Arne Engels scored from the penalty spot in added time to earn Celtic a dramatic draw in a six-goal epic against Dundee.
Luke McCowan returned to Dens Park and showed what they had lost when he led the Premiership leaders in his early days.
Despite their dominance, Dundee were level at the break as Oluwaseun Adewumi struck with a quick counter-attack.
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Arne Engles was sent off for a penalty in the second half after Dundee handballed him into the box.
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Aaron Donnelly headed a superb corner to give Dundee a late lead over Celtic.
It was a dramatic encounter and Yang Hyun-jun put the Hoops in front to set up Josh Mulligan’s low cross for Cameron Carter-Vickers to score his own goal.
Aaron Donnelly thought his first Dundee goal had secured a first win over Celtic since 1988, but Mo Sylla managed inside the box and Engels made no mistake from the spot as they moved 16 points clear at the top of the table.
Dundee is in 7th place following a 3-game undefeated streak.
The champions get a late start to Dens.
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Luke McCowan expertly headed Celtic’s first goal against his former side Dundee.
Celtic took the lead inside five minutes after Greg Taylor marked his 200th appearance for Celtic and delivered a perfect cross for McCowan to head into the far corner. The midfielder’s celebration was muted.
Dundee had an opportunity earlier when Donnelly’s up-and-down throw-in bounced into Celtic’s six-yard box. Kasper Schmeichel saved Simon Murray’s eye-catching header on his line.
However, Donnelly’s next attempt at a long throw failed to clear the penalty box, leading to a chance for Celtic on the break. Adam Idah lacked confidence after receiving a tempting low cross from Kyogo Furuhashi and the ball bounced out of the danger area.
Celtic were gaining control and creating opportunities. Paulo Bernardo left the bar and McCowan forced a diving save from Trevor Carson.
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Dundee’s counterattack, which started from a Celtic corner kick, was completed by Oluwaseun Adewumi.
The hosts were suddenly level after a quick break following a Celtic corner.
Murray burst forward from the edge of the box and Finlay Robertson set up Adewumi to run in from Alistair Johnston. The Burnley loanee raced into the box and fired into the bottom corner.
Celtic went back into the lead after 53 minutes with only their second goal in 49 appearances for both teams.
The goal again came from a low cross from Furuhashi, who was playing on the right flank. The ball bounced out of his hand as he blocked Ida’s approach and Yang looked eager to beat the loose ball and head home.
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Hyun-Jun Yang headed home Celtic’s second goal against Dundee.
Dundee were level again a minute later. Murray beat Auston Trusty and sent Josh Mulligan racing into the box. Carter-Vickers slipped in to block the wing-back’s low cross but veered inside Schmeichel’s near post.
The home side took credit from the second equalizer and created a series of chances. Adewumi and Robertson went close from long range, Ethan Ingram headed just wide from Mulligan’s cross and Cesar Garza fired home from a half-chance.
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Dundee responded quickly to Celtic’s second goal after Cameron Carter-Vickers deflected in from a Dundee cross.
In a sign of the way the game was progressing, Brendan Rodgers used all five of his substitutes before Tony Docherty made the first.
Docherty’s side were ahead before the change after Donnelly rose well at the back post to head Robertson’s corner into the top corner.
Dundee looked like the game was over until Don Robertson pointed to the spot and Engels sent Carson the wrong way in the third minute of added time.
‘Hero’s Vigil’
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Dundee manager Tony Docherty was pleased with his side’s performance just minutes before they ended their 24th consecutive winless season with Celtic.
Dundee president Tony Docherty said sky sports:
“I was really disappointed because I thought we had done enough to see the game through, but you have to balance it out and compliment the character and character of the team.
“When Celtic were showing the quality they bring, I asked Lyall Cameron to play when he was sick and not ready to play. Then I brought in striker Tiffony in a midfield role.
“I’m so proud of how much the boys gave me and donated to their football club. It was almost heroic, a never-say-die attitude.”
‘We have to be much better’
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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers felt his team was passive and lacking in aggression.
Celtic manager Brendan Rogers said sky sports:
“We lacked aggression, duels and passing for the ball, either out wide or at the back, and we didn’t have enough attacking positioning.
“We fought until the end and got a point, but we had too much control for 40 minutes and the game got away from us.
“Give Dundee credit because they fought back on their own, but for me we have to be a lot better than that.”
He singled out Auston Trusty for criticism of Dundee’s third goal, adding: “You’re a centre-back, you have to be strong, you have to be aggressive and you have to win headers.”
Sky Sports experts said:
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Chris Boyd believes Celtic’s left flank could be a problem in the Champions League after their poor defensive performance against Dundee.
chris boyd:
“Celtic are way ahead in the league and sometimes they can get complacent but Brendan Rodgers will know they have to play in the next two Champions League games.
“They are big games for the football club and they have to turn up.
“The left side of defense is a problem for them. If you look at Trusty (before Dundee’s third defence), they were standing on his toes and Trusty is rolling. You have to be a centre-back, you have to stand up.
“Celtic spent a lot of money to bring in Trusty, to bring in Engels, to bring in Idah. They brought in Idah again tonight. Wow, I don’t know what’s happening to him.
“I think if you’re a striker and you don’t score goals you might be overthinking but he might not be the same player that came out here last season.”
James McFadden:
“Brendan Rodgers says he is passive and not aggressive enough with the ball, but in reality he is talking about Simon Murray scoring the second goal and Trusty scoring the second goal, and Trusty is talking about Donnelly scoring the third.
“Rodgers is letting everyone know this, but he’s letting Trusty know that it’s unacceptable.”
neil lennon:
“They paid a price to achieve their goals.
“He sets a very high bar for the team to maintain for a long time, but he needs to let us know when the bar falls.”
