AZ Alkmaar 2-1 Celtic (2-3 on aggregate): Celts on way to Europa League group stage

AZ Alkmaar 2-1 Celtic (2-3 on aggregate): Kyogo Furuhashi grabs early goal to put Celts on way to Europa League group stage despite losing on the night to Dutch side

• Celtic progressed to the Europa League group stage despite losing 2-1 to AZ
• Kyogo Furuhashi scored in the third minute to give the Celts a three-goal lead
• Zakaria Aboukhlal replied for the hosts while a Carl Starfelt own goal had Celtic’s nerves jangling 
• One more AZ goal would have forced extra-time but Celtic clung on  to progress

By Richard Martin For Mailonline

Published: 21:24 BST, 26 August 2021 | Updated: 21:27 BST, 26 August 2021

Celtic reached the group stage of the Europa League with a nervy 2-1 defeat away to AZ Alkmaar.

Kyogo Furuhashi looked to have set them on their way when he struck in the third minute to add to their 2-0 win last week at Parkhead.

But the Dutch side responded quickly with two goals in the space of 20 minutes. 

Celtic have reached the Europa League group stage despite losing 2-1 to AZ Alkmaar

Kyogo Furuhashi (heading the ball) gave Celtic the perfect start by scoring in the third minute

The scrapping of the away goals rule meant one more AZ strike would have sent the tie to extra-time but Celtic did enough to see out the narrow defeat and make it into the group stage draw. 

AZ Alkmaar responded with two goals to take the lead and move one goal from extra-time

But the Dutch side failed to capitalise on the momentum and Celtic qualified at their expense