Guarín puts seal on Inter progress
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Article summary
FC Internazionale Milano 1-0 Celtic FC (agg: 4-3)
Fredy Guarín secured progress for the hosts with a powerful late goal against the ten-man Scottish champions, who lost Virgil van Dijk to a red card.
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Article body
• Inter advance as Fredy Guarín scores two minutes from time with thunderbolt
• Virgil van Dijk sent off after 37 minutes for a second bookable offence
• Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon produces a series of good saves
• Inter unbeaten in ten UEFA Europa League games this season, play-offs included
• Follow Friday's round of 16 draw on UEFA.com, with live streaming from 13.00CET
FC Internazionale Milano qualified for the UEFA Europa League round of 16 after beating ten-man Celtic FC 1-0 to complete a 4-3 aggregate victory against the Scottish champions.
Needing to score on away soil, the visitors received a golden opportunity to take an early lead when Danilo D'Ambrosio misjudged a long ball from midfield. That allowed Gary Mackay-Steven to take possession and enter the penalty box with only Juan Pablo Carrizo to beat, but the outrushing Inter goalkeeper somehow managed to block the shot with his body.
Inter responded quickly through Fredy Guarín, whose effort from the edge of the box finished just wide of Craig Gordon's right-hand post. Then Rodrigo Palacio and Mauro Icardi both failed narrowly to get a foot to a dangerous cross-shot by Davide Santon from the right.
Celtic were reduced to ten men on 37 minutes when Virgil van Dijk was booked for the second time for a foul on Icardi. Ronny Deila was forced to replace Mackay-Steven – arguably Celtic's most dangerous man until that moment – to rebuild a four-man defensive line with the addition of Efe Ambrose. Before the interval, D'Ambrosio forced Gordon into a difficult save with a powerful attempt from close range.
Hernanes tested Gordon immediately after the break as Inter tried to make their numerical advantage count. The Celtic goalkeeper was also up to the task when he rushed out to smother a shot by Icardi following a wonderful Guarín through ball.
Celtic continued to defend well, but just as it looked as if they could at least exit the competition with a draw, Guarín unleashed a superb shot from 25 metres which flew into the top corner, just out of reach for the diving Gordon and certainly a contender for goal of the round.
