Celtic 2-2 Aberdeen: Dons combat again for dramatic attract high of desk conflict

Aberdeen proved they’re prepared for a title combat as they got here from two targets 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 regarded to indicate they will compete with the most effective within the league.

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

Ester Solker got here off the bench to tug 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 high on purpose distinction.

Decided Dons preserve strain on Hoops

There was a concern this encounter wouldn’t stay as much as the pre-match hype with Aberdeen dealing with their largest take a look at to date beneath the brand new supervisor.

Celtic dominated the early phases 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 means and he despatched a low ball to Hatate to fireside into the nook from 12 yards.

With Parkhead rocking, the Dons had 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 examine for a doable penalty earlier than the break.

Slobodan Rubezic’s again move put Mitov in peril. 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 submit.

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

Sokler acquired on the top of an excellent by means of ball from Jamie McGrath and slotted dwelling with a VAR examine confirming the Dons man was onside.

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

Minutes later, the Dons had been stage.

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 purpose to be disallowed for handball following a VAR examine.

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 huge, and Auston Trusty headed dwelling 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 an excellent save from Idah’s header earlier than Duk cleared off the road from Johnston, with Nick Walsh’s full-time whistle spelling the top of a ensuing VAR examine for
handball.

Rodgers: Celtic had 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 had been simply careless within the recreation. We had been in a very good place within the first half. We had been 2-0 up and will have had extra targets, 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 had been only a bit passive and never aggressive sufficient, with the ball and with out the ball particularly.

“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 had been doing all the things to attain – the velocity of the sport was good and we ended up wth 32 makes an attempt at purpose however we could not get the winner. We should always have managed it higher.”

Thelin: An emotional recreation

Aberdeen supervisor Jimmy Thelin chatting with 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’ve got a tremendous squad and staff spirit. Now we 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 concentrate on the subsequent recreation. We do not concentrate on what occurred already or the long run. 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.”