JULIAN ARAUJO was Celtic’s unseen Scottish Cup hero in the dramatic 2-1 extra-time triumph over Dundee at Parkhead last night.
With Martin O’Neill’s side on the brink of an exit from the national competition and the clock ticking down, the Mexico international right-back, on loan from Bournemouth, played a massive role in the Hoops snatching a last-gasp equaliser.
And Araujo managed the feat WITHOUT touching the ball!
The hosts were toiling as the tie edged towards the completion of stoppage-time, trailing to a thunderous drive from Ethan Hamilton shortly after the turnaround.
It looked as though the Tayside outfit were about to make history and beat Celtic in the Scottish Cup in Glasgow for the first time.
And that’s when Araujo stepped in – or out, as the case may be.
NETBOUND…Junior Amadu’s flick from Sebastian Tounekti’s low cross is heading for the net with Julian Araujo getting a close-up look almost on the line.
EVASIVE ACTION… Julian Araujo pulls his right foot away to make sure Junior Adamu’s last-gasp equaliser is allowed to stand.
Sebastian Tounekti darted into the box on the left before whipping in a low cross to the near post.
New Bhoy Junior Amadu, making his debut after replacing Tomas Cvancara in the 80th minute, produced a clever flick to flummox keeper John McCracken and send the ball angling towards the far post.
Araujo was racing in and must have been tempted to give the ball a nudge to make sure.
Thankfully, the California-born defender resisted the urge and stepped over the ball as it headed for its destination.
If Araujo had got a touch, the goal would have been ruled OFFSIDE.
That being the case, with three seconds to play, Celtic would have gone out of the Scottish Cup.
His piece of quick-thinking took the tie to extra-time and, of course, Tounekti scored the winning goal to make sure O’Neill’s men are in tonight’s quarter-final draw.
Well done, Julian!
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