Celtic vs Besiktas. UEFA Europa League. Report as Celtic secure their first Europa League win; Junior Olaitan put the visitors ahead from the spot after a needless challenge from Jordan Lotomba; substitute Callum Osmand equalised with his first touch; Camilo Duran scored either side of Orkun Kokcu’s strike to secure the points Martin O’Neill’s inspired substitutions saw Celtic come from behind to breathe life into their Europa League campaign with a much-needed 3-2 home victory over Besiktas. Junior Olaitan’s goal – a rebound after Sam Johnstone saved his penalty – looked like condemning Celtic to a fifth consecutive European defeat for the first time in the club’s history.
But the introduction of Callum Osmand, Camilo Duran and Colby Donovan just after the hour was a masterstroke from O’Neill. Osmand fired in the equaliser with his first touch before setting up Duran to round the goalkeeper and put the Hoops ahead. With five minutes left, Celtic suffered a major blow as Orkun Kokcu came on for Besiktas to fire into the bottom corner from 25 yards. But Duran was not done.
He picked up the ball from Kieran Tierney and poked it into the net two minutes later to restore the Hoops’ lead. Celtic remain in the bottom 12 of the Europa League table, but, with four games left, they still have a chance of reaching the knockout stages. Remember, remember the fifth of November? It is a night the Celtic fans are unlikely to forget. 8: CHANCE!
Some brilliant play from Celtic, all starting from Sebastian Tounekti. He eventually crosses the ball into the box for Benjamin Nygren, who sends it wide. 11: BLOCK! Cameron Carter-Vickers recovers to stop Leandro Trossard from getting a shot away for the visitors. 26: CHANCE! Kasper Hogh is waiting in the box for Tounekti’s cross, but it is diverted out for a corner. 50: SAVE!
James Forrest with the first shot on target! He picks the ball up out wide and drives into the box. He fires low towards Alexander Nubel, who gets down to save. 52: PENALTY TO BESIKTAS! Jordan Lotomba lunges in for a needless challenge on Ernest Poku, and the referee points to the spot. 54: GOAL BESIKTAS!
Johnstone pushes Olaitan’s spot-kick back out, but he taps in the rebound. 59: CHANCE! Lotomba runs all the way from his own half to the Besiktas box but cannot get a shot away. 65: GOAL CELTIC! Osmand makes an immediate impact, firing into the net with his first touch. 67: SAVE! Liam Scales’ deflected header is pushed over the bar by Nubel. 79: GOAL CELTIC!
Duran collects the pass from Osmand, rounds the ‘keeper and fires Celtic in front. 85: GOAL BESIKTAS! Kokcu takes aim from around 25 yards and his strike finds the bottom corner. 87: GOAL CELTIC! Duran picks up the ball from Tierney, takes his time and pokes the ball into the net. The hosts are back in front.
Sky Sports’ Gordon Duncan at Celtic Park: “You have to wonder where that second-half performance has been for the last two months. “Quality, desire, running power – all of the things the team’s been accused of lacking recently were there. “It’s hard to overstate just how difference-making the substitutes were. “Two goals for Camilo Duran and a goal and an assist for Callum Osmand.
Inspired changes or the wrong team to begin with? “A discussion for another day, perhaps. It’s all about a Europa League campaign possibly back on track and a big lift in the general mood around the club.” “We’ve given ourselves a chance because of the result. “The game was pretty difficult but we came through it, we came through it with flying colours.
I just said to the team, they were a credit to the football club and you can’t get a bigger accolade than that. “We were doing fine after the penalty goes in, but we came roaring back and the substitutes made a big, big difference as well too, got a lot of pace up front, but I was just delighted with the whole team. “It might just give us a platform to charge on. It’s not going to be easy, but this definitely gives us a chance.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player “A terrific win, in every aspect. I thought we played some really lovely stuff as well too, and they are a very fine side. “The character shone through big time. “Some of these lads who have been at the football club for some time, who have been big winners, I thought they came to the fore, and also some of the lads who joined us, big performances.
“It’s hard to single people out, Tierney was fantastic for us, back four did really well, Colby coming on to a game as well too, he’s got a massive heart, and wee Mika Baur was magnificent for us in the middle of the pitch. “You have to find the net, and we did that, Callum comes on, first touch, puts the ball in the net, that’s really difficult. “Duran who’s been fabulous for us the whole season, regardless of where he plays.” Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1m! Enter for free.
