Caltex Socceroos playmaker Tom Rogic has been unable to inspire Celtic to victory in the Europa League, with the Scottish champions knocked out by Zenit St Petersburg on Friday morning (AEDT).
The Hoops took a 1-0 lead from the first leg to Russia but were trounced 3-0 at the Krestovsky Stadium to be eliminated in the Round of 31.
Rogic started on the bench for Brendon Rodgers’ side and could only watch as the hosts took the lead on the night inside seven minutes.
Birthday boy and former Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic powered in a header from a corner to make it 1-1 on aggregate.
Zenit then went in front just before the half-hour mark as Daler Kuzyaev’s 25-yard shot somehow slipped past Celtic keeper Dorus De Vries.
Down 2-0 at the break and needing an away goal to progress, Rodgers brought Rogic on at half-time and the young Aussie almost immediately fired off a shot which went over the bar.
Just when it seemed Celtic might be getting back into the content, the hosts landed the killer blow just after the hour mark.
Ivanovic turned provider this time, with his low cross turned in from close range by Aleksandr Kokorin.
Celtic will now turn their attention to domestic matters, where they currently hold a nine-point lead at the top of the SPL.
They next travel to third-placed Aberdeen on Monday morning.