All hail the mighty Norwegian overlords! Rosenborg did Celtic a massive favour last night, with their late equaliser in Germany allowing The Hoops to advance to the Europa League knockout stages.
Rosenborg entered their final group game against RB Leipzig without a point to their name, losing all five of their previous outings. With Leipzig looking likely to secure a win on home soil, Celtic were looking likely to need at least a point from their meeting with RB Salzburg in Glasgow.
The game in Germany played out mostly how we expected, with the home side taking the lead just after halftime.
At this stage Celtic were still deadlocked at 0-0, with a point being enough to advance. Things would soon turn to disaster however, with Salzburg racing into a 2-0 lead, thanks in no small part to this clanger from Craig Gordon.
With Celtic looking unlikely to mount a comeback, it was all down to the Leipzig-Rosenborg match. If Leipzig maintained their lead, they would advance to the knock-out stages at the Scottish side's expense.
Rosenborg had nothing to play for, and were in horrific form for the entire campaign. But would you believe it, they equalised.
A wonderful jinking run from left back Birger Meling got him to the byline, before a delivering an inviting cross to the far post. Centre back Tore Reginiussen was on hand to nod the ball home, giving the Norwegian's an unlikely equaliser.
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The Rosenborg goal that has Celtic going through in the #UEL!#VMSport pic.twitter.com/AbBShXpN8C— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) December 13, 2018
News soon filtered around Celtic Park about the goal in Germany, and the stadium erupted.
Celtic fans who had left Celtic Park rush back in when they heard Rosenborg scored in Germany!#VMSport #UEL pic.twitter.com/DT4CEuziNU
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) December 13, 2018
For the final few minutes of the match, the fans in the ground were more concerned with the events in Leipzig than the game in front of them. With the Rosenborg match finishing a couple of minutes before the Celtic one, the supporters were allowed a moment of celebration before the final whistle sounded.
A strange night in Glasgow, but one Hoops fans are unlikely to forget anytime soon.
