Bologna 2 – 2 Celtic

Celtic survived a Bologna fightback to take a vital point in their last Europa League match and keep their promotion hopes alive.

It was a dream start for the Hoops in Italy as Daizen Maeda pounced on a goalkeeping error to set up Rio Hatate for the early opener.

However, two quick yellow cards sent the goalscorer off as Celtic’s challenge intensified.

Aston Trusty was solid at the back as the Serie A side piled on the pressure, with the defender then doubling the lead just before the break.

It then sparked a flurry of attacks from the hosts and Thijs Dalinga and Jonathan Rowe brought the score back to 2-2.

Martin O’Neill’s side managed to hold on for a draw, though, which means a game against Utrecht at Parkhead next week remains.

Hoops hold for invaluable points

Hatta opened the scoring in the sixth minute after receiving a gift from Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski, who passed the ball straight to centre-forward Daizen Maeda. The Japanese forward slotted the ball into an empty net for his compatriot.

Skorupski partially redeemed himself moments later when he clawed Hyun-Joon Young’s shot over the bar after Hatat’s pass threatened to put Maeda behind. Liam Scales scrambled around the resulting corner of the house.

The game took a quick turn when Kasper Schmeichel made an early save from Nadir Zortia, while Celtic briefly went down to 10 men as Maeda suffered a contact lens problem.

The hosts kept the pressure on. Callum McGregor made a goal-saving challenge and Hattett’s slack play and Trusty provided a series of blocks and interventions in the penalty box.

Schmeichel headed in a corner that threatened to go straight in, and Juan Miranda’s first-time strike was well saved.

In the 34th minute he was booked for a foul on Lewis Ferguson before needlessly flicking a boot for catching Miranda as the pair chased a ball that was heading into the Bologna half. A red card followed and O’Neill also received a yellow card for his protest.

Celtic fans were celebrating again five minutes before the break as Trustee netted off the bar at the back post after Arne Engels headed in Kieran Tierney’s inswinging corner.

Tommaso Pobegar’s header was saved by Schmeichel and although Maeda went wide in the half, the second half quickly turned into a goal attack by the Danish.

Ferguson’s header and Niccolò Casal’s volley before Schmeichel blocked Benjamin Dominguez’s shot over the bar.

The pressure was lifted in the 58th minute when Colby Donovan headed home Jens Odgaard’s cross from six yards.

Maeda was now playing as a complementary wing-back as Celtic defended, but the pressure was relentless. The equaliser occurred in the 72nd minute when former Norwich winger Rowe reached the edge of the box, and his shot eluded substitute Benjamin Nygren before getting past a struggling Schmeichel and into the roof of the net.

Celtic came out of their shell and had a chance to grab an unlikely win. Substitute Jonny Kenny forced a save and was able to play Maeda on the counter-attack when Liam Scales had a looping header.

There were chances for the hosts too and Schmeichel saved from Riccardo Orsolini and Niccolo Cambiaghi.

‘awesome’

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill:

“The bye had a big impact on the game. We believed that we played well, appeared to be a strong team, and executed our strategies effectively.

“I saw [the red card] Back, holding the boy’s leg, should have been more careful. Obviously, put us on the back foot and we spent a lot of time defending.

“The effort, the determination, defending the penalty box, the way we did it, was really outstanding.

“Bologna are a very good side, looking for three points tonight to get into the top eight. For us, a different pattern because of the previous results but what we did was give ourselves a chance to qualify. From that point of view, I’m delighted.

“My view is that if we had stayed with 11 men, we would have won the game.”

Of the Auston trustee’s performance, O’Neill added, “The trustee was fantastic, absolutely brilliant, as he’s been here in my time and I’m sure before him.

“Couldn’t praise him any more. Absolutely fantastic as a team. He and Liam Scales were really great as a defensive duo for me when I came here. My expectations are really high.”

O’Neill restored Celtic faith

Sky Sports’ Adam Bate at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara:

“What a game. Celtic can’t take it two points down because of the circumstances. Bologna threw everything at them, but they defended themselves so resiliently— the faithful, in particular, were brilliant.

“O’Neill has infused these players with such belief, it’s hard to believe that this is the same team that collapsed so long ago. They now have a real chance of getting to the knockout stages of the Europa League.

“Obviously, this game will take a lot out of them ahead of that key clash with Hearts at the weekend. But try telling that to the Celtic fans in this stadium right now.”

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