Zenit St. Petersburg vs Celtic. UEFA Europa League Knockout Play-offs.
Krestovsky StadiumAttendance50,492.
3-1
Friday 23 February 2018 07:59, UK
Celtic's Europa League first-leg lead over Zenit was turned on its head in less than half an hour as a 3-0 defeat (3-1 on aggregate) dumped them out of the competition.
The Hoops' slender 1-0 advantage from Parkhead was wiped out when former Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic nodded in Leandro Paredes' corner after seven minutes.
Dorus de Vries was then unable to keep out Daler Kuzyayev's effort, whose swerving shot was palmed into the net by the Celtic goalkeeper.
Brendan Rodgers' side were disappointing throughout and took 67 minutes to force a save from Andrei Lunev, by which time Zenit were already three goals to the good thanks to Aleksandr Kokorin's close-range finish.
With a 1-0 lead to protect, Celtic's first priority was to avoid conceding early, but they were behind to the first attack of the game when Ivanovic was left unmarked to power Paredes' corner beyond De Vries.
Only James Forrest looked intent on pushing the visitors forward before half-time, and they mustered only a solitary shot from distance before the break.
By that point they were 2-0 behind as Kuzyayev drifted inside unchallenged and unleashed a powerful drive from 25 yards, but one which was within easy reach of De Vries and should have been kept out.
After the break, the visitors looked noticeably quicker into the tackle, although still nervous in possession, but were left with a mountain to climb when Zenit scored a well-worked third as Kokorin swept in Ivanovic's cross.
Substitutes Tom Rogic and Scott Sinclair threatened from half-chances, while Eboue Kouassi fired straight at Andrey Lunyov from 25 yards, but Celtic's European campaign ended with a whimper.
Ivanovic scored the goal that set Zenit on their way, kept Kieran Tierney very quiet, set up Kuzyayev for Zenit's second., and made 15 accurate passes inside the visitors' half.
Zenit can close the gap on Russian Premier League leaders Lokomotiv Moscow when they host Amkar Perm a week on Saturday.
Celtic face a trip to third-placed Aberdeen on Sunday, where they will hope to increase a gap to Derek McInnes' side which already stretches to nine points.
The draw for the last 16 of the tournament is at midday on Friday.