Celtic was informed with sadness that one of its main players had suffered an injury while trying to score a goal.
Celtic suffered more Champions League pain at Parkhead as Lazio scored a stoppage-time winner soon after the home side were denied a goal following a lengthy VAR check.
With the score at 1-1, substitute Luis Palma fired home in the 81st minute after Daizen Maeda had attempted an overhead kick from Alistair Johnston’s cross, and the VAR officials decided he was offside.
There was a bigger blow to come when former Barcelona and Chelsea forward Pedro headed home from fellow substitute Matteo Guendouzi’s cross five minutes into stoppage-time to secure the Italian club a 2-1 win in Group E.
Celtic had taken an early lead through Kyogo Furuhashi but Matias Vecino levelled following a 29th-minute corner.
Brendan Rodgers’ side looked the likelier team to find a winner but their 10-year wait for a home victory in the Champions League group stage continues and the ninth defeat in that 11-game run would be the most difficult one to take after a largely encouraging performance.
When Maeda was played in behind by Yang Hyun-jun, they had an opportunity, but the Japanese attacker miskicked his aggressive attempt.
Lazio’s three consecutive header victories from Luis Alberto’s corner proved their superiority in territory. The Lithuanian referee determined that the ball had spun behind the line before being clawed away, even though Joe Hart looked to have saved Vecino’s third attempt.
As Celtic regained possession, O’Riley made a crucial interception to stop a counterattack and forced a good save from a first-time strike.
The second half got off to a perfectly balanced start. Felipe Anderson was unable to take full advantage of the ball’s reception in yards of space inside the Celtic box prior to the home team’s side nearly scored on a free kick. Reo Hatate’s low drive was well-halted by Provedel, and Johnston scored off the rebound.
After missing seven weeks due to a hamstring injury, Cameron Carter-Vickers returned to action by replacing Nat Phillips. Yang, who had seen some success but lacked consistency in his possession, was replaced by Palma.
Just seconds after entering the game, Paulo Bernardo had a half-chance at the other end after Hart made a great save on Daichi Kamada’s 20-yard drive.
Celtic kept up their pace of attack. For a brief moment, Palma was pressing goalward, but Alessio Romagnoli slid in to regain the ball, Liam Scales’ attempt at an overhead kick went over, and Furuhashi’s close-range shot was stopped.