third round qualifying tie here on Wednesday.

The Hoops had always faced an uphill battle after their 3-0 defeat in Portugal but the home side’s task became even tougher when Paulo Cesar claimed a vital away goal as he headed Braga in to a 20th minute lead.

Celtic looked flat in the first-half but were vastly improved after the break and Gary Hooper restored some pride in the 51st minute when he netted on his competitive debut.

Mexican midfielder Efrain Juarez briefly gave the home fans hope when he headed Celtic into the lead 12 minutes from time but it was too little too late for the Glasgow side.

Neil Lennon’s side will now have to negotiate a play-off for a place in the Europa League while having to endure watching Old Firm rivals Rangers compete in the Champions League.

“Overall I am delighted with the performance but we keep conceding poor goals. I’m learning from it and hopefully the players are too,” said Lennon.

“If we had not conceded a goal then at 2-0 with ten minutes to go it could have been really interesting.”

Braga manager Domingos Paciencia said scoring first was vital.

“The first goal took the tie away from Celtic,” the Portuguese manager said.

“Celtic are a good side but the three goals they conceded in Portugal ended up putting them away.”

Summer signing Hooper was handed a start but it was his strike partner Georgios Samaras who had the first chance of the match.

The Greek forward got the slightest of touches on Charlie Mulgrew’s inswinging corner but his header sailed wide of the post.

Another Mulgrew corner landed at the feet of Joe Ledley at the edge of the box from keeper Mario Fulguerias’ punched clearance but the Welsh midfielder blasted well over.

Braga killed off Celtic’s hopes in the 20th minute when they scored a vital away goal with their first shot on target.

Brazilian Orsorio Alan, who was superb in the first leg, produced another moment of magic when he showed great skill on the right wing before sending in a pinpoint perfect cross which Cesar met in front of Glenn Loovens to send an angled header beyond Lukasz Zaluska.

Samaras was presented with a half-chance five minutes later as he got on the end of a loose ball in the box but he hooked his shot wide before Cesar forced Zaluska into a good save after he was sent clear in the box.

Leandro Salino should have doubled Braga’s lead five minutes after the break but he opted to try and flick Alan’s cross from the right allowing Korean Cha Du-Ri to clear.

Marc-Antoine Fortune came on for Mulgrew at half-time and made an instant impact when he set up Hooper for the equaliser in the 51st minute. The French Guiana forward raced down the right and fired in a cross which Hooper bundled in from close range.

Shaun Maloney’s injury jinx struck again and he was replaced by Daryl Murphy.

The Irish international immediately won a free-kick after he was brought down on the edge of the box but Samaras curled his free-kick the wrong side of the post.

The Greek striker watched a close range header go agonisingly close before he set up Juarez to put Celtic ahead in the 79th minute. The Mexican international swooped to meet a Samaras cross from the left in the six-yard box and sent a low angled header past Felgueiras.