CELTIC 2 DUNDEE 1 (AET)
JUNIOR ADAMU certainly knows the worth of making a first impression.
Celtic were heading out of the Scottish Cup with exactly THREE seconds to play of the six added-on minutes with Dundee already one foot in the quarter-finals with a sensation on the cards at Parkhead tonight.
The clock was ticking down all too swiftly as the visitors clung to their one-goal advantage following Ethan Hamilton’s strike four minutes after the interval.
And then Sebastian Tounekti, a 70th-minute replacement for Yang Hyun-jun, sprinted into the packed visitors’ penalty box in a last-ditch attempt to create something worthwhile.
The Tunisian drove the ball low towards the near post and there was Adamu, who arrived on loan from SC Freiburg on deadline day, finding a pocket of space to clip the ball off his left heel and through his legs.
Time stood still for a moment as his cheeky flick whipped low into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
WONDER BHOY…Junior Adamu is all smiles after claiming his dramatic equalising goal with only three seconds to go against Dundee.
The Austrian striker had answered a major SOS for his new club after making his debut in the 80th minute when he came on for the tiring Tomas Cvancara.
The full-time whistled sounded moment after the stunned Dens team took the kick-off.
And the torture was not over for Steven Pressley’s men.
Exactly one minute and 12 seconds into extra-time, Tounekti drove in what proved to be the winner.
The touchline ace, who looked in the mood as soon as he made his appearance, took a pass from Marcelo Saracchi, played and one-two with Luke McCowan and sprinted into space.
John McCracken would have anticipated a shot across the face of goal, but the tantalising Celt thumped a drive low to the keeper’s right at his near-hand post and the ball flew into the net.
In the space of one minute and 15 seconds, Martin O’Neill’s men went from being on the receiving end of an unacceptable exit to heading for the tomorrow night’s draw.
The Hoops were denied a stick-on penalty-kick in the 38th minute as they were on the receiving end of another controversial VAR decision.
With the game goalless and the hosts desperate for an interval advantage, towering striker Cvancara was clearly pushed in the back by Luke Graham.
The Czech Republic international was sent tumbling outside the box and referee Ryan Lee awarded was quick to award a free-kick.
Andrew Dallas, in front of the VAR screens, reviewed the incident and remarkably agreed with the onfield decision.
Images clearly showed Cvancara’s foot was on the 18-yard line when he was fouled and there is no argument – that is a stonewall penalty-kick. Not on this occasion, though.
To compound the folly of both officials, Kieran Tierney botched the free-kick and the Dens Park side could breathe a sigh of relief.
In the early moments, Joel Mvuka looked lively on the right wing as he made his debut after agreeing a loan move from Lorient during the week.
McCracken was quickly off his line to boot the ball to safety as the Norwegian international tried to burst onto a through pass and only moments later the new Bhoy was just too late to make contact at the back post with a left-wing cross from Reo Hatate that was slightly overhit.
And the Japanese ace troubled the visitors’ back lot again in the tenth minute when he cut in onto his right foot to thump an angled drive at goal, but McCracken threw himself full-length to push the ball away.
FIST IN TIME…Martin O’Neill displays his usual passion.
Celtic had lots of possession against a determined Dundee team that were fighting for every scrap.
However, the home side couldn’t turn their domination into goals.
There was a frustrating lack of accuracy and composure with final passes that saw promising moves break down when it looked as through the breakthrough goal was on its way.
There was also a moment of anxiety in the 31st minute when Viljami Sinisalo didn’t deal with a right-wing corner-kick and a dangerous ball fired goalwards was headed away at the left-hand post by Julian Araujo.
O’Neill sent on Benjamin Nygren and James Forrest for Paulo Bernardo and Mvuka at the start of the second-half.
However, there was a real jolt for the competition favourites in the 49th minute when Hamilton was allowed to skip past Callum McGregor and head straight for the Hoos danger zone.
The midfielder took full advantage of the space that had opened up in front of him and thundered a left-foot drive from just outside the box high past the desperately diving Viljami Sinisalo.
It took the Hoops until the 61st minute to muster a worthwhile retaliation when Yang set up Tierney, but his blistering effort was too close to McCracken who thrust his arms into the air to turn the ball over the bar.
In the 70th minute, McCowan and Tounekti joined the action as they replaced the ineffective Hatate and Yang.
Ten minutes later Adamu came on for his debut as Cvancara made way.
In the first minute of stoppage-time, Tierney was laid low when he took a kick full in the face from Cameron Congrieve. The Dundee forward was booked, but if that was not worthy of a red card for dangerous play then there is no such offence.
The Scottish international looked groggy as he was helped on and Saracchi came on to take his place.
And then came the last kick drama to force the tie into extra-time.
Adamu wrote himself into a piece of Celtic folklore with his timely first goal.
And Tounekti got his just rewards for an eager display with the winning goal.
Colby Donovan replaced Julian Arauajo for the second period of extra-time as Celtic held on for the victory.
The stay-away fans missed a game laced with tension, drama, excitement and thrills aplenty.
A quick round of applause for Martin O’Neill. He made the right substitutions at the right time and Celtic earned the right result.
But do we really have to make life so tough for ourselves?
TEAM: Sinisalo; Araujo (sub: Donovan 105), Trusty, Scales, Tierney (sub: Saracchi 91); Bernardo (sub: Nygren), McGregor, Hatate (sub: McCowan 70); Mvuka (sub: Forrest 46), Cvancara (sub: Adamu 80), Yang (sub: Tounekti 70).
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