Scottish Premiership
Sunday, October 25, 2020
Pittodrie, Aberdeen

ABERDEEN…3
(Ferguson 45, 90, Hedges 65)

CELTIC…3
(McGregor 52, Griffiths 76, Christie 78)

CELTIC could only take a point away from their trip to Pittodrie following a 3-3 draw with Aberdeen. Celtic twice came from behind but a stoppage-time penalty allowed the home side to draw level right at the death.

Lewis Ferguson’s first-half penalty gave the Dons the lead at the break but Callum McGregor equalised early in the second half. Ryan Hedges bundled in Aberdeen’s second but substitute Leigh Griffiths scored a fantastic goal to make it 2-2. Ryan Christie put the Hoops ahead from the penalty spot and Ferguson followed suit for his team in added time.

Celtic started with a good tempo and pressured the Aberdeen full-backs in the wide areas but chances were at a premium in the early stages.

Olivier Ntcham had the first real sight on goal and gave Joe Lewis a scare with his powerful shot from 30-yards that clipped the outside of the post.

Christie came close to scoring after a quick turn inside the box opened up enough space for him to get a shot off but Jonny Hayes managed to block the ball on its path towards goal.

Celtic increased the pressure as the first half wore on and looked increasingly likely to score. On the half-hour mark, Christie curled a good cross in towards the back post but it was just out of reach for Albian Ajeti.

Aberdeen were fortunate not to concede from a quick Celtic break after Christie released Mohamed Elyounoussi down the left channel with an excellent through ball. The Norwegian drilled a cross into the box, finding Rogic but the Dons intercepted his pass to Ajeti who was readying a shot 10-yards from goal.

The home side hadn’t tested Scott Bain in for almost the entirety of the first half but Ferguson was brought down by Ntcham inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot. The Dons midfielder converted the penalty in the 45th minute to give his side the lead going into the break.

Celtic came out for the second half in full flight as they set about their opponents in search of an equaliser. It didn’t take long for the goal to come thanks to some wonderful individual play for stand-in captain Callum McGregor who started and finished the move.

The midfielder received Frimpongs throw-in 35 yards from goal ad quickly burst forward, dribbling beyond one challenge before linking up with Rogic. The Australian played a perfectly weighted return pass into the box and McGregor cut inside and tucked the ball under Lewis in the Aberdeen goal.

Celtic maintained their pressure on their opponents following the goal but it was Aberdeen who scored the next goal. Shane Duffy’s clearance was closed down by Scott Wright down the left-hand side. He quickly fed the ball to Sam Cosgrove inside the box who had time to turn and shoot. Bain saved the shot but Hedges rushed in to tuck the ball over the line.

Neil Lennon responded to the goal by bringing Scott Brown on for Ntcham and replacing Ajeti with Griffiths. Celtic continued to push for another goal and it almost came when Christie got on the end of Rogic’s out-swinging cross into the box. He poked the ball goalward but it was directly into the hands of the keeper.

Griffiths’s introduction proved to be a crucial change with the 30-year-old drawing Celtic level with less than 15 minutes to go. Rogic rolled the ball to the feet of his team-mate and Griffiths’ touch took him away from Ash Taylor, giving him the space to lash the ball into the far corner with a wonderful left-footed strike.

With the momentum behind them, Celtic kept their foot down and took the lead for the first time in the game just two minutes after Griffiths’ crucial equaliser.

A quick break away from the champions saw Mohamed Elyounoussi get in front of Tommie Hoban and the Dons defender sent Elyounoussi sprawling on the turf with a clumsy challenge. Christie stepped up and sent Lewis the wrong way to put the champions in front.

It looked as if Celtic would deservedly take all three points, however the Hoops were dealt a blow in injury time when Connor McLennan had his leg swiped away by Callum McGregor. The ball broke to Sam Cosgrove, who rifled a shot against the crossbar before the referee awarded the spot-kick.

Ferguson slotted the ball to Bain’s left-hand side to make it 3-3 and the final whistle blew moments later to conclude the game.

Celtic: Bain; Duffy, Ajeti (Griffiths 68), Christie, Rogic (Turnbull 84), Ntcham (Brown 69), Elyounoussi, Frimpong, Ajer, McGregor, Laxalt
Subs: Hazard, Taylor, Klimala, Soro, Ralston, Welsh.

Aberdeen: Lewis, Hoban, Taylor, Considine, Hedges, Ferguson, McCrorie, McGeouch (McLennan 27), Hayes, Watkins (Wright 56), Edmondson (Cosgrove 58)
Subs: Woods, Logan, Ojo, McGinn, Leigh, Kennedy.

Late equaliser denies Celtic a win against Aberdeen