Celtic v Legia match report
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
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Legia Warszawa completed a second win over Celtic FC, but were then sanctioned for fielding a suspended player and thus forfeited the match 3-0, which put the Scottish side through.
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Following the conclusion of the tie, Legia Warszawa were sanctioned for fielding a suspended player (article 18 of the UEFA Champions League regulations and article 21 of the Disciplinary Regulations). The match was declared as forfeit, meaning Legia lost the second leg 3-0.
As a consequence, Celtic qualified for the UEFA Champions League play-offs on away goals (agg: 4-4) and Legia went into the UEFA Europa League play-offs. The original match report is below.
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Celtic FC 0-2 Legia Warszawa (agg: 1-6)
Legia Warszawa stunned Celtic FC at Murrayfield, Michał Żyro and Michał Kucharczyk scoring in a 2-0 victory, with Friday's UEFA Champions League play-off draw beckoning for the Polish title-holders.
Legia displayed composure in front of goal for both strikes as Żyro ran through on goal to slot past Fraser Forster on 36 minutes before Kucharczyk rounded off a fine move just after the hour mark to extinguish any hope Ronny Deila's men had of retrieving a dire situation. The Hoops will hope for better as they head for the UEFA Europa League.
Celtic's main threat looked to be coming from their right flank in the early stages of the first half as Adam Matthews, the full-back, and Callum McGregor combined to test the Legia defence. However, it was hardly against the run of play when a ball over the Celtic defence invited Żyro to hold off the challenge of Emilio Izaguirre and fire a low shot past Forster from the edge of the area.
The home side started the second half with renewed vigour but Legia goalkeeper Dušan Kuciak was a match for Anthony Stokes's curling effort on 50 minutes and, moments later, Kris Commons could only volley wide from captain Charlie Mulgrew's long pass.
Legia then produced a classy move to complete a 6-1 aggregate victory. Captain Ivica Vrdoljak found Żyro with a pass from the right wing, and the goalscorer weighted a brilliant first-time ball into the path of Kucharczyk, who held his nerve to round Forster and roll the ball into an empty net.
