LEGENDARY Aberdeen manager Sir Alex Ferguson watched his old club stage a stunning second half fightback against Celtic at Parkhead and earn a draw which keeps them level on points with their opponents at the top of the William Hill Premiership table this afternoon.
Brendan Rodgers’ side took a two goal lead in the first half thanks to strikes from their Japanese duo Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi and looked to be heading for a comfortable victory.
However, Jimmy Thelin’s team - who had, like their rivals, won all seven of their league outings before this encounter - drew level after half-time thanks to an Ester Sokler effort and a deflected Graeme Shinnie attempt.
Their supporters thought that Duk had put them 3-2 ahead at a Jamie McGrath free-kick only for VAR to spot there had been a handball in the build-up. Their counterparts were devastated when an Adam Idah header was chalked off in injury-time.
There was incredible drama at the death – in the 101st minute of the game – when Dimitar Mitov saved an Idah header and then Duk cleared an Alistair Johnston shot off the line. Appeals for a penalty kick were then waved away.
This impressive performance and deserved result show that Aberdeen have what it takes to compete with the defending champions - and possibly even challenge for their first title since the one that Ferguson oversaw in 1985.
Here are five things we learned from a tremendous top-of-the-table tussle in the East End of Glasgow this afternoon.
Never-say-die Dons
Thelin stuck with the same side which had overcome Hearts 3-2 at home in their previous outing before the international break.
Shinnie, the visitors’ captain, showed that he and his team mates meant business after little over a minute when he put in a meaty challenge, as is his wont, on Alex Valle which left his rival writing in agony on the turf and angered the home supporters.
Nick Walsh, though, allowed play to continue. The referee was also unimpressed when the travelling fans protested after a Johnston barge on Aberdeen left-back Jack McKenzie soon after that. Those decisions very much set the tone for proceedings.
The early exchanges were understandably tense and cagey. Celtic probed tentatively for an opening in the final third, Aberdeen contained them effectively without offering anything going forward. But it did not take long for the hosts to wear down their stubborn resistance and forge two in front.
Leighton Clarkson had an opportunity to pull one back for his team when the ball broke to him in space on the edge of the penalty box. He only had Kasper Schmeichel to beat and duly did so. However, his attempt lacked power and Valle diverted the ball out for a corner.
When Thelin replaced Kevin Nisbet and Clarkson with Duk and Sokler at the start of the second half it showed what he had thought of his charges’ toothless showing during the opening 45 minutes.
His double change had the desired effect. Sokler started the comeback for his team when he got on the end of an exquisite through ball from McGrath which eluded Liam Scales and slotted beyond Schmeichel. His strike was allowed to stand following a VAR check for offside. Shinnie levelled to ultimately secure a merited point.
Engels class
Arne Engels offered a reminder that he is, despite being Celtic’s most expensive signing, still just 21 in the narrow win over Ross County in Dingwall a fortnight ago. He struggled to make an impact on the game and was replaced after an hour.
The Belgian internationalist, though, helped his side to assert their superiority over Aberdeen and take control in the opening 45 minutes this afternoon.
The midfielder nearly broke the deadlock when he pinched the ball off of goalkeeper Mitov and struck the crossbar with an ambitious long range effort from a tight angle.
Engels turned a Valle cutback just past the right post and fired wide of the left upright as the league leaders intensified the pressure. He was, too, involved in the opener. He sent Furuhashi racing down the right wing with a perfectly weighted pass and the striker centred to Hatate who buried a first-time volley.
Engels tired as the game wore on an was replaced by Luke McCowan. He will, like every Celtic player, be keen to give a far better account of himself against Atalanta in Italy in midweek than he did against Borussia Dortmund in Germany now. If he continues in this vein then he has a chance of doing so.
Top trio
Where would Celtic be without their Japanese triumvirate of Furuhashi, Hatate and Daizen Maeda? The first two combined to put them ahead and all three were involved three minutes later when they doubled their advantage.
Maeda cut in from the left touchline and squared into the area. Gavin Molloy intercepted and attempted to clear to danger only to gift Hatate a chance. The defender blocked his effort with what looked suspiciously like a handball. But Furuhashi pounced anyway and took his tally for the 2024/25 campaign to five.
This was a desperately disappointing afternoon for the Scottish champions. Rodgers had warned that they would not be at their very best at his pre-match press conference and he was proved correct. But he has three of the players his predecessor Ange Postecoglou brought in to thank for ensuring a loss was avoided.
VAR spot on
The match officials were always going to be called on to make some big decisions during the course of this 90 minutes. But Walsh and his VAR colleague Greg Aitken got the key rulings right.
They angered Celtic fans when they allowed the Sokler goal to stand and incensed Aberdeen supporters when the Duk effort was chalked off. But they were spot on. This was another example of the positive impact which modern technology has had on the Scottish game.
Aberdeen the real deal
Never mind asking if Aberdeen can challenge Rangers for second spot in the Premiership and a place in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League next term in the coming months.
This display highlighted they are a real force to be reckoned with in the Scottish game under their Swedish coach and can maintain their stunning start to the season.
It was suggested by cynics that they had not been seriously tested during their 13 match winning run. Well, they were tested this afternoon and they passed with flying colours.
Fergie would have been proud.
