Odsonne Edouard repaying record fee as Celtic beat Rosenborg

Celtic spent nine million pounds ($11.88 million) to sign Odsonne Edouard last month.

Image Courtesy: Reuters

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers raised eyebrows by breaking the club's transfer record to sign Odsonne Edouard last month but the Frenchman is proving his worth after scoring twice in a 3-1 win over Rosenborg in Wednesday`s Champions League qualifier.

Celtic spent nine million pounds ($11.88 million) on the striker, who spent last season on loan at the Scottish champions from Paris Saint-Germain, and his performance in the first leg at Celtic Park left Rodgers in no doubt whether the 20-year-old had justified his hefty price tag.

"Yeah and a lot more," he said. "He is a really class player." 

Rosenborg took the lead early in the first half before Edouard and countryman Olivier Ntcham responded for the hosts. Edouard gave Celtic breathing space for the return leg next week when he made it 3-1 in the 75th minute.

"The first goal looked so simple but you see his movement to create the space and he just passed it in," said Rodgers.

"The second goal, he times his run perfectly and a mark of the top striker, to have that confidence on the big occasion, to show that calmness under pressure, was brilliant."

Celtic would face Greek side AEK Athens in the next round of qualifying if they get past the Norwegians.