Astra Giurgiu and Celtic faced off in their Europa League Group D clash on Thursday evening in Romania.
The Bhoys needed a victory and a win for Red Bull Salzburg to book their place in the knockout stages of the competition with two games to spare against Astra, who were without a point from their three games.
However, despite taking the lead in the 32nd minute through Stefan Johansen, Celtic were forced to settle for a point as William Amorim found the net late on for the home side.
Read how all the action unfolded in our commentary below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the Europa League clash between Astra Giurgiu and Celtic.
It's a foggy evening inside the Stadionul Astra, which has led to an examination of playing conditions by the match officials. Hopefully the fog will clear by kickoff in 25 minutes.
Fog continues to envelop the ground, with two hours until kick off. #UEL (MH) pic.twitter.com/RffYUvj5DP
— Celtic Football Club (@celticfc) November 6, 2014
Celtic are in excellent form in the Europa League this season as they are unbeaten in their three games. Ronny Delia's side can secure their place in the knockout round of the competition with a victory this evening, and Red Bull Salzburg defeat Dinamo Zabreb in the other match in Group D tonight.
The Bhoys edged the contest between the two sides in their last encounter two weeks ago. Goals from Stefan Scepovic and Stefan Johansen fired them to a 2-1 win at Celtic Park. Astra have yet to record a point in the group stage as they have lost all three of their matches, conceding nine goals in the process.
Celtic are out doing their pre-match warm-up so that could be a definite indicator that the match is going ahead this evening, despite the heavy fog.
The Bhoys have also headed out into the fog for their pre-match warm up. (MD) pic.twitter.com/cvxNgISZoO
— Celtic Football Club (@celticfc) November 6, 2014
The team news has been announced and we'll start with Celtic.
CELTIC STARTING XI: Gordon, Lustig, Denayer, van Dijk, Izaguirre, Brown, Mulgrew, McGregor, Johansen, Wakaso, Scepovic.
Subs: Zaluska, Ambrose, Matthews, Kayal, Bitton, Griffiths, Tonev.
Delia has made several changes to his side from their win over Inverness in the SPL at the weekend. Craig Gordon returns to the starting lineup, as does Stefan Scepovic to lead the line. Callum McGregor also comes into the team at the expense of Anthony Stokes.
Conditions inside the Stadionul Astra are getting worse if anything, according to reports inside the ground. There has been no decision made by the officials yet, as the teams continue to warm-up, but as we edge closer to kickoff one will have to be made shortly.
ASTRA STARTING XI: Lung, Ben Youssef, Junior Morais, Oros, Pliatsikas, Joaozinho, Yahaya, Enache, Laban, Budescu, Bukar.
Subs: Coman, Gaman, Florescu, Seto, Chitu, Rus, Amorim.
The teams are lining up in the tunnel and are on their way out onto the pitch. So, it looks like we could be underway shortly.
We're underway in this Group D clash.
An early raid into the Astra box by Celtic as McGregor receives the ball down the right flank. The winger crosses the ball to the back post looking for Wasako, but the cross is well cleared by Pliatsikas.
Both sides are trying to find their feet in the game with the difficult conditions. There have been a lot of short range passes so far as neither team dare to hit the ball long upfield.
CHANCE! Joaozinho lifts a cross into the area from the left for the run of Bukari. The ball just evades the head of the striker and bounces worryingly close to the Celtic net for Gordon, but the ball goes wide of the post.
Celtic are starting to find a little of a passing rhythm as conditions are starting to slowly improve. There's no real penetration in their play, but the spell of possession will give them a confidence boost.
The home side have been solid at the back so far as they have offered Celtic nothing to attack. Every time the ball goes into the final third there has been pressure on the ball-carrier, which has quelled all the Bhoys' momentum.
Celtic win a corner down the right and Johansen decides to whip a powerful strike towards the near post. Lung is caught off guard, but gets just enough on the ball to divert it away from goal, allowing his defence to clear.
CHANCE! Izzaguirre raids down the left and he manages to squeeze a through ball into the path of Johansen inside the box. The midfielder swings a left foot at the ball and his strike looks goalbound, but Lung makes an excellent reaction stop to palm the ball behind.
