Benjamin Nygren awful, Liam Scales immense – Celtic ratings from loss vs Kairat Almaty
Celtic crashed out of the Champions League after Daizen Maeda’s kick was saved in the penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw with Kairat Almaty.
Despite dominating possession and limiting their opponents to pot shots from distance, the Hoops were unable to take firm control of their second-leg tie against Kairat.
With limited options available after an underwhelming transfer window, Rodgers chose to field new signing Benjamin Nygren in an unfamiliar midfield role.
But the Swedish winger was unable to add the element of creativity that was desired, and Maeda cut a lonely figure up front.
After 210 minutes over two legs, neither side was able to find the back of the net, and the tie went to penalty kicks, where the Japan international’s missed kick one of three from the Hoops, and it proved costly as Kairat claimed an improbable victory.
Rodgers will likely point to the lack of substantive signings made this summer, but the loss to the Kazakh champions will invariably go down as one of the lowest points in Celtic‘s recent history.
Celtic crash out of Champions League after penalty shootout
Kasper Schmeichel – 7
Reliable. The Danish shot-stopper did the best he could with a truly dreadful back-pass from McGregor, and aside from that close shave, Kasper Schmeichel impressed in net.
Anthony Ralston (off for Donovan 106′) – 6
Anthony Ralston had a few moments where it looked as if his overlapping runs could pull Kairat apart, but ultimately, his delivery let him down.
Cameron Carter-Vickers – 7
Calm. Much like Liam Scales, the USA international seemed intent on keeping his side in the game, whether his attacking teammates liked it or not.
Liam Scales – 8 – Player of the Match
Indominable. The red-haired defender put it all on the line to keep Celtic from collapsing against Kairat and was immense at the back.
Kieran Tierney (off for Dane Murray 73′) – 7
Kieran Tierney joined Celtic this summer, and whilst he is still getting back to full fitness, the talent remains. Replaced in the closing stages after slowing down considerably in the second half.
Benjamin Nygren – 1
Invisible. The Sweden international has made a strong start to life at Parkhead, but against Kairat, you would be forgiven for forgetting he was even on the pitch. The decision to move him away from the wing turned out to be a horrendous one by Rodgers.
Callum McGregor – 3
Careless. Callum McGregor almost cost his side with a horrendous hospital pass back to Schmeichel, who was forced to punch the ball off his line, giving away an indirect free kick. Other than that, the Scotland international was barely above average in a disappointing performance.
Reo Hatate (off for McCowan 106′) – 4
Shaky. Reo Hatate could barely pick out a pass against Kairat and struggled to have any meaningful impact in the midfield battle against Kairat.
James Forrest (off for Idah 70′) – 2
Absent. James Forrest is a Celtic legend, but the winger’s best days are far behind him and the downgrade from Nicolas Kuhn to the Scotsman is immeasurable.
Daizen Maeda – 3
Maeda is a transfer target for Brentford, and the Japan international was starved of service against Kairat. Very lucky to avoid giving away a penalty after the Kazakh side were awarded an indirect free kick. Had the chance to win it all in the 85th minute and blazed over.
Yang Hyun-jun (off for Engels 70′) – 2
Playing in place of the injured Jota, who is still recovering from a knee injury from last season, Yang had the worst game of his short Celtic career in Kazakhstan.
Substitutes
Adam Idah (on for Forrest 70′) – 4
Some nice touches from the Irishman and his introduction allowed Celtic to take a more direct approach, but he missed the Hoops’ first kick of the penalty shootout.
Arne Engels (on for Yang 70′) – 7
Immediately added more impetus in the midfield and allowed Nygren to be moved out wide, where he found slightly more success.
Dane Murray (on for Tierney 73′) – 6
Only his eighth appearance in the green and white hoops, the hulking defender filled in well at the back and was composed on the ball.
Colby Donovan (on for Ralston 106′) – 7
The 18-year-old added so much life to Celtic in an offensive sense and it would be a shock not to see him included more often.
Luke McCowan (on for Hatate 106′) – 5
Luke McCowan was unable to get on the ball as much as he may have liked and had little impact during his short stint on the pitch before missing from the spot in the shootout.