Football news - Celtic hopes dashed at Valencia after Toljan red
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ByEurosport
Updated 21/02/2019 at 20:20 GMT
Mestalla, Europa League Last 32 - Valencia 1 (Gameiro 70') Celtic 0 (Valencia win 3-0 on aggregate)
Valencia celebrate v Celtic
Image credit: Getty Images
Kevin Gameiro scored the only goal of the game as Valencia defeated 10-man Celtic at the Mestalla in their Europa League tie.
Celtic started brightly, with six unanswered attempts on goal as they attempted to overhaul a 2-0 first-leg deficit.
On 37 minutes, Jeremy Toljan earned a foolish second yellow after bringing down Goncalo Guedes who had sprung the offside trap.
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Referee Daniz Aytekin of Germany gives a red card to Jeremy Toljan of Celtic during the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 Second Leg match between Valencia FC and Celtic at Estadio Mestalla stadium on February 21, 2019 in Valencia, Spain.
Image credit: Getty Images
Celtic there then had to spend the majority of the game playing with 10 men, and immediately faced pressure, with Scott Bain pulling off two excellent saves towards the end of the half.
In the second half, Valencia continued to press and finally found a way through when Gameiro finished from close range after Daniel Wass’s clever header in the box, taking the game beyond Brendan Rodgers' side.
TALKING POINT
Will Valencia take their eye off the league? Sitting in ninth, it has been an unimpressive showing from the Spanish side so far. But now, in the quarter-finals and in touching distance of a Champions League place, they could drift in La Liga while focusing on the greater prize.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Scott Bain (Celtic): His brilliant saves at the end of the first half, and a smart one at the start of the second, kept his side in the game when they were wobbling after the red card. He has earned his place ahead of Craig Gordon.
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Europa League - Round of 32 Second Leg - Valencia v Celtic - Mestalla, Valencia, Spain - February 21, 2019 Celtic's Scott Bain makes a save from Valencia's Dani Parejo
Image credit: Reuters
PLAYER RATINGS
Valencia: Neto 6, Diakhaby 7, Garay 6, Lato 7, Wass 7, Soler 6, Parejo 7, Guedes 7, Ferran 7, Mina 6, Sobrino 7. Subs: Coquelin 6, Lee 6, Gameiro 7.
Celtic: Bain 8, Toljan 5, Simunovic 6, Boyata 5, Ajer 7, Hayes 6, Brown 6, McGregor 6, Forrest 6, Christie 6, Burke 6. Subs: Edouard 6, Johnston 6.
KEY EVENTS
37’ - RED CARD! Toljan is sent off! Already booked, Toljan brings down Guedes who had been slipped in down the left channel. It's a mistake from the defender, because while a first yellow might have been worth the foul, a second wasn't.
42’ - BAIN SAVE - Guedes comes again, Sobrina nods it back to Parejo, and his volley is deflected off Christie, forcing Bain into an excellent reaction save to tip it over.
45’ - SOBRINO SHOT - Lato's cross is blocked out to Sobrino, who lashes a shot at goal that Bain does brilliantly to beat away.
55’ - BAIN SAVE - A free kick on the left picks out Wass outside the box, and he rifles a rising shot at goal that Bain smartly holds onto.
62’ - AJER HEADER - A free kick swung in from Christie with a free kick on the left, Ajer meets it ahead of the 'keeper, and he sends it just over with the 'keeper beaten.
70’ - GOAL! Valencia 1-0 Celtic. Gameiro scores - On the pitch for four minutes and the Frenchman gives them the lead, firing the home side ahead when Wass cushions a header across goal for him to send past Bain.
KEY STAT
Kevin Gameiro was on the pitch for just four minutes before scoring.
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