Celtic Park erupted in jubilation on Thursday night as Celtic secured their place in the Europa League knockout round play-offs with a decisive 4-2 victory over FC Utrecht. Interim manager Martin O’Neill, in his second spell with the club, expressed his delight with the team’s performance, highlighting their resilience and determination.

The Hoops entered the match knowing that a win would likely guarantee their progression in the competition. They started strong, with Benjamin Nygren scoring within the first six minutes, capitalizing on a well-executed play. The early goal settled nerves and set the tone for a dominant first half.

Adding to Utrecht's woes, a calamitous own goal from captain Nick Viergever doubled Celtic's lead. Shortly after, a penalty awarded for a handball by Dani de Wit, which Arne Engels confidently converted, further solidified Celtic's advantage, making it 3-0 within the first 20 minutes.

However, just before halftime, Dani de Wit managed to pull one back for Utrecht, offering a glimmer of hope for the Dutch side. Utrecht further narrowed the gap in the 62nd minute when Adrian Blake scored, causing a palpable sense of unease among the Celtic supporters.

The tension was soon eased by Auston Trusty, whose header from an Engels corner restored Celtic's two-goal cushion. O’Neill praised Trusty's "magnificent" performance and colossal spirit, especially considering the defender's recent red card against Hearts. O'Neill said that over the last couple of weeks his team has shown great resilience. He added that he was genuinely pleased to be in the play-offs.

Celtic's journey to this point in the Europa League has been marked by both challenges and triumphs. A shaky start to the campaign had put their qualification hopes in jeopardy, but a dramatic away victory against Feyenoord and a hard-fought draw against Bologna revitalized their chances.

With the victory, Celtic finished the league phase in 21st place and now await the play-off draw to discover their next opponent. Potential contenders include either Stuttgart or Ferencvaros.

O’Neill acknowledged that Celtic would need to improve to progress further in the competition but expressed satisfaction with the immediate accomplishment. He emphasized the importance of the win for the club and the fans, marking a memorable return to Celtic Park for him in a European context, more than two decades after his previous home European game managing Celtic.