Celtic secured their first Europa League win of the campaign with a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Besiktas at Celtic Park on Thursday night, with substitute Camilo Duran scoring twice to turn the match around.
Martin O'Neill's side looked to be heading for another European defeat when Junior Olaitan put the visitors ahead from the rebound after Sam Johnstone had saved his 54th-minute penalty. But the introduction of Callum Osmand and Duran from the bench transformed the game.
Substitutes spark Celtic revival
Osmand levelled with his first touch just 43 seconds after coming on, drilling a low shot into the bottom corner. Duran then rounded the goalkeeper to put Celtic ahead, only for Orkun Kokcu to equalise with a clean strike from distance.
Duran had the final say, scrambling home from close range in the 87th minute to seal a 3-2 victory in front of a crowd of 44,394.
World media reaction
Turkish outlet Fanatik quoted analyst Orhan Yildrim as saying Besiktas "surrendered" after taking the lead. "They scored the goal, then just stood there watching," he wrote. "It was unacceptable to bow down to Celtic, who are falling apart in Europe."
UEFA described the second half as "a rip roaring rollercoaster," while the Irish Examiner noted the win hands Celtic "a fighting chance of progressing especially with Portuguese second-tier side Torreense as their next opponents."
Former Celtic midfielder Stiliyan Petrov praised the substitutions on TNT Sports, saying: "Everything changed with the subs; Osmand coming on and Duran going through the middle. They freed up space for Nygren and Baur. It was a really positive 30 minutes."
The match also marked a difficult return to Celtic Park for former Rangers winger Vaclav Cerny, whose previous visit ended with police speaking to him after he squirted liquid at home fans while celebrating a goal. Home supporters directed loud jeers at the Czech international throughout the first half.
