Celtic survives scare in Champs League

PARIS — Scottish champion Celtic withstood a furious fightback from Hapoel Beer-Sheva to reach the Champions League group stage Tuesday despite a 2-0 defeat in Israel, while Porto beat nine-man Roma 3-0 to advance. Leading 5-2 from last week’s first playoff leg in Glasgow, Celtic was made to sweat in the desert with goals from Ben Sahar and Ovidiu Hoban setting up a nervy finish. However, Brendan Rodgers’ side held on to progress 5-4 on aggregate and qualify for the group stage for the first time in three seasons, with Maharan Radi’s first-half penalty miss proving particularly costly for the side. Joining Celtic in Thursday’s draw will be two-time former winner Porto after the Portuguese giant punished Roma for its indiscipline in the Italian capital, after the first leg finished 1-1. Felipe headed Porto into an eighth-minute lead but Roma lost captain Daniele de Rossi to a straight red card before the break after a wild lunge on Maxi Pereira, with Emerson Palmieri dismissed just after half-time following another crude tackle. Two quick-fire goals from Mexico internationals Miguel Layun and Jesus Corona then rubberstamped Porto’s place in the group stage. A stoppage time penalty from Fabinho handed Monaco a 3-1 aggregate victory over Villarreal, with Legia Warsaw ending the dreams of Irish champion Dundalk as a 1-1 draw sent the Polish club through 3-1 overall. Ludogorets Razgrad of Bulgaria advanced 4-2 on aggregate over Viktoria Plzen following a 2-2 draw in the Czech Republic.