WILLIAM AMORIM’S LATE goal means Celtic will have to wait to book their place in the Europa League knockout stage after drawing with Astra Giurgiu in Romania.
Stefan Johansen put the Scottish giants in front on 32 minutes when he followed up on a blocked Charlie Mulgrew free-kick to rifle a stunning shot into the top corner from 25 yards.
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But Celtic could not hold on as substitute Amorim curled a superb equaliser beyond a flailing Craig Gordon to claim Astra’s first point in this season’s Europa League, despite Vincent Laban’s late red card.
The match was indeed in danger of being suspended until Friday morning due to the dreadful visibility in Romania, but went ahead and Ronny Deila’s men let their lead slip despite dictating much of the play.
Conditions seemingly had a significant impact on proceedings during the early exchanges, with both sides struggling to craft anything of note.
But things began to liven up in the 19th minute, as the dangerous Johansen forced Silviu Lung into a fine save from Emilio Izaguirre’s low cross.
Astra almost made Celtic pay for that miss as Seidu Yahaya tested Craig Gordon from 25 yards, but it was Celtic who eventually found the breakthrough with 32 minutes gone.
Charlie Mulgrew saw his initial free-kick blocked by the wall, but there was no stopping Johansen’s subsequent effort, as his driven half-volley took a deflection and ended up in the top-left corner.
Astra responded quite well at the start of the second half as Constantin Budescu blazed Gabriel Enache’s cross well over, but they rarely looked like kick on from there, with Celtic generally in control.
Astra defied the odds, though, and half-time substitute William salvaged a point with 11 minutes to go, shooting across goal and finding the top-right corner in spectacular fashion.
https://vine.co/v/Oev1xPP5hDl
Celtic were handed a late lifeline as Laban earned a red card for a ludicrous challenge on Mulgrew, but there was to be no last-gasp winner.
Celtic held in Romania after game gets go-ahead despite thick fog
Astra Giurgiu 1-1 Celtic
WILLIAM AMORIM’S LATE goal means Celtic will have to wait to book their place in the Europa League knockout stage after drawing with Astra Giurgiu in Romania.
Stefan Johansen put the Scottish giants in front on 32 minutes when he followed up on a blocked Charlie Mulgrew free-kick to rifle a stunning shot into the top corner from 25 yards.
But Celtic could not hold on as substitute Amorim curled a superb equaliser beyond a flailing Craig Gordon to claim Astra’s first point in this season’s Europa League, despite Vincent Laban’s late red card.
The match was indeed in danger of being suspended until Friday morning due to the dreadful visibility in Romania, but went ahead and Ronny Deila’s men let their lead slip despite dictating much of the play.
Conditions seemingly had a significant impact on proceedings during the early exchanges, with both sides struggling to craft anything of note.
But things began to liven up in the 19th minute, as the dangerous Johansen forced Silviu Lung into a fine save from Emilio Izaguirre’s low cross.
Astra almost made Celtic pay for that miss as Seidu Yahaya tested Craig Gordon from 25 yards, but it was Celtic who eventually found the breakthrough with 32 minutes gone.
Charlie Mulgrew saw his initial free-kick blocked by the wall, but there was no stopping Johansen’s subsequent effort, as his driven half-volley took a deflection and ended up in the top-left corner.
Astra responded quite well at the start of the second half as Constantin Budescu blazed Gabriel Enache’s cross well over, but they rarely looked like kick on from there, with Celtic generally in control.
Astra defied the odds, though, and half-time substitute William salvaged a point with 11 minutes to go, shooting across goal and finding the top-right corner in spectacular fashion.
https://vine.co/v/Oev1xPP5hDl
Celtic were handed a late lifeline as Laban earned a red card for a ludicrous challenge on Mulgrew, but there was to be no last-gasp winner.
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UEFA Europa League Hoops Poor visibility Astra Giurgiu Celtic