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Celtic’s turbulent season continued as they gave up a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 to AC Milan in the Europa League tie at San Siro.
The out-of-form Scottish champions had already been eliminated from the competition when they traveled to Italy, but surprised the locals with goals from Tom Rogic and Odsonne Edouard in the first 13 minutes.
However, the defensive weaknesses of the season soon returned and goals in rapid succession from Turkish striker Hakan Calhanoglu and Spaniard Samuel Castillejo brought the hosts level before the break.
Norwegian striker Jens Petter Hauge scored a good third goal five minutes after the break and in the 82nd minute Milan substitute Brahim Diaz added a fourth to put Parkhead aside with a point from five Group H games.
Celtic CEO Peter Lawwell endorsed his manager Neil Lennon after hundreds of fans showed up at Parkhead to vent their fury following the Betfred Cup loss to Ross County on Sunday.
Those fans will not be cheered on by this performance as Celtic seek two victories in their last 11 matches in all competitions.
The visitors, with Jeremie Frimpong and Callum McGregor in place of Christopher Jullien and Albian Ajeti, got off to a sensational start.
Rogic gave Celtic the lead in the seventh minute when he took advantage of the laziness of home defender Rade Krunic to launch a shot from the edge of the area.
The Australian international approached again after two minutes with a shot from the same distance that whistled down the post before injured Milan defender Simon Kjaer was replaced by Alessio Romagnoli.
It looked good for Lennon’s side. McGregor then put goalie Gianluigi Donnarumma to the test with a 10-yard shot moments later after some good work from Frimpong before the Scottish champions doubled their lead.
Midfielder Ryan Christie played French forward Edouard and almost coincidentally sank the ball over Donnarumma.
AC Milan was clearly shaken, but then came Celtic’s collapse.
Christie conceded a free kick just outside the area in the 23rd minute and Calhanoglu doubled down on his free kick off Celtic goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas on a flat foot.
Three minutes later, Milan’s forward Hauge ran into the box and when his center snapped towards Castillejo, he swept the level from eight yards.
AC Milan now had the upper hand, but Celtic leveled off and McGregor had a decent shot saved by Donnarumma just before the break.
Parkhad’s team was on the back foot at the start of the second half and fell behind as Hauge made his way into the area passing McGregor, Hatem Elhamed and Frimpong and shot Barkas into the corner of the net.
Milan had firm control of the game, but right at the hour mark, Frimpong dragged a deflected shot from a good position after being set up by Nir Bitton.
Then Donnarumma hit a good save in the 72nd minute on a 25-yard free kick from Christie.
But with eight minutes to go, Diaz, substituting for Hakan Calhanoglu in the 60th minute, added a quarter when he lifted a pass from Hauge, who passed Elhamed too easily, over the Hoops Barkas goalkeeper from close range to complete another sad night in Europe for the Scottish champions.
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