Celtic v Young Boys LIVE! Late Benito own goal puts Celtic into the Champions League knockout stage

A late own goal from Loris Benito secured victory for Celtic over Young Boys and a place in the UEFA Champions League knockout stage.

Going into the match in the 23rd of 24 qualifying spots, with Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain behind them, Brendan Rodgers' side knew they had to secure victory over the winless bottom-side at Celtic Park.

Victory should have been secured in the first half, but all three times they had the ball in the net, the efforts were disallowed each time, with one of Kyogo Furuhashi's phantom goals disallowed by VAR, and then the usually reliable Arne Engels saw his tame penalty saved by Marvin Keller.

With seven stops to his name, the visiting keeper looked to be the hero of the night, but in the second half Kasper Schmeichel was called upon to make a fine double save from Darian Males to keep parity before the late drama.

Reo Hatate played a fantastic ball around the Swiss side's defence, and after substitute Adam Idah saw his effort blocked by Keller, the ball ricocheted off the luckless Benito and into the net.

The win lifts Celtic to 18th spot and their points tally to 12 points, four clear of 25th-placed Manchester City and, lying just a point behind the top eight, they still have an outside chance of securing a bye if they can win at Aston Villa next Wednesday.

With Celtic having the outside chance to reach the top eight if they win at Villa Park, Kasper Schmeichel said all players should be relishing this occasion.

"Looking forward to it, these are the occasions as a player you want to play in," Schmeichel said to former Celtic stopper Joe Hart on TNT Sports.

"If you dont want to play in these games you're at the wrong club.

"There's a lot of joy, a lot of relief. You wondered if it would be one of those days. It was just important to get over the line.

"I thought partocularly first half we were excellent and in the second half we stayed calm."

As for staying at Celtic Park, Schmeichel said it was not a difficult call to make.

"It was an easy decision, I've enjoyed every moment since I've been here,"

"The supporters are second to none. It was a no brainer."

In the week Kasper Schmeichel committed to stay at Celtic Park until the end of next season, the Bhoys boss paid tribute to the former Leicester keeper who made a crucial double save to deny Darian Males in the second half.

"Anyone will tell you the biggest players make the big contributions in the big games," Rodgers said on TNT Sports.

"He has been first class for us on the pitch and off the pitch.

"But in big moments he’s got that in him, he’s one of the best shot stoppers in world football."

"Whenever we missed the penalty it didn’t rock us," Rodgers said on TNT Sports.

"We have to accept it. We stayed calm and focus on the job at hand.

"And then we have to see the game out with ten men and the boys were amazing.

"We’ve had three wins and one defeat in seven games which is fantastic."

"With the goal, in the 85th minute, the build up, the composure, to take the ball from the keeper, to work the ball side-to-side and work the space and then what a pass," Rodgers said on TNT Sports.

I don’t know what incredible is in Japanese but that was it."

"For them to bounce back from the defeat against Dortmund, they are unbeaten since then, it's a fantastic achievement," former Celtic boss Neil Lennon said on TNT Sports.

"They have played some great football along the way. They needed to dig deep today.

"They got a bit of luck but they deserved over the course of the competition."

Johan Myallby felt the away points in Bergamo and Zagreb were the key moments of the campaign.

"The key has been the games away," Myallby said.

"I couldn't dream they could get a point away at Atalanta for example.

"The balance is better this season than previous seasons. They know they cannot go gung ho."

They made hard work of it against the worst team in the competition, but make it they did.

Most crucially they are four points clear of Manchester City who are back in 25th after a dramatic night in Paris, so the Bhoys are guaranteed a top-24 spot.

And just a point outside the top eight. A win against Aston Villa in their final game could even see them nip in their and clinch a bye.

It wasn't easy. Three goals disallowed and a missed penalty in the first half. It took a freak own goal to do it, but they are almost certainly through to the knockout stage of the tournament.

Right on the final whistle, Schmeichel has to dive to his left to ensure a shot doesn't sneak beyond him.

Celtic easily clear and everyone is looking at the referee to blow up now.

Lauper's shot was deflected wide and Young Boys have a corner. It is likely to be their last chance.

He races over to take the throw...and then fails to put the ball behind his head! Celtic can take their time over this now and send the ball into the corner.

Celtic bring a forward off to secure their defence of this lead.

The Celtic winger is sent to the stands as the totally unnecessary kick out is punished. His looming suspension the only cloud on what seems likely to be a fine night in the East End of Glasgow.

He is cautioned for a kick out on Camara - and the referee is now checking whether it is a red card.

Celtic will have a place in the last 24 and the knockout stage of the tournament.

Idah gets behind the defence latching onto Hakate's through-ball and his shot is saved by Keller but the ball ricochets into Benito and then into his own net.