UEFA Europa League result as Evan Ferguson hits brace to sink Wilfried Nancy’s sorry side

ROMA INFLICT HUMILIATING DEFEAT ON CELTIC TO RUIN NANCY’S EUROPEAN BOW

Celtic were completely outplayed by Roma as an Evan Ferguson brace helped the Italian side stroll to victory against the sorry Scottish champions in the UEFA Europa League.

Celtic were outfought, outmatched, and out-thought in a truly dreadful first half on new manager Wilfried Nancy’s European debut, as the physical Roma side bullied The Bhoys, who struggled to even breach the halfway line with the ball.

Nancy’s side were timid on the ball and always under pressure, with a wayward Kasper Schmeichel pass setting up the corner that produced Roma’s opening goal, a bullet header from Liam Scales into his own net under pressure from Gianluca Mancini.

With little game plan other than to fire the ball at Daizen Maeda and hope he could control the game against Roma’s towering back three, it was not long before Ferguson doubled their lead with only his second goal on loan at the Italian side.

Matias Soule and Zeki Celik combined well on the right, allowing the Turk to roll the ball across the six-yard box for the easiest finish of Ferguson’s career, though he proved his worth in front of goal 10 minutes later when he took the ball with his back to goal, skipped clear of a defender, then rifled his shot past Schmeichel.

Celtic were handed a golden opportunity to get back in the contest when Arne Engels won a soft penalty in injury time, but after a lengthy delay, Reo Hatate appeared to lose his nerve and handed the ball to the Belgian, who wrapped his spot-kick onto the post.

Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho appeared to have netted a consolation goal when he finished smartly passed Mile Svilar, but on a night where everything that could go wrong did go wrong for Celtic, the goal was ruled out with the Nigerian miles offside.

Leon Bailey also had a goal ruled out for Roma for the same reason, but that did not stop the majority of Celtic Park emptying before a final whistle that was met with resounding boos.

After defeat against league leaders Hearts last weekend in Nancy’s first game in charge, the Frenchman is already facing a must-win game in the Scottish League Cup final on Sunday against St Mirren.

Celtic have fallen to 24th place in the Europa League, the final knockout phase play-off place available. However, they finish the league phase against eliminated Utrecht and will be hopeful of sealing a place in the top 24.

Meanwhile, Roma have put themselves within reach of the top eight and automatic qualification for the last 16, though they still have tough tests remaining against Stuttgart and at Panathinaikos.

Highlights: Nancy suffers night to forget as Celtic thrashed by Roma

Video credit: TNT Sports