Feyenoord 2-0 Celtic: Dutch champions overcome nine-man Celtic on night to forget for Brendan Rodgers’ side

Nine-man Celtic were guilty of an act of grotesque self-harm in the UEFA Champions League as they had two men sent off and lost a poor opening goal in crashing to a naive 2-0 defeat to Feyenoord in Rotterdam.

The Scottish champions had enjoyed the best moments of a tight first half at De Kuip in Group E when they conceded an eminently preventable first goal as Joe Hart went down slowly to his left in failing to keep out a tame Calvin Stengs free-kick in added time.

The night got rapidly worse for them when Gustaf Lagerbielke was sent off on 63 minutes for a second yellow card in hauling back Igor Paixão, who saw former England goalkeeper Hart save in diving to his right to stop his penalty.

If that call was soft, Norwegian substitute Odin Holm could have no complaints as he was sent packing on 68 minutes for a late high challenge on Mats Wieffer.

Lutsharel Geertruida had a goal ruled out via VAR seconds later, but Feyenoord substitute Alireza Jahanbakhsh secured the three points when he walloped high into the net on 76 minutes with the nine men all over the place.

Ondrej Lingr also had a goal disallowed in added time with Luka Ivanusec carried off injured for the home side, but Brendan Rodgers’ side end a forgettable night bottom of the section after Lazio and Atletico Madrid played out a 1-1 draw in Rome.

Celtic went into this match with a pitiful record at the elite level of European competition.

They had won once in 21 previous outings – that coming in a 3-0 outlier victory at Anderlecht in September 2017 during Rodgers’ previous spell in charge – with 15 defeats and five draws summing up their travails.

This night in Rotterdam marked some sort of landmark moment in the art of implosion and sporting self-harm.

The first goal they lost from a free-kick was absurd, such was the lack of pace Calvin Stengs injected in getting the ball over the wall. Joe Hart and his non-existent wall must shoulder the blame.

The Swedish defender Gustaf Lagerbielke was perhaps unfortunate to receive a second yellow card, but was guilty of poor positioning that led to his red.

The silly slide tackle of Odin Holm killed off his side’s hopes while they tried to work out how to recover from Lagerbielke’s red card.

In hindsight they, will rue how this defeat developed because they were more than a match for a competent Feyenoord side, but poor individual errors cost them dearly on a night that threatened to deliver so much more.

The Irish defender was named man of the match in his side’s recent 1-0 win against Rangers at Ibrox, and produced another excellent performance at the heart of the visiting defence amid the mayhem elsewhere in the team.

Despite several of his team-mates letting him down, Scales can be happy with his night’s work as he produced a stout effort in mopping up the danger that came his way with positioning key to his display.

Had every right to wonder how a bizarre night developed with Feyenoord failing to fluster him.

Feyenoord: Wellenreuther 7, Geertruida 7, Hartman 8, Timber 7, Stengs 8, Paixao 6, Ivanusec 6, Trauner 6, Minteh 6, Wieffer 6, Hancko 6 Subs: Zerrouki 6, Jahanbakhsh 7, Sauer 6, Lingr 6

Celtic: Hart 5, Johnston 6, Lagerbielke 5, Scales 8, Taylor 6, McGregor 6, Hatate 6, O’Riley 8, Palma 6, Maeda 7, Kyogo 6. Subs: Yang 6, Holm 4, Tomoki 6, Bernardo 6. Oh 6

39′ GREAT EFFORT BY CELTIC Maeda on the run for Celtic. Showing real power and pace. Gets the shot at goal, but Wellenreuther gets down to his right to make a fingertip stop. That is a top save.

45+2′ GOAL FOR FEYENOORD! Stengs with a free-kick attempt from distance. Not sure that is great goalkeeping by Joe Hart. Really isn’t. Couldn’t get down to his left and that is a poor goal to lose. Hart unhappy with the wall in front of him. Blame game on the way.

63′ PENALTY TO FEYENOORD Gustaf Lagerbielke challenges with Igor Paixão and the referee has given a penalty. Didn’t look like a penalty. But referee decides otherwise. Celtic are down to 10 men with Lagerbielke sent off. That is extremely soft.

68′ CELTIC DOWN TO NINE MEN Well, this game is rapidly disappearing from Celtic as substitute Odin Holm takes out Mats Wieffer with a late one. Sliding with studs up. And he is off. Self-harm again.

70′ GOAL FOR FEYENOORD! VAR SAYS OTHERWISE But Lutsharel Geertruida is offside and that has been chopped off. Fine finish on the run, but the score remains at 1-0. Celtic with nine men.

76′ FEYENOORD LOOKING TO FINISH THIS OFF And there is the second goal as Alireza Jahanbakhsh smashes the ball high into the net. Celtic already up against it, but that surely puts it to bed.