KILMARNOCK 2 CELTIC 3
WHAT were you worrying about?
Two goals down with an entire second-half to play? No bother!
Comeback kings Celtic did it again as they hauled themselves back into the tension-laden contest with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park this afternoon.
Sebastian Tounekti and Benjamin Nygren netted the goals that set the scene for Julian Araujo to wallop in the winner in the seventh minute of stoppage-time.
This is the stuff you normally find in Boys’ Own comics.
This is the stuff that can win you titles.
Following dramatic late fightbacks against Dundee last weekend and Livingston in midweek, Martin O’Neill’s men made it difficult for themselves before completing un unlikely hat-trick.
To their eternal credit, they found a way to win on a day where three points were an absolute must.
MEXICAN WAVE…Julian Araujo celebrates his remarkable winner at Rugby Park.
Some x-certificate defending, a malfunctioning midfield and a distinct lack of composure up front contributed to the Hoops going in two goals down at the interval.
Auston Trusty and Liam Scales were both guilty of awful defending as Killie scored their two goals to pile the pressure on the visitors.
Celtic had been hesitant at the start as they attempted to find some sort rhythm while the hosts were quite happy to chase the ball and snap into challenges all over the pitch.
The opening goal in the 21st minute was directly down to some terrible work from Trusty when the opposition’s main dangerman, Tyreece John-Jules, was allowed to drifted onto a ball on the left-hand side of the penalty area.
The USA defender was slow to see the danger as he allowed the striker a few touches before he dragged tthe ball to his right and fired in a low drive.
The attempt at a block from Trusty was way too slow and the effort whipped low past the diving Kasper Schmeichel into his far corner.
SHOCKER No.1…Tyreece John-Jules fires a drive past the lumbering Auston Trusty.
SHOCKER No.2…Kasper Schmeichel can’t keep out Joe Hugill’s header for Killie’s second.
Seven minutes later, Scales set up the second goal with a weak clearance from a left-wing cross. The ball didn’t even make it outside the penalty box before it was pitched back in again.
This time Joe Hugill managed to get in ahead of the Republic of Ireland internal centre-back to get a flick to the ball with his head.
The slow-motion effort looped up over the flapping Schmeichel and dropped over the line.
Celtic were well aware it was going to be a difficult encounter and they had just made it even tougher for themselves with lamentable defending.
Reo Hatate, much criticised in recent times, was desperately trying to encourage his team-mates, but there was little response from Nygren who was contributing next to nothing.
Junior Amadu, last weekend’s late goal hero against Dundee, looked willing to get involved, but he was well off the pace and it showed.
PICK IT OUT…Sebastian Tounekti strikes with Celtic’s first goal.
THE START OF SOMETHING GOOD…Sebastian Tounekti races away in joy after scoring Celtic’s first in another astonishing comeback triumph.
Before Killie opened the scoring, Daizen Maeda had an angled drive fisted away by Kelle Roos.
Moments before the second goal, there was an almighty scramble in front of the Killie keeper after a good ball in from the right from Araujo.
It came to a halt when Roos flopped on the ball with Maeda just about to get a touch.
The Japanese speedster did get a chance in the 37th minute, but from eight yards he went for power when precision would have been advisable and his shot was cleared.
Roos also made a clawing save from Yang Hyun-jun off the line as the Hoops tried desperately to grab a lifeline.
The first-half came to a halt with Scales getting a head to a left-wing corner-kick from Araujo, but his attempt flew past the far post. He should have hit the target.
Unsurprisingly, O’Neill made changes at the interval with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sebastian Tounekti and Tomas Cvancara coming on for Hatate, Yang and Adamu.
BY THE LEFT…Benjamin Nygren lofts the equaliser past Killie keeper Kelle Roos.
Eleven minutes later, there was a quickfire reward when the champions pulled one back.
Tounekti, who scored a peach of a goal against Auchinleck Talbot at the same venue last month, staged an action replay with an breathtaking strike.
The Tunisian took a pass from Tierney wide on the left and teased his way past a challenge as he cut inside.
From 25 yards, the winger took aim and thundered an unstoppable drive high past Roos into the top left-hand corner of the goal.
In the 62nd minute, James Forrest came on for Maeda who had not been enjoying the best of afternoons.
The Hoops were going flat out for the equaliser and it arrived in the 64th minute – and gave Nygren his 16th goal of his debut campaign.
Araujo launched a throw-in from the right with the towering Cvancara menacing the Killie defenders at the near post.
There was a bit of ping-pong in the penalty box before the ball dropped the feet of the aware Swede who scooped the ball into the roof of the net from four yards.
With Killie reeling, Celtic went for the winner and Marcelo Saracchi came on for the tiring Tierney in the 78th minute.
The visitors had an escape when John-Jules struck the crossbar with a free-kick, but, at the other end, Tounekti headed wide after great service from Forrest.
Five minutes into added-on time, Oxlade-Chamberlain tried to emulate his winner against Livi, but on this occasion Roos got down well to save at his left-hand post.
THE MATCHWINNER… Julian Araujo bullets in Celtic’s point-clincher.
Two minutes later, Rugby Park was in a bedlam of joy as Araujo thumped in the points-clincher.
Credit must go to Cvancara who sent over a menacing low ball from the left into a crowded penalty area.
The Mexico international right-back materialised in a pocket of space and didn’t hesitate as he lashed the ball high into the net.
The place was in uproar as the on-loan Bournemouth defender raced into the crowd to celebrate.
Referee Duncan Nicolson was waiting to book him when he returned to the pitch.
Araujo didn’t seem to mind.
Neither did Martin O’Neill or thousands of cavorting Celtic fans.
TEAM: Schmeichel; Araujo, Trusty, Scales, Tierney (sub: Saracchi 78); Nygren, McGregor, Hatate (sub: Oxlade-Chamblerlain 46); Yang (sub: Tounekti 46), Adamu (sub: Cvancara 46), Maeda (sub: Forrest 62).
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