BENJAMIN NYGREN could have had a hat-trick of headers before he eventually nodded in the one that mattered against Sturm Graz at Parkhead last night.
It was a hit-and-miss performance from the £1.7million Swede as Celtic created – and scorned – several gilt-edged opportunities in a hard-fought encounter against the tough Austrians.
The ground had been hushed – apart from the vociferous reaction from the noisy travelling fans – when the visitors took a 15th-minute lead through a scorching 30-yard drive from Tomi Horvat that hurtled over Kasper Schmeichel’s grasping fingers high into the keeper’s top right-hand corner.
PAIN GAME…Benjamin Nygren holds his head after a missed opportunity.
It was developing into another European night of pain and misery for the Hoops faithful, following three weeks after the 2-0 loss at home to Portugal’s Sporting Braga.
As well as Nygren passing up three chances, Johnny Kenny, who had replaced the hirpling Kelechi Iheanacho in only two minutes, wasted two and Reo Hatate blazed over from a great position shortly after the turnaround.
The Hoops were also without Alistair Johnston, whose comeback after 10 games out with a hamstring problem lasted a mere 25 minutes before Colby Donovan took over at right-back.
The pressure told on the hour mark when Liam Scales slotted away the equaliser and, four minutes later, Nygren flicked in a superb left-wing corner-kick from Arne Engels for the effort that eventually sealed the points.
Afterwards, the relieved Swede said: “It was a difficult start with two key players going off so early and going 1-0 down, but I think the team showed a very good mentality.
PAIN GAME…Johnny Kenny reacts to a scorned opportunity.
“We just kept on going and created chances and, thankfully, we got the two goals to win.”
Nygren, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “I had a lot of chances that I think I should have scored.
“But that’s how it is – you need to stay in the game and keep on going.
“In the end, I got us the goal to win the game, so I’m very pleased.”
Nygren’s strike against the Austrians was his fifth since arriving in the summer and he will be hoping to add to the tally when the champions square up to Hearts at Tynecastle on Sunday.
