Celtic completed a spectacular turnaround to claim their first three Europa League points as they downed Besiktas 3-2 at Celtic Park this evening.
Former Celtic player Hyeongyu Oh started this one, as did former Rangers winger Vaclav Cerny, but neither player could make the impact they desired on their return to Glasgow, with Cerny’s every touch booed, while Oh was given a nice ovation as he was brought off.
The first half was boring beyond all reasonable belief, with neither side mustering a shot on target, but the second half burst into life with the award of a Besiktas penalty after Jordan Lotomba, in from the cold to start at right-back, brought down the visitors’ winger Ernest Poku for a stonewaller of a spot kick that Junior Olaitan saw saved by Sam Johnstone, only for the ball to rebound to the midfielder for him to blast home from a yard out.
Martin O’Neill needed a response from his much-changed, under-fire stars and he turned to his bench, bringing on a dynamic duo who would make all the difference.
Callum Osmand was on the pitch a mere 49 seconds before he found some space for a shot, which he arrowed past the Black Eagles’ keeper Alexander Nubel into the bottom corner to bring Celtic Park to life.
The famous old stadium then erupted 12 minutes from time as Camilo Duran, another introduction from the bench, was on hand to get on the end of Osmand’s through ball to round the keeper and stroke it home.
Besiktas had some firepower of their own from the bench though and it was their returning captain Orkun Kokcu who popped up on 86 minutes to rifle home an effort from distance that flew past Johnstone into the bottom corner, but the fans were not left deflated for long, as less than two minutes later Duran got on the end of a low shot from Kieran Tierney to turn the ball home and send Celtic Park back into raptures.
It’s a vital three points as Celtic keep their slim Europa League qualification hopes alive, and they’ll fancy their chances with a trip to Portuguese second-tier outfit Torreense in three weeks time.
It’s been another incredible European night under the Celtic Park lights, so stick with us as we bring you all the east end reaction LIVE right here.