KR Reykjavik crash out of Champions League

Screen Shot 2014-07-23 at 14.12.46Icelandic champions KR Reykjavik have crashed out of the Champions League in the second qualifying round after losing 4-0 to Celtic at Murrayfield in Edinburgh.

KR went into the game knowing they needed a minor miracle after losing the first leg 1-0 at home. Much hope was pinned on the fact that the Scottish champions were playing away from their normal home stadium, Celtic Park, which was hosting the opening ceremony for the Commonwealth Games.

The Icelanders made a positive start, with English forward Gary Martin striking the woodwork in the opening minute. However, the assistant referee had flagged so it would not have counted had it gone in.

From then on it was all downhill for the plucky part-timers as Celtic upped the tempo and were two up within 20 minutes thanks a brace from Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk. Teemu Pukki made it three before the interval to effectively wrap up the tie and leave KR playing for pride alone.

Celtic eased off a little in the second half but Pukki, who was marginalised under former boss Neil Lennon, repaid new manager Ronny Deila’s faith in him by grabbing a second to make it 4-0. The Scottish Champions will now face either Legia Warsaw of Poland or St Patrick’s Athletic of the Republic of Ireland in the third and final qualifying round.