Celtic's anniversary celebrations were spoiled as Dundee United claimed a 2-2 draw at Parkhead, ending a lengthy winless run at the ground. The Hoops took an early lead through Camilo Duran, but goals from Zac Sapsford and Neil Farrugia put the visitors ahead at the interval. A second-half fightback inspired by Jota saw Liam Scales head the equaliser, yet the late push failed to deliver a winner.
First-half turnaround
Martin O'Neill would have preferred to celebrate a year since his return to Celtic with a victory, but United spoiled the party by securing a point. Celtic threw away an early lead to trail at the interval after Duran's opener was wiped out by Sapsford and Farrugia pouncing on some woeful defending.
United earned their point at Parkhead. They were dangerous and resilient – and it would have been cruel if they'd left empty-handed. The Arabs might not have won at Parkhead in 30 odd years, but they fairly tormented Celts last season. A United side unbeaten in five was always going to be a tester.
Jota inspires fightback
The introduction of Jota inspired the second-half fightback as the Portuguese star rolled back the clock to prove there could be more magic coming in the future. The wide man teed up Scales for the leveller and looked closer to his old self than he's been since his return from 18 months of injury hell.
It wasn't quite enough, though, as the late push failed to deliver a winner, with some of Celtic's frailties leaving them with too much to do. Hapless Kasper Hogh had another tough night as he made it 13 games without a goal before being left in the changing room at the break.
Match details
United were finding their feet – then had the rug pulled from under them when Duran pounced after 18 minutes. The finish was neat from close range, but it was all about the build-up, with Osmand's cross nodded back across by Benjamin Nygren and Hogh cutely cushioning into his pal's path.
The match flipped on its head within three frantic minutes. On 28 minutes, Sapsford got in front of his man to divert Cameron's cross into the far corner. And it was 2-1 to United a few blinks later when another ball into the box caused mayhem. Bert Esselink got the first header and Farrugia was the quickest to react to the loose ball and he pounced to drill home off Scales.
Celtic were flapping, and Colby Donovan might have been a tad lucky it was only a yellow when he was a week late steaming into Sapsford. Mika Baur's header didn't trouble Jack Walton, Scales lashed into Row Z, and Callum McGregor clipped wide as the Hoops stumbled into the break with the sound of some boos from the stands.
The hapless Hogh got the hook at the interval – along with Osmand – as O'Neill went back to the drawing board. Hasseim Hassan and Jota were thrown in – and it was the Portuguese winger who was determined to make things happen. It needed a moment of quality – and it came from a familiar source. Jota whipped over a cross and Scales redeemed his earlier whoopsie with a thumping header.
Celts were charging, and Baur was denied by another smart Walton stop as the Taysiders began to creak at the back. Jota was in the thick of it, firing over one minute then whipping over another ball that begged to be put away. Sub Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain lashed wide, but United weren't done either and gave Parkhead some frights on the break before holding on for dear life at the end.
