Juve beat Celtic 3-0 as Ambrose gamble backfires

Juventus capitalised on Celtic's decision to throw Efe Ambrose into their Champions League last 16 first leg two days after he won the African Nations Cup by exposing the tired defender in a 3-0 win last night. Ambrose was part of the Nigeria team which triumphed in South Africa but he was at fault for Juve's third minute opener by Alessandro Matri, missed a key chance at 1-0 in the second period and faded badly as the Italians raced away. Claudio Marchisio and Mirko Vucinic netted after 77 and 83 minutes with Ambrose floundering to all but put the twice European champions into the quarter-finals with Celtic facing a monumental task in Turin in the second leg on March 6. "I think the scoreline flatters Juventus. I thought for the best part of the game, for the first 70 minutes until the second goal, we were by far the better side but you can't give away sloppy goals like that," Celtic manager Neil Lennon told ITV. "(Ambrose) was poor for the first goal. We've switched off defensively for the second goal and the third goal was poor. "We need a miracle. That's the harsh reality of Champions League football." The Scottish champions did beat mighty Barcelona at home in the group...