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Europa League | Group Stage
Oct 1, 2015 at 8.05pm UK
 

2-2

Griffiths (28'), Commons (32')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Fernandao (44', 48')

Live Commentary: Celtic 2-2 Fenerbahce - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live text commentary of Celtic's 2-2 draw with Fenerbahce in Group A of the Europa League.
2

Celtic threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Fenerbahce in their Group A Europa League tie with Fenerbahce.

Leigh Griffiths gave Celtic the advantage with a poacher's effort before Chris Commons slammed home a second just a few minutes later.

However, substitute Fernandao netted either side of the break to hand Fenerbahce a share of the spoils.

Read how it all unfolded in our minute-by-minute commentary below.


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Hello! Thanks for joining me for this evening's match from Celtic Park. Both sides are still looking for their first win in the competition after disappointing opening games. Will tonight be the night?

First things first, let's take a look at the team news...

Celtic: Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, Ambrose, Tierney; Brown, Bitton; Commons, Johansen, Forrest; Griffiths
Subs: Bailly, Blackett, Ciftci, Armstrong, Mackay-Steven, Rogic, McGregor

Fenerbahce: Fabiano; Sener, Kjaer, Alves, Ali; Topal, Volkan, Meireles, Ozan, Nani; Van Persie
Subs: Demirel, Fernandao, Diego, Zeybek, Potuk, Ba, Erkin

Let's begin with the hosts. Stefan Johansen starts for the first time since returning from a thigh injury and the midfielder will support lone striker Leigh Griffiths. 18-year-old defender Kieran Tierney continues at left-back as Charlie Mulgrew is injured and Emilio Izaguirre sits out through suspension after picking up a red card against Ajax.

There are a couple of familiar faces in the Fenerbahce side. Robin van Persie is tasked with getting the goals for the Turkish outfit, while former Man Utd man Nani will be providing ammunition from wide.

As mentioned earlier, Celtic drew their opener 2-2 with Ajax in a game which saw Emilio Izaguirre sent to the stands, and the Bhoys also drew in the Scottish Premiership at the weekend, as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Hearts. That game also saw another sending off, as Efe Ambrose received his marching orders.

Fenerbahce are also without a win in Group A. They suffered a shock 3-1 home defeat in their Europa League opener to Norwegian side Molde.

You have to wonder how Champions League elimination affected both sides. Celtic passed up the opportunity to join the group stages of Europe's elite competition after a rollercoaster 4-3 aggregate loss to Malmo. Fenerbahce went down 3-0 to Shakhtar Donestk. The losses are sure to have damaged the morale of both outfits and it seems as though they carried the hangover with them into their first Europa League ties.

INJURY: Yes, I know we haven't even kicked off yet, but Saidy Janko has suffered an injury in the warm-up, so his place on the bench will be taken by Callum McGregor.

We also have coverage of Liverpool vs. Sion and PAOK vs. Borussia Dortmund on Sports Mole this evening, so you could hop over there if you wanted. But it'd be cruel to leave me now. Please don't go!

It's a glorious autumnal evening at Celtic Park, as this wonderful picture shows.



UPDATE: There are already a whole host of results to bring you from the early kick offs in Europe this evening. The sole British side to have played already are Spurs, who conceded a late equlaiser in a 1-1 draw at Monaco. Click here to read Jonathan McIntosh's on-the-whistle report.

Five minutes until kickoff, so there's just about time for me to make a fool of myself with a prediction. I'm going to go with a 2-1 victory for Celtic.

A forceful message will greet the Celtic players when they step out on to the pitch in a few seconds. No pressure.



Fenerbahce have never won on seven trips to Scotland. Could tonight be the evening that they break their duck?

KICKOFF: The hosts get us underway at Celtic Park.

Fenerbahce show their intent early on by pressing to force a mistake, but Tierney makes two good challenges in the opening minute of his European debut.

CHANCE! An early chance for Celtic, as Lustig's cross comes all the way to the far post, but Forrest drags his first-time shot wide from 20 yards. A promising start nonetheless.

It's a sensational atmosphere in Celtic Park, as it so often is on European nights.

Nani looked to burst out of the defence with the ball but he ran into Brown. Good defending by the Celtic captain.

Again Nani is dispossessed, this time by Johansen. Relentless work rate from both sides already!

Former Man Utd man Van Persie is fouled by former Man City man Boyata. A few lingering thoughts from their derby days perhaps?

Lustig looks to play Johansen in with a floated through ball in behind the full-back, but Alves covers well to snuff out the danger.

Lustig is at full stretch to head Volkan's deep cross behind for a corner. The Turkish side look to play a clever corner to the edge of the box, but it's easily cut out by Celtic.

Van Persie's struggled since his switch to Fenerbahce and his loose control allows Brown to nick in and clear the ball.

