Artmedia Bratislava 5 Celtic 0Gordon Strachan made a disastrous start as Celtic manager last night after watching his new-look side slump to a humiliating five-goal drubbing and arguably the worst European night in their history in the Tehelne Polie Stadium in Slovakia.
The Scot watched in horror as his defence fell apart for Juraj Halenar to score a stunning hat-trick along with goals for Blazej Vascak and Martin Mikulic. They now need to stage a miraculous comeback at Celtic Park next week.
Celtic were already in shock having had Chris Sutton stretchered off early in the first leg of the second qualifying round tie with a suspected fractured cheekbone after a collision with skipper Neil Lennon. Strachan responded by bringing on winger Aiden McGeady. Their defensive frailties were evident when Balde's incompetence almost conspired to put his side behind in the 23rd minute when he allowed Juraj Halenar to get behind him and take Daniel Tchur's chip into his path. But, with glory and Marshall in his sights, the Artmedia striker slashed wildly at the ball with his right foot and sent it hurtling well wide.
Majiec Zurawski could have made himself an instant hero with the Celtic supporters in the 28th minute when he was presented with a free-kick just outside the area after Hartson had been fouled by Borbely but his dipping effort was comfortably saved by Juraj Cobej.
Marshall was also tested in the 38th minute when Tchur cut inside before sending a low right-foot shot towards the bottom corner from 25 yards which needed the Celtic goalkeeper to throw himself to his left to keep the ball out.
But Marshall could do nothing to stop Celtic falling behind just two minutes before the interval. Jan Kozak threaded the ball through to Blazej Vascak and he unselfishly squared the ball to Halenar to slot the ball into the empty net from close range.
It could have got even worse for the Glasgow giants almost immediately but Marshall scooped out Jan Durica's close-range header.
The Celtic defence looked as though they could be sliced open at will with Slovakia defender Stanislav Varga not having the best of homecomings. And it went from bad to worse in the 57th minute when the Celtic defence got taken apart again before Halenar got behind the defence and squared the ball for Vascak to score.
Sub Shaun Maloney had two chances to pull Celtic back into the game but both times he found goalkeeper Cobej too big an obstacle.
McGeady then missed an incredible open goal in the 67th minute when Maloney fired the ball low across the face of goal, but the Irish international put the ball over from under the bar to pile more embarrassment on the visitors.
Celtic would have found themselves even further behind in the 72nd minute had Kozak not deliberated too long before trying to pick out either of his two supporting team-mates. Celtic, however, were rocked again just three minutes later when a corner broke to Halenar and he thundered a long-range volley past Marshall.
Celtic's heads were down and substitute Martin Mikulic fired a fourth before Halenar rubbed salt into the wounds by completing a last-minute hat-trick to rip the heart out of the visitors.
ARTMEDIA BRATISLAVA: Cobej, Debnar, Durica, Kotula, Vascak (Mikulic 72), Obzera, Tchur, Halenar, Borbely, Fodrek, Kozak. Subs not used: Kollar, Stano, Hellebrand, Gomez, Gajdos, Burak. Goals: Halenar 43, Vascak 57, Halenar 75, Mikulic 78, Halenar 90.
CELTIC: Marshall, Telfer, Varga, Balde, Camara, Zurawski (Maloney 60), Lennon, Petrov, Thompson (Aliadiere 66), Hartson, Sutton (McGeady 17). Subs not used: Boruc, McManus, Wallace, Beattie. Booked: Petrov, Balde. Attendance: 17,262.
Referee: Selcuk Dereli (Turkey).
