The 1-0 defeat means that the Glasgow side have yet to win in this year's Europa campaign, having already lost one game and drawn the other.
Hamburg, in second place prior to the game, were disappointed that a long injury list meant that several of their first-choice strikers were unavailable for the game.
An impressively large Celtic Park crowd of 45,000 (just 15,000 short of capacity) is proof of just how hungry Scottish fans are for European success, even if it does come in a much-derided competition.
This passion was nearly rewarded in the 12th minute when Scott Brown, with the Hamburg goal at his mercy, placed a shot just wide following a Shaun Maloney corner.
Brown remained in the thick of the action, getting on the end of a Gary Caldwell pass but shooting over the bar and later forcing a save from Frank Rost with a low shot from distance.
The Brown efforts disguised Hamburg's greater share of possession, a reminder came after 35 minutes when a Jonathan Pitroipa shot only just failed to live up to the quality of the passing which preceded it.
Perhaps inspired by a half-time appearance on the pitch from Britain's Got Talent's Susan Boyle, the players displayed greater urgency at the start of the second half, none more so than Hamburg's Ejero Elia, who rattled the bar with a fine shot in the 48th minute.
Worse was to come for the home side on the hour mark. Celtic manager Tony Mowbray sent on attacking player Georgios Samaras but could only watch with despair as a one-two took Hamburg's Swedish striker Marcus Berg to the edge of the penalty box. Berg's fine shot found the slight gap between Artur Boruc and the goalkeeper's right goalpost and the Bundesliga team had the lead.
Only a fine save from Rost prevented Aiden McGeady from equalising with a superb solo effort as Celtic threw everything at Hamburg.
But, despite some sterling performances from the likes of Samaras, Hamburg were good value for their victory and should earn admiration for their preference for playing attacking football instead of merely defending their lead.
The game ended on a slightly sour note as Celtic stewards prevented Hamburg players from going over to their fans to celebrate victory.
Visiting fans retaliated by chanting out 'Rangers, Rangers' - both Old Firm sides have experienced disappointment in Europe this week.
The Bhoys must wait until fireworks' night before their next Europa League fixture – this time away to Hamburg.
Celtic have just three games left to play in Group C and anything less than a win in Germany will almost certainly end their chances of making the last 32 in the competition.
Hamburg, in second place prior to the game, were disappointed that a long injury list meant that several of their first-choice strikers were unavailable for the game.
An impressively large Celtic Park crowd of 45,000 (just 15,000 short of capacity) is proof of just how hungry Scottish fans are for European success, even if it does come in a much-derided competition.
This passion was nearly rewarded in the 12th minute when Scott Brown, with the Hamburg goal at his mercy, placed a shot just wide following a Shaun Maloney corner.
Brown remained in the thick of the action, getting on the end of a Gary Caldwell pass but shooting over the bar and later forcing a save from Frank Rost with a low shot from distance.
The Brown efforts disguised Hamburg's greater share of possession, a reminder came after 35 minutes when a Jonathan Pitroipa shot only just failed to live up to the quality of the passing which preceded it.
Perhaps inspired by a half-time appearance on the pitch from Britain's Got Talent's Susan Boyle, the players displayed greater urgency at the start of the second half, none more so than Hamburg's Ejero Elia, who rattled the bar with a fine shot in the 48th minute.
Worse was to come for the home side on the hour mark. Celtic manager Tony Mowbray sent on attacking player Georgios Samaras but could only watch with despair as a one-two took Hamburg's Swedish striker Marcus Berg to the edge of the penalty box. Berg's fine shot found the slight gap between Artur Boruc and the goalkeeper's right goalpost and the Bundesliga team had the lead.
Only a fine save from Rost prevented Aiden McGeady from equalising with a superb solo effort as Celtic threw everything at Hamburg.
But, despite some sterling performances from the likes of Samaras, Hamburg were good value for their victory and should earn admiration for their preference for playing attacking football instead of merely defending their lead.
The game ended on a slightly sour note as Celtic stewards prevented Hamburg players from going over to their fans to celebrate victory.
Visiting fans retaliated by chanting out 'Rangers, Rangers' - both Old Firm sides have experienced disappointment in Europe this week.
The Bhoys must wait until fireworks' night before their next Europa League fixture – this time away to Hamburg.
Celtic have just three games left to play in Group C and anything less than a win in Germany will almost certainly end their chances of making the last 32 in the competition.
No comments:
Post a Comment