Celtic 2 - 2 Aberdeen

A magnificent game of football ended with Aberdeen recovering from 2-0 down at the break to take a draw at Celtic Park. Beyond the impressive result, there was so much to encourage the Red Army for the rest of the season, for the reigning champions were taken all the way to the end by a superb Aberdeen side.

Following the win over Hearts, the Dons named an unchanged side as they looked to add to their 100% start to the campaign. Peter Ambrose replaced James McGarry on the bench.

Celtic won 2-1 at Ross County before the break to maintain their own 100% start. They made one change, Kyogo Furuhashi replacing Adam Idah. 

It was a brisk, aggressive start from both sides, the Dons looking to break quickly when the opportunity presented itself. Scotland’s Nicky Devlin had to be aware after ten minutes to win a header at the far post to deny Maeda in Celtic’s first threatening move. 

A couple of minutes later, after beating Dimitar Mitov to the ball, Engels was forced wide but a curling effort clipped the top of the bar and bounced to safety, to the relief of the Dons. Engels was close again on the quarter hour, scuffing a shot wide when free in the middle of the area. And it was Engels again who was wide of the mark in the 18th minute as his cross-shot flashed through the area and beyond the far post.

McGregor took a turn in the 20th minute, driving forward before putting his shot over the bar from 25 yards out. Slobodan Rubezic then needed some treatment after having been all but knocked off his feet by a ferocious drive from Hatate that he headed clear. Fortunately, he was declared fit to continue. 

Hatate had the hosts in front on 24 minutes, a quick break the undoing of the Dons after they lost possession in the Celtic half. Kyogo was sent on the chase, collecting the ball near the by-line and then picking out the advancing Hatate with a precise pass, the Celtic man producing an accomplished finish on the run to give Mitov no chance of saving. 

It was 2-0 just three minutes later. Celtic broke down the left this time. Maeda’s cross was stopped by Gavin Molloy, but he didn’t get enough on his clearance and the ball fell perfectly for Hatate. His shot was blocked by Molloy but ran free to Kyogo who made no mistake from eight yards. 

Jack MacKenzie was in the referee’s notebook on the half hour for a foul on Kuhn as Celtic looked to ram home their advantage. 

Leighton Clarkson should have had the Dons back in the game on 35 minutes. He and Topi Keskinen broke forward and a Celtic tackle on the Finn saw the ball squirting to Clarkson. One on one against Schmeichel, Clarkson didn’t get enough of his effort at goal and while it rolled past the goalkeeper, there was ample time for Valle to clear. To add insult to injury, Clarkson was booked on 38 minutes for a minor transgression, then his direct free-kick from 35 yards out was comfortably dealt with by Schmeichel. 

Following a miscommunication at the back from Aberdeen, Celtic players were queuing up to score just before the break, the Dons defenders getting in a couple of crucial blocks, the attack eventually ending when Mitov made a good save from Johnston at the near post to turn the ball behind. 

HALF-TIME: CELTIC 2 ABERDEEN 0

Ester Sokler and Duk replaced Kevin Nisbet and Leighton Clarkson for Aberdeen at the break. Rubezic was booked in the opening minute of the half for a foul on Maeda amid a frenetic start to things.

The substitution provided a brilliant one, for Aberdeen were back in it on 50 minutes. A lovely pass from Jamie McGrath from just inside his own half split the Celtic defence, Sokler getting in behind Scales and taking one touch before sliding the ball precisely past Schmeichel to bring it back to 2-1. 

Duk was another Aberdeen man to go into the book for what looked a decent tackle on 56 minutes. Heltne Nilsen was a much more understandable booking a minute later. 

Kyogo very nearly had the Dons in trouble on 58 with some terrific close control but the red shirts eventually blocked him out, Rubezic with the crucial intervention. Aberdeen had a glorious chance on the break, Keskinen racing clear after dispossessing Johnston on halfway, but he went for goal rather than squaring it for Duk and Scales came across to clear.

But it was all square on the hour, a Shinnie drive from distance taking a deflection and flashing past Schmeichel. After Maeda lost possession on halfway, Aberdeen surged forward. Sokler collected the ball down the right and picked out Keskinen. He played it into McGrath and though he was falling away, he got enough on the ball to find Shinnie 19 yards out and the skipper’s shot had the Dons level. 

Celtic responded by bringing on Bernardo and Forrest for Hatate and Maeda after 65 minutes. Shayden Morris replaced Keskinen three minutes later. Sokler caused more problems immediately, bearing down on Schmeichel who made a complete mess of trying to clear, Scales eventually tidying things up for the hosts as the home crowd made their displeasure very clear. 

They were even less happy seconds later as Aberdeen seemingly went 3-2 up on 70 minutes. McGrath had the free-kick wide on the left, the ball travelling all the way to the back post where Rubezic got up to head the ball goalwards. It caught the back of Duk’s arm on the way through and into the Celtic net. VAR decided that despite Duk having his back to the action, he had handled the ball.

McGregor was booked moments later as the Celtic crowd were still roaring their relief at the VAR intervention. Idah replaced Kyogo on 74 minutes, then Engels made way for McCowan a couple of minutes later. After getting treatment for cramp, Heltne Nilsen was replaced by Ante Palaversa. 

Aberdeen weren’t far away on 85 minutes, McGrath playing another slide rule ball, this time to Duk. Johnston did enough to take it off his toe but it fell for Morris, his shot from just inside the area being blocked. The game swung up the other end, Mitov having to make a fine save from Forrest. 

Morris took a nasty fall on 87 minutes after he was pushed off the pitch by Valle and went flying into the advertising boards. No foul was given, Jimmy Thelin booked in the aftermath. 

Trusty missed a big chance in the 90th minute, getting in front of Mitov at a corner but from four yards he somehow put his header over the bar. Ten minutes of added time were then shown on the board. 

Forrest had an opportunity after 92 minutes, collecting a cross from Johnston before dragging the ball across the goal and wide of the far post. Celtic did have the ball in the net after a Dons clearance ballooned into the box, but Mitov was clearly pushed into the goal as he tried to save. Mitov then made another superb save off a deflection at his near post after Johnston slung in another dangerous cross that clipped an Aberdeen body on 97 minutes. 

In the 100th minute, McCowan won Celtic a free-kick on the very edge of the area. From just inside the left of the D, Idah’s effort was blocked over the bar by Rubezic. 

From the corner – we were now 13 minutes into added time – Mitov first made a magnificent point blank save from a header, then Duk made an equally brilliant block on the goal line, summing up the commitment, the determination and the brilliance of a wonderful Aberdeen display. And a VAR check later, that was that.

3 minutes added at end 1st half.
10+3 minutes added at end 2nd half.