Celtic haven't seen much of the ball since that early opening, but they have slowed play down now and are passing the ball around the back.

OUCH! A nasty clash of heads between Johansen and Ozan. Both of them went spiralling to the floor after colliding in mid-air and there are plenty of medical staff on the pitch.

The Celtic midfielder is gingerly leaving the pitch. I don't blame him, that was a horrible coming together.

Meireles looks to be Fenerbahce's main playmaker. He's dropped deep on a number of occasions, but he gives the ball away as he searches out Topal with a through ball.

Boyata makes a superb sliding challenge to thwart a Fenerbahce counter-attack. Ozan was very close to escaping down the right flank with the ball.

BOOKING: Meireles is booked for a cynical foul on Forrest, who wriggled around the Portuguese.

The free kick from the left wing is punched away by Fabiano.

There's another Fenerbahce player down. It's Meireles this time, and the referee calls urgently for the physio. He ran past Brown on his blindside and seemed to be caught by a stray elbow. Deliberate? Hard to tell from the camera angle.

Meireles is back on his feet now, and the most hipster of hipster footballers squares up to his opposite number. Not sure that'll be the last time those two come into contact...

Celtic take a quick free kick and work the ball into Forrest, whose shot is deflected behind for a corner.

SHOT! The initial corner is cleared, but only as far as Johansen. However, the midfielder slices his half-volley and it rises harmlessly over the bar.

Celtic look to release Forrest down the left flank - not for the first time - but Kjaer and Topal crowd him out and see the ball out for a goal kick.

UPDATE: It's goalless here, but there have already been a couple of goals at Anfield, where Liverpool are drawing 1-1 with Sion.

Another cross from the left finds Commons, but his shanks a wild shot high into the stand behind Fabiano's goal.

Tierney and Bitton double-up on Nani and the Portuguese winger is penalised for a blatant push on the young full-back, who has started well.

GOAL! (Leigh Griffiths) Celtic 1-0 Fenerbahce

Celtic take the lead! Lustig gets a free header at the near post and flicks on Commons's corner. Griffiths is in acres of space and although his first shot is saved brilliantly by Fabiano, the striker makes no mistake the second time round and drills the ball into the roof of the net!

Griffiths was just level with Van Persie as he peeled off the goalkeeper when Lustig flicked on the corner. Great decision by the officials and great movement by Griffiths too.

GOAL! (Chris Commons) Celtic 2-0 Fenerbahce

Celtic are on fire! Forrest does brilliantly to stand up two defenders before speeding past them both and pulling the ball back to Commons, who smashes the ball into the top corner from eight yards!

The Bhoys have targeted most of their attacks down the left and it paid off there. It must be said, it was terrible defending by Fenerbahce though. Forrest shouldn't have been able to deliver a cross from that position and Commons had so much space inside the area.

Volkan wins a corner after causing panic in the Celtic defence, but then goes down injured. Play continues with the winger off the pitch, but the hosts clear the corner.

Another Fenerbahce corner. Not that the Celtic fans are bothered. Most of them are doing the Poznan!

Again it's a poor delivery, but Ambrose cranes his neck to clear the subsequent cross which looks dangerous.

Celtic are content to knock the ball between their two centre-backs at the moment, but Brown now wins a free kick as he is clipped. This is all too easy for the hosts!

The handbags are out as Brown winds up yet another opponent (surprise, surprise). Ozan is the man who falls for it this time.

SUBSTITUTION: Fenerbahce have been forced into an early change here, as Fernandao replaces the injured Volkan.

Biton almost picks out a rampaging Lustig with a chip, but Van Persie of all people is back in the left-back spot and wins the ball back for the Turkish side.

Van Persie then dispossess Commons. The Celtic Park crowd think he did so unfairly, but the referee waves play on.

GOAL! Celtic 2-1 Fenerbahce (Fernandao)

Totally against the run of play, Fernandao gives Fenerbahce a lifeline and it comes from a terrible Ambrose mistake! The centre-back allows a long ball to bounce and then attempts to head it back to Gordon, but Fernandao anticipates it and nips in to collect and coolly slot the ball underneath the onrushing Celtic goalkeeper with a first-time volley.

TWO MINUTES OF ADDED TIME

Celtic win a corner. Can they restore their two-goal lead?

It comes all the way through to Ambrose at the far post, but Kjaer does enough to put his opponent off and the ball bobbles behind for a goal kick.

HALF TIME: Celtic 2-1 Fenerbahce

Well, well, well. It was so close to being a perfect half for Celtic. They were cruising and hadn't even conceded a real chance of note... until Ambrose's huge error. He'll be kicking himself!

