Celtic were left to rue a host of missed chances as Ange Postecoglou’s side drew 1-1 with Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League group stage in Warsaw on Wednesday.
Artem Bondarenko’s own goal gave Celtic an early lead in Shakhtar’s temporary home in the Polish capital, but Mykhailo Mudryk equalised with a thumping finish after running in behind the visitors’ defence.
The Scottish champions forced Shakhtar goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin into a series of saves and spurned late chances as they had to settle for a point, their first in the competition since their last appearance in 2017-18.
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“Obviously we need that second goal and we had good chances to get it, but from my perspective I can’t ask any more of them,” said Postecoglou.
“We’ll get our rewards if we keep playing that kind of football and showing that kind of commitment.”
“More significant than the point was the performance,” he added.
After paying the price for not capitalising on a strong start in last week’s 3-0 loss to Real Madrid, Celtic threatened with just a minute gone in Warsaw, where Shakhtar are playing their European home games due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Kyogo Furuhashi found his route to goal blocked by Trubin, but the Hoops soon made the breakthrough as Sead Haksabanovic slid the ball through for Reo Hatate, whose attempt deflected off Bondarenko and trickled into the net.
Celtic nearly made it 2-0 when Moritz Jenz’s shot was kept out by Trubin’s leg. It proved a key stop as Shakhtar quickly levelled.
Georgiy Sudakov threaded a pass through the Celtic backline, with Mudryk racing on to it before lashing an unerring finish past Joe Hart.
Hart denied Shakhtar a second by turning behind a curling strike from former Celtic forward Marian Shved, while Trubin shovelled away a dipping shot by Portuguese winger Jota to start the second half.
Matt O’Riley’s effort from range was tipped to safety as Celtic continued to create opportunities, with substitutes Giorgos Giakoumakis and Daizen Maeda both going agonisingly close late on.
AC MILAN 3-1 DINAMO ZAGREB
AC Milan moved top of Champions League Group E on Wednesday after a routine 3-1 win over Dinamo Zagreb.
Olivier Giroud’s penalty on the stroke of half-time and further goals from Alexis Saelemaekers and Tommaso Pobega were enough for Milan to leapfrog Dinamo into first place on four points.
Stefano Pioli’s side are three points ahead of Salzburg in third, before their match at bottom side Chelsea later on Wednesday, following their first home win in Europe’s top competition in nine years.
Milan are seven-time European champions but have only returned to the top table in recent seasons after years in the doldrums.
Mario Balotelli was playing up front and Massimiliano Allegri was coach when Milan beat Celtic in September 2013 but now the ‘Rossoneri’ appear firmly back in the big time.
Dinamo tried to frustrate Milan in a similar way to how they dealt with Chelsea in their opening day win in Croatia and Ante Cacic’s side did a good job in holding off the Italian champions until Josip Sutalo brought down Rafael Leao in the 43rd minute.
Giroud stepped up to the penalty spot and netted his fourth goal of the season, giving Milan the lead and opening up what had been a tight match.
Saelemaekers appeared to have broken Dinamo’s resistance two minutes after the restart by heading home Leao’s cross.
But nine minutes later the away side gave the match new life through Mislav Orsic, who rifled in a powerful finish from Bruno Petkovic’s delightful flicked assist.
Milan were not rattled though and sealed the points with a nicely-worked goal with 13 minutes remaining.
Theo Hernandez got to the byline before pulling back an inviting pass from which Italy international Pobega crashed in his first Milan goal off the underside of the bar.
It was a first ever goal in the Champions League for Pobega, who came through Milan’s youth system and is now back with his boyhood club after four years on loan at a series of Italian clubs.
Before the game, a Dinamo Zagreb fan was stabbed, according to reports.
News agency AGI says a 39-year-old man was knifed in the buttocks as two Dinamo fans were attacked near the San Siro stadium which is hosting the Group E match.
Police in Milan said on Wednesday evening that 36 Dinamo fans had been intercepted, with 23 charged “for a variety of offences” and 20 handed stadium bans.
MORE TO COME
