Celtic’s UEFA Youth League campaign came to a heartbreaking end as they were knocked out by RB Salzburg on penalties, following a hard-fought 1-1 draw in normal time.
The young Hoops showed great resilience after falling behind in the 56th minute, with the home side breaking the deadlock. However, Celtic responded brilliantly as Kyle Ure produced a moment of magic, curling a stunning free-kick into the corner to bring the game level.
With the tie being a straight knockout fixture, the match went directly to a penalty shootout after 90 minutes. Despite a valiant effort from the Celtic youngsters, Salzburg proved more clinical from the spot, converting four penalties to Celtic’s two. Daniel Cummings and Jude Bonnar were unfortunate to miss their efforts, as the Austrian side sealed their place in the next round.
It was a tough way to go out, but Celtic’s youth side can take pride in their performance against one of Europe’s top academies. They fought hard away from home, showed character to respond after going behind, and pushed a strong Salzburg side all the way.
While their UEFA Youth League journey comes to an end, the experience gained from playing at this level will only benefit these young players as they continue their development.
