Celtic endured a chaotic evening against Young Boys in the Champions League on Wednesday, but ultimately secured a hard-fought victory to advance to the play-off stages.
The first half saw drama unfold as Arne Engels missed a penalty, leaving Brendan Rodgers frustrated as his side headed into the break without a goal despite dominating proceedings.
Engels’ miss came after a strong start from Celtic, who had several goals disallowed for offside in a breathless opening period.
With time running out, and the Bhoys still searching for a decisive moment, fortune finally swung their way. In the dying minutes, Loris Benito turned the ball into his own net, handing Celtic the crucial win they needed to progress.
Celtic Park erupted with celebration, the electric atmosphere only slightly dimmed by Daizen Maeda’s late red card. Nonetheless, the victory brought relief to the green-and-white faithful, not least to Engels, who had endured a tough night.
Joe Hart Highlights Engels’ Penalty Struggle
Engels, who had been flawless from the penalty spot before this game, saw his effort saved in what proved to be a key moment of frustration in the first half.
The Belgian midfielder’s uncharacteristic stuttered run-up drew attention, even from goalkeeper Joe Hart, who spoke to TNT Sports about the incident:
“I’ve not seen that stutter before from Engels,” said Hart.
“He had to re-take his penalty against Ross County last time out. It’s a good save from a poor penalty.
“Engels wanted him to go early and he didn’t, soft penalty and a good save.”
Despite the miss, Engels’ overall performance showed promise, and Rodgers appears to trust him as a key part of Celtic’s midfield, starting him alongside Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate.
Engels’ Performance by the Numbers
While Engels had moments of frustration, his contribution in midfield was noticeable. According to WhoScored, the Belgian was rated 6.59 for his performance against Young Boys. His key stats are as follows:
The result ultimately overshadowed individual performances, with Celtic securing the three points they needed to keep their Champions League journey alive.
As the team prepares for the play-offs, the hope will be that Engels can regain his composure in front of goal and build on his contributions in midfield.