THE Scottish champions went into this match against the English league leaders as clear underdogs, but Celtic deservedly gained a point against Manchester City in a wonderful football match at Parkhead last night.
The result coupled with Barcelona’s defeat of Borussia Moenchengladbach gives Celtic hope that they can make at least third place in Group C, even after the 7-0 drubbing by the Catalan giants a fortnight ago.
Perhaps it was the scale of the defeat but City came north clearly thinking they would stroll this one, and were soon put right on that score before a 60,000 crowd in full voice.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers decided to go with Moussa Dembele up front rather than top scorer Leigh Griffiths who started on the bench, and was immediately rewarded when the 20-year-old Frenchman opened the scoring after just three minutes.
In what was clearly a practised move off the training ground, Tom Rogic floated a free kick out to the right where the unattended James Forrest volleyed the ball across the six yard line to Erik Sviatchenko whose header seemed goalbound until Dembele stepped forward and made sure, directing the ball with his chest into the net.
For a few minutes, Celtic pummelled City, Kolo Toure forcing Claudio Bravo into a good save, but the four-times English champions came back with a fortunate goal. Aleks Kolarov’s shot was deflected to Fernandinho and the Brazilian scuffed the ball past Craig Gordon.
Celtic were not cowed at all, and bossed the midfield in particular. Rogic went close from 20 yards before the home side took the lead again after 20 minutes. Rogic found Kieran Tierney in space on the left and the Scotland international fired in a low shot which the backtracking Raheem Sterling deflected past his own goalkeeper.
Again Celtic could not preserve their lead for any more than nine minutes, Dembele fluffing possession and David Silva putting Sterling clear through the middle of a slow Celtic defence. With exquisite skill, Sterling turned and slid the ball past Gordon.
It was thrilling end-to-end stuff, a sumptuous feast of quality football.
Just as he did in the first half, Dembele started the second half with a bang. With just a minute played, City’s defence went to sleep as Tierney swung in a cross which Kolarov sclaffed, Dembele controlling the ball with his left thigh and whirling to acrobatically hook the ball home with his right.
Just as in the first half, City came roaring back. Gordon foiled Nolito and then kept out Ilkay Gundogan’s free kick, but when Sviatchenko’s pass was intercepted, City slickly moved the ball to Sergio Aguero who fired low only for Gordon to save, the ball unluckily breaking to Nolito who fired home a third equaliser. Rodgers sent on Stuart Armstrong for Rogic and later put loan player Patrick Roberts against his own club, and also Griffiths for Nir Bitton, but in truth it was all City in the latter stages as Celtic tired.
Sviatchenko managed to deflect Aguero’s header over, the Argentinian superstar having an otherwise quiet night. Celtic captain Scott Brown, who had been tireless, took a tough one from Fernandinho, but courageously played on.
The Brazilian fired high from 20 yards before Brown blocked Sterling at the back post. In the dying seconds, with Celtic under the cosh, Sterling picked out Gundogan whose shot was tipped over by Gordon.
In injury time City threatened again, but Celtic were not to be denied that precious point.
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