Ange Postecoglou always knew it would be tough graft at the Champions League coal face. But his young stars have untapped reserves of talent.
And after digging in to dominate the miners of Shakhtar Donetsk, there are clear signs something positive can be carved out of Group F. Postecoglou’s men are up and running in the section with a point after a strong show in Warsaw. But it should have been all three with the Hoops missing several chances.
New to the environment, they looked totally at ease. The only disappointment from the display was a failure to get the win they merited. Having bossed the contest from almost start to finish and taken the lead through a Reo Hatate -induced own goal, they were made to pay for one slack period before half-time when an equaliser was conceded. Shakhtar’s £30million-rated superkid Mykhaylo Mudryk raced into the box and blasted past Joe Hart. It was a ruthless setback and such a tough pill to swallow for Postecoglou. At full-time, it must have felt sore.
A huge opportunity to win was not taken. A rake of chances created on top of the goal and gilt-edged openings missed at the finale by subs Giorgos Giakoumakis and Daizen Maeda.
While the defeat to Real Madrid in their opening game brought a host of plaudits and praise, this was about points to take back to Parkhead. Something tangible from the type of contest and opposition where Postecoglou’s team are realistically looking to make inroads.
Shakhtar are potential spoilers of the section. Their 4-1 humbling of RB Leipzig in Germany on Matchday One singled them out as a danger. But Celtic had every answer to them. There was so much to like and in the cold light of day, it’s a Champions League point away from home.
Again, it’s progress. Real signs. The fact the players left the stage looking disappointed they hadn’t won told you the story because they would have deserved it.
Barring that 15-minute period leading to half-time, the game belonged to them. Celtic were on it from the outset. Just as they had done against Real in the opener, they started with purpose and fire.
They worked their hosts from the off with Matt O’Riley setting the tone by pouncing on slackness and feeding Kyogo Furuhashi for a strike that keeper Anatoliy Trubin saved with his legs. Sead Haksabanovic helped set up Greg Taylor for a cross-shot that whizzed just wide of the target and O’Riley also headed a Jota cross into the arms of Trubin.
Haksabanovic was the surprise in the starting line-up. Although Kyogo’s return at the expense of Giakoumakis was expected, the 23-year-old’s inclusion ahead of Liel Abada and Maeda was more of an eye-opener.
The Montenegrin soon proved that call bang on as he created an opener with just 11 minutes on the clock. Josip Juranovic set the play in motion with a long crossfield hit which suddenly caught over-committed Shakhtar short of numbers as Haksabanovic advanced.
Hatate made a supporting run and when the pass was rolled into his path, the Japanese knocked it goalwards. Defender Artem Bondarenko got a touch on it as it went past Trubin and Kyogo left it to roll into the empty net.
It was a priceless start for the Hoops and they were at it. Kyogo closed down Trubin and almost blocked his pass out from right on the goalline and, while Shakhtar had fleeting moments through the opening quarter, Postecoglou’s team carried the menace.
Hatate and O’Riley sprung Haksabanovic, who was having a real influence, to strike a shot into Trubin’s clutches with Kyogo lurking. Moritz Jenz then fired a strike which Trubin saved with his legs and, approaching half-an-hour, it couldn’t have been going much better. However, Shakhtar had shown against Leipzig their lethal ability on the counter and they did so again to equalise with their first real attack.
Mudryk was set free around the back of Juranovic and there was an inevitability about his composed and lifted finish which beat Hart and crashed into the roof of the net. It was a sucker punch and, for a short spell, Celtic wobbled.
Marian Shved had the ball in the net moments after the leveller only for the officials to rule out the effort for the ball being out of play, then had another curler pushed away by Hart. Postecoglou’s men needed to reassert themselves after the interval. They did – and more.
Celtic dominated completely and should have won. Maeda replaced Haksabanovic for the restart and, with Jota switching sides, he had another couple of strikes blocked upon resumption. Jota had really upped his tempo and a dazzling 45-yard run eluding a clutch of defenders ended with a shot from inside the box deflected over.
Entering the final half hour, Celtic gave everything to win it. O’Riley had a couple of efforts from the edge of the box before making way for David Turnbull, who immediately fired just over before Jota embarked on an another mazy into the box but again his effort was blocked.
Celtic kept pushing but a winner just wouldn’t come. Giakoumakis’ flick on for Maeda saw the Japanese star’s overhead kick deflected behind before the pair both blew opportunities to win it late on.
First, the Greek swivelled and drove just wide then Maeda couldn’t direct Juranovic’s angled centre on target. There was still time for a bundled Giakoumakis effort to be hoofed off the line.
So near yet so far but progress nonetheless.
