Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IT’S ADVANTAGE ATHENS NOW Brendan keeping the faith
Greek equaliser sets up big Tuesday showdown
CELTIC’S assault on the Champions League is in grave danger following a 1-1 draw against AEK Athens at Parkhead last night.
Brendan Rodgers’ side came out of the traps with pace and purpose and midfielder Callum Mcgregor drove in the opening goal in the 17th minute.
But that good work was undone two minutes before the break when Victor Klonaridis fired in a breakaway equaliser.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 57th minute when Konstantinos Galanopoulos picked up a second yellow card from Italian referee Luca Banti for tripping James Forrest as he raced towards the AEK penalty area.
Celtic dominated possession but could not get the winner against a well-organlater, ised Greek side and have a big task ahead of them in the return game in Athens next Tuesday if they are to reach the play-off against either Malmo of Sweden or Hungarian side MOL Vidi.
Amid a frenetic start to another big European night in the east end of Glasgow, left-back Kieran Tierney, a constant source of danger down the flank, stung the hands of AEK keeper Vassilis Barkas with an angled drive from inside the box. Moments Mcgregor’s drive from a similar distance was parried over by Barkas for a corner, which was defended with some desperation.
It was the two energetic and enterprising Hoops players who combined for the opening goal, Tierney again working himself into a good position inside the box and his pass was pounced on by Mcgregor, who swivelled and fired the ball low into the corner of the net from 10 yards.
Forrest fired wide of the far post in the 39th minute, seconds before Hoops keeper Craig Gordon tipped a 25-yard drive from Helder Lopes over the bar.
However, Lopes had more luck in the 43rd minute when he raced down the wing to collect a long pass from Andre Simoes and cut the ball back for the unmarked Klonaridis who lashed it past Gordon from 12 yards.
AEK came out for the second half with a spring in their step but Celtic soon had them on the back foot again, the excellent Tierney leading the charge once more.
Another twist came when Galanopoulos, booked moments earlier for a foul on Tom Rogic, was sent packing for a cynical trip on Forrest and Parkhead was energised again.
But the tiring visitors defended with discipline and will fancy their chances now. question about that. We will have enough of the ball to think that we have the players of quality who can score.
“Of course we are going to have to defend well too. It was always going to be a difficult game whether we were 1-0 up or at 1-1.
“I always felt we would have to go over there and score anyway so it is very much still in the balance.
“Overall we are still in a really good position.
“It was always going to be difficult game for us over there but after seeing our performance it gives us great hope of going out there to get a result.
“It swings a bit to them, they’re at home but we certainly know we have the quality to go and perform.
“Everyone was thinking the same thing at this stage last year, going out to Rosenborg and wondering if we could get a result knowing that it was going to be tough out there.
“But we went there and produced a really good performance and won the game. I don’t see any reason why we can’t do that again.
“We respect that they are a good side but we also showed that we can play well, dominate the game and create chances.
“Prior to the game we knew they were a good side but we proved we are a good side and we can go over there and get a result.”