Celtic 2 – 2 Aberdeen

Aberdeen proved they’re prepared for a title struggle as they got here from two objectives all the way down to earn a dramatic 2-2 draw with Celtic.

With each groups but to drop some extent this season there was nice anticipation at Parkhead as Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin seemed to point out they’ll compete with one of the best within the league.

However some poor Dons defending handed Celtic a two-goal lead by way of Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi because the champions confirmed their intent.

Ester Solker got here off the bench to drag the guests again into it after the break with Graeme Shinnie levelling the enthralling encounter.

It was then the guests who thought that they had taken the lead however VAR confirmed Duk had handballed Slobodan Rubezic’s header into the web.

Celtic had late possibilities with Adam Idah’s stoppage-time header dominated out for a foul as Aberdeen held on to stay unbeaten and solely trailing Brendan Rodgers’ facet on the prime on objective distinction.

Decided Dons keep strain on Hoops

There was a worry this encounter wouldn’t stay as much as the pre-match hype with Aberdeen dealing with their largest check up to now underneath the brand new supervisor.

Celtic dominated the early levels and Arne Engles nearly capitalised on Dimitar Mitov’s mistake early on when he beat the goalkeeper to his personal clearance solely to smash his shot off the bar.

After Callum McGregor despatched a long-range strike over, the Belgian despatched Kyogo on his approach and he despatched a low ball to Hatate to fireside into the nook from 12 yards.

With Parkhead rocking, the Dons have been rattled.

Gavin Molloy tried to intercept Daizen Maeda’s low cross however despatched it straight into the trail of Hatate.

The Dons defender did handle to dam the midfielder’s shot, however Kyogo pounced for Celtic’s second.

Leighton Clarkson ought to have pulled one again for the guests when he discovered himself one-on-one with Kasper Schmeichel, however he despatched his shot off the Celtic keeper and Alex Valle was there to clear.

Minutes later he despatched a 25-yard free-kick into the goalkeeper’s arms.

Aberdeen survived some extra poor defending and a VAR test for a attainable penalty earlier than the break.

Slobodan Rubezic’s again move put Mitov at risk. Hatate then pounced on his tried clearance and located Nicolas Kuhn.

His shot was finally cleared with the keeper then managing to disclaim Alistair Johnston on the close to publish.

Thelin changed Clarkson and Kevin Nisbet with Ester Sokler and Duk at half-time and the change made an nearly prompt influence.

Sokler bought on the tip of a superb by way of ball from Jamie McGrath and slotted residence with a VAR test confirming the Dons man was onside.

The objective energised Aberdeen as they handled any hazard from Celtic whereas Liam Scales managed to clear the ball as Sokler seemed for a second.

Minutes later, the Dons have been degree.

After a sweeping counter-attack, McGrath laid the ball again into the trail of Shinnie and the captain’s shot from 18 yards was deflected previous Schmeichel.

It was then Rodgers’ flip to look to his bench as he introduced on James Forrest and Paulo Bernardo for Maeda and Hatate.

However there was extra drama as Duk thought he had put the Dons forward just for his objective to be disallowed for handball following a VAR test.

It was a wake-up name for Celtic and with 10 minutes of stoppage time left, they pushed for a 3rd.

Mitov denied Forrest, who additionally dragged a shot broad, and Auston Trusty headed residence from shut
vary throughout greater than 10 minutes of stoppage time however Johnston was penalised for pushing Mitov.

There was additional drama proper on the dying when Mitov made a superb save from Idah’s header earlier than Duk cleared off the road from Johnston, with Nick Walsh’s full-time whistle spelling the tip of a ensuing VAR test for
handball.

Rodgers: Celtic have been careless

Celtic supervisor Brendan Rodgers to Sky Sports activities Information:

“I’m obviously frustrated with a point. When you play at Celtic Park and when you draw it always feels like a defeat.

“We have been simply careless within the recreation. We have been in a extremely good place within the first half. We have been 2-0 up and will have had extra objectives, did not fairly take the alternatives after which there was a 10-minute interval within the second half between the fiftieth and sixtieth minute the place we have been only a bit passive and never aggressive sufficient, with the ball and with out the ball specifically.

“If you do that against good teams they can can punish you. They score the first goal then we were careless with the second one, we gave the ball away in a really bad area and then they had their tails up at 2-2.

“That ignited us once more after which within the final 25 minutes we have been doing the whole lot to attain – the pace of the sport was good and we ended up wth 32 makes an attempt at objective however we could not get the winner. We must always have managed it higher.”

Thelin: An emotional recreation

Aberdeen supervisor Jimmy Thelin talking to Sky Sports activities Information:

“It was a really emotional game. We said at half-time, we have to calm down a little and come back to our strategy. We needed to find a way and to do that was to be a little more true to ourselves.

“I believe we now have an incredible squad and group spirit. We now have had some late winners this season, displaying our never-give-in mentality.

“These games are important and difficult. They are going to test us in every area of our game. The most important thing is that we stick together inside games and find ways to perform well. I’m happy with that.

“We solely deal with the following recreation. We do not deal with what occurred already or the longer term. We now refocus our power for the sport in opposition to Dundee United at Pittodrie.

“This support, we need it every game. We may have hard times and also good times. Togetherness is the most important thing.”

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