A through ball down the left finds Wakaso in all sorts of space. He gets to the byline and whips the ball across the face of goal, but no Celtic player is there to turn the ball into the net. Better from the visitors as they are starting to create chances.
The conditions inside the stadium are still very tricky to deal with, but Celtic seem to be the team that is coping best at the moment. I don't think the home side's white shirts are helping their cause.
Izzaguirre finds space down the left again for the Bhoys, but he overhits his cross into the middle. Scepovic tries to keep the ball alive inside the box, but Oros is on hand to clear the danger with a powerful header.
SAVE! Gordon keeps the scores level as he produces a fine stop to keep Yahaya's powerful strike from finding the net. The midfielder was handed time and space outside the box to shoot at goal, and he did just that, but The Scot tipped his effort past the post.
From the resulting corner, Celtic clear the danger but they are indebted to a great save from Gordon for keeping them level.
GOAL! Astra 0-1 Celtic (Johansen)
Celtic take the lead through a fine strike from Johansen as his powerful volley finds the top corner. The Bhoys had won a free kick on the edge of the area after the midfielder was tripped. However, Mulgrew took the set piece, which clattered into the wall, but it rebounded into the path of Johansen who crashed his effort past Lung.
Astra try to get back into the game immediately as Enache raids forward down the right. He hits his cross into the box looking for the run of Bukari, but Gordon comes off his line to snag the ball out of the air.
YELLOW CARD! Ben Youssef goes into the book for the home side for a poor challenge on Izzaguirre.
Celtic can't take advantage from the resulting free kick, as Johansen's ball into the box doesn't clear the first man, allowing the home side to push back upfield.
Apart from Yahaya's effort, the home side have offered very little going forward and it has been a fairly quiet evening for the Celtic back four. Astra need to find a sense of urgency in the final third if they are to avoid a defeat to the fourth-straight game.
UPDATE! Red Bull Salzburg have taken the lead against Dinamo Zagreb, and if they can hold out for the victory, Celtic will progress into the knockout stages of the Europa League.
CHANCE! Wakaso raids forward right up the middle and he decides to drill an effort at goal. The effort is on target, and Lung is slow in getting down, but he manages to make the save.
PENALTY SHOUT! Bukari is played through on goal as he runs into the box for Astra. Denayer gets back at him, but the striker falls to the ground as he tries to fire an effort past Gordon. Bukari wants a penalty, and the referee blows his whistle, but he gives a free kick to the visitors. The striker is not happy about that.
CHANCE! Celtic nearly double their lead just before the break as Mulgrew chases down a long ball down the right flank. He then drags the ball back onto his left foot and strikes with venom from the edge of the area, and only an impressive save from Lung stops the ball from finding the net.
HALF-TIME: Astra 0-1 Celtic
Celtic hold a 1-0 lead at the break thanks to Johansen's strike in the 32nd minute, and if the scoreline stays the same in the other Group D match between Red Bull Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb, Delia's men will progress to the knockout stages. However, there is still a lot of work to do before that becomes a reality.
Astra have had one real chance in the game when Yahaya's effort was well saved by Gordon, while Bukari thought he should have had a penalty before the break. In spite of this, they haven't really shown much appetite to get a positive result, especially with their exploits in the final third.
SUBSTITUTION: William Amorim replaces Joazinho for the home side.
We're back underway in Romania.
CHANCE! Scepovic should fire Celtic two goals ahead as he receives a pass from Johansen inside the area. The forward only has Lung to beat, but his skews his effort well over the bar.
CHANCE! Budescu spurns an excellent chance to get his side back into the game as latches onto Amorim's cross from the right. The Astra skipper meets the ball first time on the volley, but he puts his effort over the bar.
The home side have come out a lot more brightly then they did in the first half as they are wanting the ball more, and are willing to raid into the final third of the pitch.
Enache raids down the right flank for the home side and he whips a dangerous cross into the box, but Gordon is there to palm the ball away. Pliatsikas collects the ball from the keeper's clearance and he fires an effort at goal, but it goes harmlessly over the bar.
