Celtic reach last 16 after extra-time win over AZ Alkmaar
Celtic progressed to the last 16 of the Europa Conference League with a 3-2 aggregate win over AZ Alkmaar after extra time.
Substitute Zakaria Aboukhlal scored a stunning overhead kick in extra time to give Celtic a 1-0 win on the night, after Carl Starfelt's own goal and Aboukhlal's first-half strike had cancelled out Teun Koopmeiners' opener for AZ.
The game was played in a hostile atmosphere at the AFAS Stadion, with around 1,000 Celtic fans making the trip to Alkmaar. The Dutch side started the game brightly and took the lead in the 6th minute when Koopmeiners fired home from the edge of the box.
Celtic levelled the scores in the 26th minute when Starfelt turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Aboukhlal. The Belgian striker then gave Celtic the lead in the 39th minute with a clinical finish from inside the box.
AZ equalised in the 66th minute through Koopmeiners, who scored from the spot after Joe Hart had brought down Aboukhlal. The game went into extra time and Celtic took the lead in the 105th minute when Aboukhlal scored a stunning overhead kick.
Celtic held on to their lead in the second half of extra time and will now face Bodo/Glimt in the last 16. The first leg will be played in Glasgow on March 9, with the second leg taking place in Norway on March 16.
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