Atlanta Soccer News: Art, Music and Culture: Celtic crash out of the Europe - Lennon convinced referee missed a handball

Battling Celtic crashed out of the Europa League despite coming close to pulling off an unlikely Italian job.

And the evening ended in anger for boss Neil Lennon who insisted his team were denied a spot-kick in the closing minutes when a Udinese defender appeared to handle in the penalty area.

Chasing their first victory on Italian soil, Lennon’s side needed a win to advance to the last 32 of the competition.

And Gary Hooper’s close-range finish in 29 minutes gave the Scottish Cup holders hope of pulling off a shock.


The one that got away: Lennon pleads in vain with the linesman for a Celtic penalty

Another Cha Du-ri error on foreign soil unhinged the Parkhead side’s chances, however, when a loose defensive header teed up a leveller for dangerman Antonio di Natale in first-half injury time.

Also the fall guy in Rennes, where he scored an own goal, the South Korean’s error proved costly on a night when goalkeeper Fraser Forster pulled off a string of superb second-half saves to tee up a grandstand finish.

Although TV footage of the incident was inconclusive, Lennon was convinced that Greek referee Michail Koukoulakis missed a handball by Brazilian Danilo in the dying stages which would have handed Celtic a dramatic shot at glory.

The Northern Irishman said: ‘I was very proud of the team. Everyone made a fantastic contribution and with a bit of luck we would be through. But I thought there was a clear handball. I thought it hit one of their centre-backs on the arm, I think it was Danilo.


Level terms: Di Natale ended Celtic's European dream

‘It was a great effort all round. We hit the post, we had one cleared off the line.

‘In terms of chances, it was almost as good as we’ve played. To come away from home, to Italy of all places, and play like that was really good to see.’

Forster was key to keeping Celtic’s hopes alive with several fine stops and Lennon likened the on-loan Newcastle United man to a former Hoops favourite.

‘We had Artur Boruc a couple of years ago and, in Forster, I think we’ve found another one like that,’ he said. ‘There were some top-class saves. You need a keeper like that.’


Class act: Forster was excpetional in Italy

Cha had a dramatic evening, almost becoming the hero after his defensive blunder for di Natale’s goal, when he hit the post with a late shot that Samir Handanovic allowed to then escape his grasp and almost trundle over the line.

The full-back had earlier been caught up in a case of mistaken identity when he was booked for a foul which was committed by Scott Brown. When Cha was later yellow-carded again, the Celtic bench held their collective breath but referee Koukoulakis appeared to have rectified his mistake with his assistants and the Hoops star stayed on the park.

Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin was in no mood to discuss Lennon's penalty theory. He said: 'Neil Lennon said the difference was the penalty awarded in Glasgow and the penalty that wasn't awarded tonight.

'Well, in 25 years I have never talked about single incidents and that won't change now. I think what was important tonight was that we scored just before the end of the first half.

'I was not surprised by the way Celtic played, I was expecting to see that performance from them.

'Celtic are a very strong team, very aggressive and filled with spirit.'