O'Neill's Relief as Nygren's VAR-Reviewed Winner Lifts Celtic to Second Place
Martin O'Neill admitted his heart was in his mouth as Celtic's late winner against Aberdeen underwent a lengthy VAR review, but the goal stood to secure a crucial 2-1 victory that propelled the champions up to second in the Scottish Premiership table.
Early Lead and Swift Equaliser
The match at Pittodrie saw Celtic take an early lead through Kieran Tierney, only for Aberdeen to draw level midway through the first half with a penalty converted by Kevin Nisbet. The game remained finely balanced until the closing stages, setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion.
Nygren's Decisive Intervention
Six minutes after coming on as a substitute, Swedish striker Benjamin Nygren swept home his 19th goal of the season to put Celtic back in front. However, the goal was immediately subject to a VAR check for offside, with referee Chris Graham reviewing the footage extensively.
O'Neill confessed to intense anxiety during the review process. 'Heart in mouth? Absolutely,' the Celtic manager said. 'It took a long time. Then the fourth official is telling me they are looking at two pictures. You're worried, but we saw it through. It was a tough game and it keeps us going.'
Ultimately, Nygren was adjudged to have been played onside by the narrowest of margins, with Aberdeen defender Gavin Molloy keeping him legal. The decision proved pivotal as Celtic held on to leapfrog Rangers in the standings.
Managerial Reflections on a Gruelling Schedule
O'Neill acknowledged the difficulty of securing the win, particularly given his team's demanding schedule. 'Our third game in six days, that was tough. We knew it was going to be tough, but we saw it through anyway,' he remarked.
He reserved special praise for match-winner Nygren, who has now scored in both of his appearances at Aberdeen. 'He's doing something that's the most difficult thing in the game,' O'Neill said. 'He's popped up again with the winning goal. It was a big win. It certainly helps and keeps us at least for a little while in the race.'
The Celtic boss also highlighted the contributions of his substitutes, noting their increasing importance. 'The subs in recent weeks have made big contributions, that's important for us. Sometimes it's great when the subs come on and the impact is good, sometimes it doesn't.'
Aberdeen's Frustration and Cup Focus
For Aberdeen, interim manager Peter Leven expressed bemusement at the VAR decision that allowed Celtic's winner to stand. 'It looks offside but why is there not two lines drawn?' he questioned. 'There was only one drawn. But listen, right now it's not going for us, these decisions in the game.'
Leven also suggested his players needed to be more streetwise in key moments, citing instances where he felt they could have won penalties. 'Players need to be a bit more streetwise. Lyall (Cameron) needs to ask the question late on when (Reo) Hatate goes in. I think Lyall was too honest and stayed on his feet.'
Despite the defeat, Leven took pride in his team's effort. 'I thought the players worked really hard today. They are a quality team, Celtic, but I'm proud of the players tonight.'
With their top-six ambitions now extinguished, Aberdeen will turn their attention to defending the Scottish Cup, with a trip to Dunfermline scheduled for Saturday. 'It's the next game, a huge game at the weekend,' Leven added. 'We want to retain the title. The boys will rest and recover and will go again in the later part of the week.'
The result leaves Celtic firmly in the title race, while Aberdeen must regroup for their cup defence, with both managers reflecting on a match decided by the finest of margins and the intervention of technology.