Brown gives the ball away for Celtic and Bukari looks to capitalise as he moves into the box, before striking an effort at goal. However, the strike is tame and straight at Gordon, who makes the simple save.
CHANCE! Budescu picks up the ball 30 yards from goal and the midfielder is able to beat two challenges before firing a vicious strike towards goal, but his effort goes just past the post.
SUBSTITUTION: Budescu makes way for the home side and is replaced by Florescu.
Celtic are doing their best to try to take the pace out of the game as the home side have looked threatening at the start of the second half. The Bhoys are striving to keep the ball in the Astra half of the field to quell their revival.
YELLOW CARDS! Yahaya goes into the book for the home side for a challenge on Brown, while the Scot joins him in the book for his reaction.
Astra win a corner down the right and have a chance to threaten as Enache whips a cross into the box, but Yahaya fouls Brown again and the referee awards a free kick to Celtic to alleviate the pressure on the visitors.
Astra commit men forward on a surging counter-attack, and the ball is played to Yahaya, who makes a run from deep. The midfielder takes it upon himself to shoot from distance, but gets his effort all wrong as the ball sails well past the post. His teammates don't look particularly pleased with him after that decision.
SUBSTITUTION: Lee Griffiths replaces Scepovic for the visitors.
CHANCE! Pliatsikas goes close for the home side as he finds space down the right as he beats the challenge of Izzaguirre. The defender sees space to fire a shot at the near post to try to catch Gordon off guard, but the keeper maintains his concentration to make the stop.
CHANCE! Celtic break in numbers upfield and Johansen sets Griffiths through in the box. The striker lets the ball come across his body to fire a left-footed strike at goal, but Oros gets back in time to make a crucial block.
OFF THE POST! Celtic come within inches of doubling their lead as Mulgrew has space to run at the Astra defence and lets fly with an effort at goal. His strike looks to be finding the bottom corner before Lung gets a fingertip to the ball and tips it onto the post and wide.
GOAL! Astra 1-1 Celtic (Amorim)
Astra are level in the match as William Amorim finds the net with a spectacular effort from just outside the box, which gives Gordon no chance. The midfielder collected the ball down the left and cut back in on his right foot, before curling an shot into the far corner past the outstretched hand of the keeper.
CHANCE! Celtic should be back in front as Griffiths latches onto the ball inside the box as he captalises on an error from the Astra defence. He rounds Lung, and then strikes the ball towards goal from a tight angle, but somehow the keeper gets back to make the crucial block on the line.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Griffiths is denied his goal again as he nudges Ben Youssef off the ball inside the box, and the ball falls kindly for him to slot past Lung. However, the referee spots the infringement and disallows the strike.
CHANCE! Florescu tries his luck from distance for Astra and the ball takes an awkward bounce on its way to goal, which forces Gordon to parry the ball away. Bukari tries to latch onto the rebound inside the six-yard box, but he fouls Lustig in the process, and the referee awards a free kick.
YELLOW CARD! Bukari goes into the book for the home side for a challenge on Matthews.
There will be three minutes of added time.
RED CARD! Laban is dismissed for a poor challenge on Mulgrew as he slid in late with a two-footed tackle as the midfielder raided upfield.
YELLOW CARD! Van Dijk goes into the book for Celtic as he shoved Laban in the aftermath of the red card.
FULL-TIME: Astra 1-1 Celtic
Celtic miss out on securing their place in the next round of the Europa League for now, as William Amorim's second-half strike earns Astra a draw this evening. Stefan Johansen's effort had put Ronny Delia's men on their way in the first half, and they did have opportunities to add to their lead, but they couldn't grab the decisive goal. So they will have to wait until the next round of fixtures for a chance to book their place in the knockout.
It was a much improved display from Astra in the second half and Amorim's goal is well worthy of securing his side a point, their first of the group stage. The result may be soured by the red card handed to Laban in stoppage time for his reckless challenge on Mulgrew. However, it was still a good evening for the Romanian side.
Thanks for joining me this evening for the Group D clash. Stay with us for our continued coverage of the Europa League as Everton face off against Lille. But from me, it's goodbye.
Written by
Simon Sinclair
Simon Sinclair
