Celtic suffer Lyon heartbreak

Lyon 3-2 Celtic

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A controversial penalty five minutes from time saw Celtic beaten in Lyon and dumped out of the Champions League.

Martin O'Neill's side must content themselves with a place in the Uefa Cup after Juninho Pernambucano scored from the spot.

The same player had earlier embarrassed Celtic keeper Magnus Hedman with a long range effort, after fellow Brazilian Giovane Elber had given the home team an early lead.

Celtic twice came back from behind with goals from John Hartson and Chris Sutton but were left broken-hearted when referee Urs Meier harshly ruled that Bobo Balde had handled the ball in his own area.

The home side got off to a flying start with Elber testing Hedman with a fierce shot and Anthony Reveillere firing a wicked strike over the bar in the opening minutes.

And with just six minutes gone, Celtic found themselves trailing when a wonderful free-kick from Juninho struck the bar and bounced out to Elber, who had the simple task of heading the ball into an empty net.

The disappointing thing is that the Lyon players all turned to go for a goal kick and nobody thought it was a penalty Celtic boss Martin O'Neill More Celtic reaction

Hedman had dived in a bid to stop the initial strike and the Celtic defence were static as the Brazilian striker followed in to score.

With 15 minutes gone Henrik Larsson and Liam Miller carved out a great shooting opportunity for Hartson, but the striker miscued his effort from the edge of the penalty area.

Elber then went close to a second goal when he cleverly spun away from Balde and sent a curling shot inches wide of the target.

Djila Diarra was next to threaten for the home side when he beat a hesitant Hedman to a Juninho free-kick and sent a looping back-header narrowly over the top.

Hartson warmed the hands of Lyon keeper Gregory Coupet with a long range effort as play raged from end to end in a thrilling opening.

And the big Welshman levelled the score after 24 minutes when he was on hand to tuck away the rebound after Coupet had come out to block a shot from Larsson, who had slipped in behind the French defence.

KEY MOMENTS 6 mins: Elber opens the scoring for Lyon 24 mins: Hartson levels with a low drive 52 mins: Lyon go back in front thanks to Juninho 75 mins: Sutton brings Celtic back to 2-2 86 mins: Juninho makes no mistake from the spot

Lyon came roaring back and Peguy Luyindula burst into the Celtic penalty box only to shoot straight at Hedman before Sidney Govou blazed over after a similarly dangerous run.

The French champions started the second half with a whirlwind of attacks and Celtic fell behind again after 52 minutes when Juninho's swerving shot from 30 yards beat the wrong-footed Hedman.

Elber was given a clear sight of goal soon after but his ferocious strike from the edge of the area fizzed over.

Lyon's wide players Govou and Florent Malouda were giving Celtic full-backs Michael Gray and Johan Mjallby a torrid time as O'Neill's men struggled to gain any meaningful possession.

The visitors replaced Gray and Hartson with Ross Wallace and Mohammed Sylla and switched to a 3-5-2 formation for the final 20 minutes.

Sylla played a major part in the Celtic's second equaliser when he harried full-back Jeremie Berthod, who cannoned a clearance off his opponent and into the path of Sutton - allowing the Englishman to slip the ball home from 10 yards.

Lyon laid siege to the Celtic goal and in the 85th minute Balde was penalised when the ball appeared to brush the underside of his arm.

Juninho coolly slammed the ball past Hedman to leave Celtic and their large following devastated.

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Lyon: Coupet, Edmilson, Berthod (Carriere 76), Reveillere, Cacapa, Diarra, Juninho (Muller 89), Malouda, Govou, Luyindula, Elber (Dhorasoo 87).
Subs Not Used: Vercoutre, Deflandre, Essien, Viale.

Celtic: Hedman, Varga, Mjallby, Balde, Gray (Wallace 68), Lennon, Miller, Petrov, Sutton (Kennedy 80), Hartson (Sylla 68), Larsson.
Subs Not Used: Douglas, Lambert, Maloney, Crainey.

Booked: Lennon, Hartson, Balde.

Attendance: 40,125

Referee: Urs Meier (Switzerland).