First came the plaudits. Then came the point. Celtic got their Champions League campaign properly up and running in Warsaw on Wednesday night with a draw against Shakhtar Donetsk. But it could and, in truth, should have been more.
This was no pure inventive football that won Ange Postecoglou's side admirers around the world after their fabulous first half against Real Madrid. Instead, it was a display that put them in the debit ledger, something more tangible and crucial if they are to have any hope of qualifying from Group F. But there will still be a sense of what might have been, given the wealth of chances Celtic carved open against the Ukrainians. An own goal put the Hoops ahead before Mykhaylo Mudryk levelled, both coming in the first half.
After less than 11 minutes, Celtic were ahead. Josip Juranovic hit a raking long ball to Sead Haksabanovic who then nudged it on to Hatate, with the midfielder exploding into the box. His shot-cum-cross befuddled everyone and crept over the line. Simples. Shakhtar were stunned. Celtic were celebrating. It was later given as an own goal to Hatem Bondarenko. Try telling Hatate that, though.
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But despite a number of chances created – the Premiership champions could have been 3-0 up – it was Shakhtar's turn to silence Celtic. Mudryk raced down the right before rifling home a unsaveable shot above Hart and into the net.
The scoreline was harsh on Celtic but it would have been an injustice had the next passage of play been allowed. The ball was out of play when Mudryck pulled it back for Marian Shved to hammer into the net. The goal was ruled out but suddenly Celtic were sweating. The balance of play had shifted faster than an energy bill increase. Now the heat was on the visitors, the home side were in the ascendancy. They were the ones looking down on the opposition. Postecoglou's side would have been glad to go in at the break still level.
And so the second half came. Postecoglou made a change, with Daizen Maeda coming on for Haksabanovic whose full debut lasted just 45 minutes. Celtic again raced out of the traps, with Jota so nearly netting but Anatoliy Trubin kept it out. The Portuguese created mayhem in the Shakhtar defence again just 10 minutes later with with a lung-bursting run. But he didn't quite know when to pull the trigger and the chance was gone.
Matt O'Riley was next to try his luck, thumping a sidefooted shot towards goal that Trubin was again equal to. Enough was enough, though, Postecoglou rang the changes. Off went O'Riley, Kyogo Furuhashi and Hatate. On came Giorgos Giakoumakis, David Turnbull and Aaron Mooy.
Minutes later, Jota won the ball outside the box, weaved around player after player but again he couldn't get his shot away at the perfect moment. Cue Postecoglou's head in his hands. Maeda then almost made an impact but his overhead kick snaked wide after bouncing off the bonce of a Shakhtar defender with just 10 minutes left on the clock. Then another one of the subs nearly bulged the net, this time Giakoumakis firing just wide after a neat touch.
That wasn't the end of it, though. Maeda failed to hit home after a delicious cross from Juranovic from the right. Honour even. On to matchday three.
Early risers
Honestly, Celtic are so quick out the blocks they might leave Usain Bolt standing. With just a matter if seconds gone, Kyogo could have taken the lead. Just as they did against Real Madrid, Celtic were straight away taking the game to the opposition. It's what they do. But Shakhtar's keeper Anatoliy Trubin stuck out a leg to deny the Japanese star's shot at goal. The early onslaught didn't stop there, though, Greg Taylor's ball getting lashed across the box but there were no takers. It's not so much a whirlwind start but a full-blown hurricane. Sam with the beginnings of the second half. Hold on to your hats.
Iffy at the back?
For all the praise Celtic receive going forward, there are frailties at the back. Sure, the old mantra of "you score two, we'll score three" is admirable but that nirvana is not always reached. Let's be frank, Celtic can at times be got at – and they were in Warsaw. Yes it was a classic counter-attack but the backline should not have been caught so unaware. Joe Hart, Callum McGregor and Juranovic were all culpable. Even against such limp opposition as Rangers in the derby destruction, there were moments of unnecessary panic.
Silent majority
There was so much will-there-will-be-a-minute's-silence for the Queen or not pre-match. UEFA had originally said there should be an observance of one for all UK teams but that wasn't the message from their delegate in Warsaw on Tuesday night. Whatever, there wasn't one in the end up and, to be honest, you can understand why. After all, thousands have died because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Honouring the Queen at a place like this with the whole of Ukraine watching somehow wouldn't have felt right.
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