Celtic started their Europea League campaign with a draw in an excellent game of football in Belgrade against Red Star. Despite Celtic controlling most of the possession during the first 45 minutes, it was the hosts who created the best chances – until added time before the break. Cameron Carter-Vickers broke free from his marker to get on the end of a Benjamin Nygren cross but could not turn his effort on target from 6 yards.
That chance seemed to ignite Celtic as they rolled over Red Star from the opening moment of the second half. An excellent move down the left saw Kieran Tierney cut the ball deep into the box for Nygren, but his shot went too close to the keeper. Moments later Kelechi Iheanacho must have thought he had opened the scoring with a close-range shot which again found the keeper.
The opener arrived on 55 minutes. Nygren collected the ball 45 yards from goal on the wing. He drove to the edge of the box, passed a defender with a step-over, before pinging a pass to Iheanacho. It was the best football played all night and a tier one assist. This is a player. Kelechi took a touch before despatching a left foot shot high into the net. Keeper Matheus got a hand to it but could not keep it out.
The lead was no more than Celtic deserved. Red Star rallied and equalised from a corner 10 minutes later, where they got the first three touches on the cross (sigh), culminating in Arnautovic knocking the ball home from 3 yards.
Celtic visibly tired as the game concluded and dropped deep to hold the line in the closing 10 minutes. Reo Hatate came in for some soft criticism on TV during the game, but it was when he wilted that Celtic found it difficult to build play. Still, Iheanacho had the best chance to win the game when again clean through, but his chip caught the keeper’s face. Whatever happened to him in Middlesborough, is no longer relevant.
In the old home and away double header days, we would have been happy with this result as Red Star looked like a team we would take at home. The manager seemed irked when questioned post-match about the search for an away win in Europe. It will be four years since our last non-qualification win on the road by the time we next play away. These games are significantly more taxing than anything we face domestically (which is a big part of the problem). Still, hope in our hearts, and all that? Belgrade is not Bergamo, no matter how long the tunnel.
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Oh misses a pen
oh shit…..
Oh dear
Cmon, who was it said we shouldn’t have sold Oh?
Oh what a diddy!
Oh looking like £2m player
I see big Oh is still mince.
I don’t care how much Stuttgart offered for Oh , he was shite for us and he’s shite tonight . As a stick to beat us with , it’s an extremely flimsy one .
He should have had a hatrick and maybe even and outside shout for four.
Good save but NOT a good penalty.
I think Genk will win, though.
Terrible penalty blasted it, good height for Butland just to his right, still a big raw laddie is Oh, hell knows why some team was going to buy him for 28m.
That Oh is an absolute disaster tonight.Missed an absolute sitter early on,now misses a penalty.Missed one across the face of the goal as well.H
Shocking.Huns down to 10 men as well.
Shocking.Never looked confident,but determined to take it.
Oh makes Idah look like a deadly finisher . Brutal
Wonder if Paul will be on tomorrow espousing the virtues of OH …..fkg Honking
Quite impressed with Genk. If they had a competent striker they could far in the competition.
Lynott67, I think you’ve taken that too far 😁
Stuttgart must be delighted Oh failed his medical
Timmy
I always thought Oh could be a decent player if properly coached.
His scoring rate per minute for us was phenomenal. Easily our best from anyone for a long time.
I certainly was happy he left and we got a few bob as he was never going to develop in our league.
That said he has looked really good in the Genk side who were 3rd last season behind USG and Brugge.
Tonight he has been very poor finishing but getting himself into better attacking positions than any of our guys 2 weeks ago.
Ryder Cup pairings about to be announced
Oh dear!
Can someone explain to me why some footballers do that silly wee dance before striking the penalty.
Stuggart should be awarding their medical team a very good pay rise.
Texastim,
So ,for telling the truth about our Boards pathetic half price offer for his player,the Go Ahead manager is a” Gob shite”.Is it any wonder our Board treat the fans with disdain.They read this Blog.
Oh ffs!
Misses again full stretch
Oh misses another. Brendans coaching is the problem.
Seems Oh has just scored. Good mhan.
Oh scores
Oh for goodness sake, what a player. We should re-sign him…🤣
Does Brendan get the credit for that one?
0-1 Oh at last
Love Oh lol
Oh is why no club should ever go all in on data.
Stupid Tnuc will now get a 2nd booking and get sent off.
Oh my God
Oh is an idiot.
I wonder if it’s a case of fewer huns walking away
or
More huns staying to boo ?
To be fair , that was a good goal from Oh .