Celtic Draw with Bologna After Rollercoaster Match

Celtic, playing with ten men, lost their two-goal advantage at halftime but managed to secure a potentially crucial point in their Europa League encounter against Bologna.

First Half Highlights

Reo Hatate opened the scoring just six minutes into the game. However, he was soon issued two yellow cards within a brief span of three minutes, reducing Celtic to ten players.

Auston Trusty extended Celtic’s lead shortly after Hatate’s goal. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Celtic held their own until Bologna increased the pressure after the break. Goals from Thijs Dallinga and Jonathan Rowe allowed Bologna to equalize.

While Bologna fired 37 shots in total, both teams had opportunities to secure the win, with the match concluding in a 2-2 tie.

Despite the draw, Celtic fans celebrated, as the result now sees their team sitting on eight points ahead of their final group match against Utrecht, who have already exited the tournament. A win in that match will assure Celtic’s advancement to the playoff round.

Lewis Ferguson’s Night

Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson, a former player for Aberdeen and Hamilton, was looking for his first win against Celtic in 17 attempts but fell short once again.

Hatate’s early goal came about after a blunder from Bologna’s goalkeeper, Lukasz Skorupski, who gifted the ball to Celtic’s Daizen Maeda. Maeda then squared it for Hatate, who rolled it into an unguarded net.

The Match Dynamics

Skorupski partially redeemed himself shortly after, making a save against Yang Hyun-Jun following Hatate’s pass. However, Celtic found themselves under early pressure as Kasper Schmeichel, Celtic’s goalkeeper, made key saves.

As both teams adjusted, the pressure intensified on Celtic when Hatate was booked for a foul on Ferguson and subsequently received a second yellow card for another foul on Juan Miranda, leaving Celtic to operate with ten players just before halftime. O’Neill, Celtic’s manager, also received a yellow card due to his protests regarding the officiating.

Celtic fans had more to cheer about five minutes before halftime as Trusty scored from a corner taken by Kieran Tierney, sending the visitors into the break with a two-goal cushion.

Second Half Challenges

However, Bologna came out strong in the second half. Schmeichel had to make several crucial saves from shots by Ferguson and Nicolo Casale. The pressure culminated in a goal for Bologna in the 58th minute when Dallinga headed in after a cross from Jens Odgaard.

Celtic, now playing defensively with Maeda contributing as a wing-back, found it increasingly challenging to cope with Bologna’s relentless attacks. The equalizer finally came in the 72nd minute when Rowe skillfully created space for a powerful shot, netting the ball past a stationary Schmeichel.

In response, Celtic regained some momentum and had chances to secure a late victory. Substitute Johnny Kenny forced a save, and Liam Scales came close with a looping header.

Bologna also had their opportunities, but Schmeichel stood firm, denying shots from Riccardo Orsolini and Nicolò Cambiaghi, ensuring the match ended in a stalemate.