CELTIC 2 ABERDEEN 2
SLOPPY Celtic blew the chance to go three points clear at the Premiership pinnacle at Parkhead this afternoon.
The champions appeared to be coasting after going in two goals ahead at the interval following strikes from Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi.
However, the hosts spectacularly shot themselves in the foot when they conceded two goals in 10 minutes shortly after the break to allow Aberdeen back into the contest when it looked as though they were out on their feet.
It was a startling turnaround as the Hoops shed their 100 per cent league record at the eighth hurdle. It was the identical story for the visitors who had also won their first seven outings of the campaign.
Their flawless sequence was in jeopardy when Brendan Rodgers’ side struck with two lightning goals in three minutes. Hatate claimed the opener in the 24th minute and Kyogo, who provided the pass for the first, hit No.2 with clinical ease only moments later.
TOUCHLINE ENCOURAGEMENT…Brendan Rodgers urges on his Celtic players.
But the Dons rocked them with their ferocious fightback and questions will be asked by the manager.
It looked as though substitute Adam Idah had claimed the winner in the fifth minute of stoppage-time when he headed in, but referee Nick Walsh immediately ruled it out for a foul by Alistair Johnston on the keeper.
It was hectic stuff as the home side piled forward as the 10 minutes of added-on time ticked down.
This wasn’t Celtic’s day, but they will have to admit they brought a lot of the anguish and grief upon themselves.
The tone of the match was set in the opening stages when Graeme Shinnie clattered into Alex Valle and match official Walsh took no action.
Likewise, the match official was unimpressed when there was a coming-together between Alistair Johnston and Jack McKenzie at the corner flag.
There was a scare for the visitors in the 12th minute when Dimitar Mitov was sloppy with his distribution and a fleeting chance opened up for Arne Engels.
The Belgian playmaker attempted to capitalise with a curling effort from wide left that flicked off the top of the crossbar and off to safety much to the relief of the Bulgarian keeper.
REO GRAND…Reo Hatate and Alex Valle celebrate the Japanese midfielder’s strike for No.1.
However, the Dons netminder was left helpless in the 24th minute after a breathtaking surge from the Hoops that left the Pittodrie rearguard exposed.
Nicolas Kuhn started the move when he won a tackle and knocked a pass to Engels who whipped a pass down the right that sent Kyogo scurrying into the danger zone.
The Japanese speedster picked out his compatriot Hatate just inside the box and the midfielder rifled the hosts into the lead.
Three minutes later, the Parkhead faithful were in full voice once more as Kyogo doubled the advantage.
Dons defender Gavin Molloy was at fault when he was slow to clear his lines. The ball ricocheted from Hatate to the ever-alert Kyogo and he couldn’t miss a golden opportunity.
The prolific hitman snapped a shot into the net much to the rapturous glee of most of the 60,000 onlookers.
In the 35th minute, Leighton Clarkson was denied when Alex Valle bailed out Kasper Schmeichel when he blocked a netbound effort from 10 yards.
Just before the interval, Kuhn squandered the opportunity of a third goal when he took a touch and saw his shot blocked from eight yards. A first-time drive would surely have been more productive.
Mitov also had to look lively to repel an effort from Johnston with the Hoops in control.
But the hosts were caught on their heels five minutes after the turnaround when Jamie McGrath sent in a though pass and substitute Ester Sokler got away from Liam Scales and left the advancing Schmeichel helpless with a composed finish.
Parkhead was silenced in an instant as Rodgers’ men’s advantage was halved at a stroke.
CELEBRATIONS…Kyogo Furuhashi goes through his usual goal routine.
And it got worse for Celtic on the hour mark when the Dons levelled with a sensational strike from Shinnie.
Topi Keskinen, Sokler and McGrath combined to set up the skipper who thumped in a powerful drive. Schmeichel didn’t have an earthly as the ball took a wicked deflection off Auston Trusty to wrongfoot the Dane.
In the 65th minute, James Forrest and Paulo Bernardo were sent on for the tiring Daizen Maeda and Hatate as Rodgers attempted to freshen things up.
A massive sigh of relief swept round the stadium in the 71st minute when VAR intervened to chalk off an effort from Portuguese ace Duk who had used a hand before hitting the net.
Greg Aitken, at the controls, spotted the infringement after referee Walsh had awarded the goal.
Rodgers’ instant response was to remove Kyogo and push on Idah in the 72nd minute and five minutes later Luke McCowan replaced Engels who had started well, but appeared to run out of ideas and energy.
There was brief hope for the champions when Forrest saw an opening, but his effort edged wide of the left-hand post.
There was also a frenzied climax to the confrontation when Idah headed into the net in the fifth minute of stoppage-time, but referee Walsh ruled it out for an infringement on keeper Mitov.
And there was a desperate call for a penalty-kick after McCowan had been floored. VAR showed the Celt was just outside the box and Idah’s free-kick was deflected for a corner-kick.
The game came to an end with an incredible save from Mitov from a pont-blank Idah header and then Duk cleared an effort off the line from Johnston.
There was a VAR check for a handball, but it was ruled okay and the hosts had to be content with a point.
Celtic’s players will know they should have had three.
TEAM: Schmeichel; Johnston, Trusty, Scales, Valle; Engels (sub: McCowan 77), McGregor, Hatate (sub: Bernardo 65); Kuhn, Kyogo (sub: Idah 72), Maeda (sub: Forrest 65).