Last update on. From the section Europa League
Celtic won 3-2 overall with Kyogo Furuhashi scoring his seventh goal in seven games.
Celtic won a grueling night in the Netherlands and beat AZ Alkmaar by a single point to reach the Europa League groups for the 4th season in a row.
Celtic led 3-0 with Kyogo Furuhashi's opener in the third minute. But Zakaria Aboukhlal quickly took advantage of Joe Hart's error to tie the game. Carl Starfelt's own goal, however, gave AZ the lead for the second leg.
Hart was able to redeem himself with two crucial saves by Aboukhlal. Ernest Poku missed a chance late on, but Celtic held firm under intense pressure.
Ange Postecoglou's men enter Friday's draw despite their six-game winning streak, while AZ drops into the Conference League.
Despite Celtic having kept four clean sheets over their last five games and scoring 24 goals during their win streak, that solidity was absent.
The dream start for the Scottish side was quickly ruined by a horrendous, error-filled first half.
Hart was at fault for AZ's equalizer. Stephen Welsh, centre-back, failed to handle a kick-out by Hobie Verhulst from AZ. The ball landed on Hart's chest.
Although he had ample time to clear the box's edge, the former England international was inexplicably slow to do so. Aboukhal then took the ball off of his toe and slotted it into an empty net.
Starfelt's second concession was worse. He took no pressure and tried again with a cross. The ball flew off his leg.
In the third minute, AZ was caught cold by the visitors. Anthony Ralston's long pass to the right of Liel Abbada released Liel Abada whose cross left Kyogo for a simple goal. It was his seventh goal in seven starts.
Postecoglou's men seemed ill-at-ease and nervy throughout the match, not helped by Greg Taylor's first-half injury. Young Adam Montgomery took his place.
Aboukhal posed a constant threat, and Hart was impressively able to stop him from scoring either half-time.
After feeling a rush of blood to his head, the keeper raced towards the box's edge and missed his attempt to punch. AZ was unable to capitalize on Celtic's success. Hart parried Jesper Karlsson’s shot behind, and Bruno Martins Indi glancing in the ensuing corner just short of his target.
AZ looked much more polished, and Koshi Suguwara arrowed a few shots off target. Captain Teun Koopmeiners drive was not far from the bottom corner.
After the hour, Odsonne Edouard introduced Celtic to provide a physical focal point as they tried to stem the flow. Montgomery and Ryan Christie tried to divert the flow, but it was only a brief respite.
They were able to persevere and win the battle.
Zakaria Aboukhlal was the man of the match
One striker for AZ scored and tortured Celtic
What have we learned?
This was Celtic's most difficult test under Postecoglou, and although it wasn't convincing, they succeeded in achieving their goal.
They are still in development and there is always room for improvement before the transfer deadline.
Starfelt and Hart made mistakes that were alarming, as Celtic's defensive flaws returned to haunt them.
What's next?
Celtic will learn about their Europa League group rivals in Friday's draw (11:00 BST), before traveling to Ibrox on Saturday (12:00 BST) to face Rangers at the Old Firm derby in the Scottish Premiership season's opening Old Firm derby.
