Celtic Triumphs 1-0 Over Young Boys With Late Own Goal To Secure Play-Off Position

An own goal in the final minutes secured Celtic a 1-0 win over Young Boys, advancing them past the Champions League's first round for the first time in 12 years. The decisive moment came when Loris Benito inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net after Marvin Keller saved Adam Idah's shot. This victory was a relief for Celtic, who had earlier missed a penalty and had two goals disallowed for offside.

Brendan Rodgers' team is now assured of a spot in the knock-out round play-offs, sitting just one point shy of the top eight. However, their chances of securing a last-16 position remain slim. Despite this, reaching the top 24 was enough reason to celebrate at Celtic Park. Keller had been a formidable barrier, saving Arne Engels' penalty and denying Kyogo Furuhashi three times due to offside calls and a VAR decision against Callum McGregor.

Celtic's home form has been pivotal this season, with 10 out of their 12 Champions League points earned at Celtic Park. They are currently on an impressive 30-game unbeaten streak at home across all competitions, their longest since March 2007 when they went 33 games without defeat. This strong home record will be crucial as they face tougher challenges in the next stage.

After Celtic's winning goal, Daizen Maeda received a red card, but Kasper Schmeichel's crucial late saves ensured they held onto the points. The match highlighted both Celtic's resilience and their reliance on home support to carry them through difficult fixtures.

The game saw several dramatic moments, including Keller's save of Engels' penalty and Furuhashi's disallowed goals due to offside and VAR decisions. Despite these setbacks, Celtic managed to secure victory through Benito's unfortunate own goal.

Celtic will face significant challenges ahead but can draw confidence from their formidable home record. Playing one leg at home could prove advantageous as they aim to progress further in the competition.