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Kelechi Iheanacho was on the wrong end of a hugely controversial handball decision before Braga wrapped up a 2-0 Europa League win at Celtic. Iheanacho appeared to have brought the hosts level in the 51st minute after Kasper Schmeichel made a mess of dealing with Ricardo Horta’s long-range strike in the first half. But the German referee Tobias Stieler disallowed the goal and video assistant Christian Dingert stuck with the decision, despite no handball being evident on television replays.
Iheanacho capitalised on a loose pass from a free-kick to charge down a scrambled clearance from former Celtic defender Gustaf Lagerbielke before slotting home. The ball appeared to hit the striker’s face and there was no hint of handball in the replays that followed. But Dingert stuck with the decision after more than two minutes of studying the footage.
Kieran Tierney and Sebastian Tounekti were denied by good goalkeeping as Celtic chased an equaliser in an open second half. And Brendan Rodgers’ side were left with one point from their opening two matches after Gabri Martínez netted on the rebound five minutes from time.
There were clear signs Schmeichel was having an off night as the goalkeeper conceded possession several times before being beaten from 35 yards in the 20th minute.
Horta was not closed down quickly enough by Paulo Bernardo and his shot swerved and dipped. But it was not particularly powerful or in the corner and Schmeichel appeared to be caught off guard before clawing the ball into the roof of the net.
The second half was end to end. Schmeichel made a save, Liam Scales and Kieran Tierney produced important blocks and Lagerbielke slid in to prevent Iheanacho converting Daizen Maeda’s low cross.
Braga goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek stopped Tierney’s back-post header before flying to his left to push away Tounekti’s effort after great skill from the winger. Celtic were soon back under pressure, though, and Martínez netted from close range after Schmeichel and Scales had blocked efforts.
Lille keeper Berke Özer saved three consecutive penalties late on as they battled to a 1-0 victory at Roma in the Europa League thanks to Hákon Arnar Haraldsson’s early strike.
In the first competitive meeting between the sides, Arnar Haraldsson capitalised on an early Roma error to fire the visitors ahead after six minutes. Roma were handed a golden chance to equalise in the last minutes after a handball from Aïssa Mandi, but Artem Dovbyk’s penalty was saved by Özer.
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Drama followed as the Lille keeper was judged to have moved off his line, only for Dovbyk’s second attempt to be stopped as well, but with Özer again stepping forward too early. A third effort was then entrusted to Matías Soulé, yet incredibly, Özer denied him as well and this time the save stood, sealing Lille’s win.
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