Fernandao had only been on the pitch a matter of minutes before he netted. Nonetheless, Celtic must put that momentary lapse in concentration behind them and carry on as they were. The hosts were much the better side in the opening 45 minutes.

UPDATE: Elsewhere in Europe, Liverpool are being held 1-1 by Sion, while Borussia Dortmund are losing 1-0 to PAOK. A full list of tonight's scores and results can be found here.

Earlier on, Wales edged past Fiji in the Rugby World Cup to put one foot in the knockout round. Dan Lewis was at the Millenium Stadium for Sports Mole and his match report can be found here.

Back to Celtic Park though and the teams should be back out on the pitch any minute now.

SUBSTITUTION: Diego is coming on for Fenerbahce at the break as they make their second switch. He replaces Ozan.

KICKOFF: Fenerbahce kick us off in Glasgow. Can Celtic hold on to their lead?

Tierney is penalised for a foul. It looked soft, but Fenerbahce have a chance to deliver a ball into the box from a wide area.

It's cleared with ease by Boyata though.

Lustig concedes a corner as he heads behind a deep cross from Ozbayrakli.

GOAL! Celtic 2-2 Fenerbahce (Fernandao)

What a remarkable game Fernandao is having! The big centre-forward races to the near post and beats Ambrose to the ball to power a header inside the near post!

A nightmare start to the second half from Celtic. Quite how Fenerbahce are level baffles me, but it was fantastic centre-forward play by Fernandao.

Tierney blasts a wasteful cross into the crowd. Celtic have to just settle themselves now.

CHANCE! Fernandao is in again! His latest chance comes from a straight long ball which catches out both Boyata and Ambrose. Gordon dashes from his line to put the forward off, who lifts his shot over the onrushing keeper but well wide.

SAVE! Gordon has to be alert again as he tips Ali's shot wide. It was a comfortable save, but it had to be made nonetheless.

Nani's had a poor game so far and sums up his performance by overhitting a free kick into the grateful hands of Gordon. Alves and Kjaer has made their way up from the back and they'll be furious with the delivery.

Wow! Topal swings a horribly misdirected cross high over the heads of everyone in the Celtic box and it flies out for a throw-in on the far side.

BOOKING: Johansen drags back Van Persie and Fenerbahce have a free kick 30 yards from goal. Van Persie is standing over it...

... but he slams it into the resolute wall.

SAVE! Nani sends an awkward shot towards goal which bounces just in front of Gordon and the Celtic goalkeeper just fumbles it behind for a corner. Celtic struggle to clear the cross and Van Persie loops a header onto the roof of the net.

Celtic are at sixes and sevens at the moment. This is where their senior players - Commons, Brown, Gordon - need to steady the ship.

SAVE! Gordon is in the way again as he kicks away Diego's 25-yard shot, which was dipping and swerving in the air!

A break in play now as Topal is stretching out his hamstring. The visitors only have one sub left. Ronny Deila has three left though. Surely it's time to mix things up?

BOOKING: Forrest is the next Celtic player to earn a yellow card for a late challenge on Diego. They were first to every ball in the opening 45 minutes, but suddenly look leggy now.

Lustig blindly runs infield and gives the ball away cheaply, which gives Fenerbahce the chance the counter, but Ambrose gets in the way of a low cross.

A neat triangle of passes between Celtic's midfielders almost releases Griffiths, but Biton's pass is just too strong. Better from Celtic.

BOOKING: Alves picks up a yellow card or a characteristically clumsy tackle on Brown. I think even Brown would have his work cut out in a face-off with Alves!

SHOT! Forrest sends a curling shot towards goal which is easily held by Fabiano, but it was wonderful link-up play with Tierney on the left flank.

SAVE! Fabiano makes a better save from Commons's rasping strike from 30 yards. That's lifted the crowd!

Celtic have managed a sustained period of pressure for the first time in this second half. Claims from the crowd for a penalty, but he's not interested in the slightest.

Fernandao goes down clutching his face after a clash with Brown. A similar incident happened in the first half with Meireles. Brown does catch Fernandao with his arm, but it wasn't swung wildly in his direction - simply out to maintain balance. Fernandao's a big lad, there was no need to go down in that manner!

Biton looks around for support 35 yards from goal, but doesn't see anything and sends a weak 35-yard shot towards goal. Poor decision-making from the midfielder.

BOOKING: Boyata enters the book, but it looked harsh. He won the header against Fernandao, but the referee deemed it unfair. It didn't even look like a foul, let alone a yellow card!

CLOSE! Fabiano inexplicably spills Lustig's weak 20-yard shot with Griffiths lurking, but Kjaer defends well to clear the ball with the Celtic striker lurking.

Fabiano gathers a corner under pressure from Ambrose.

SUBSTITUTION: Fenerbahce look to be happy to settle for a point, as defender Ba comes on for Meireles.

Nani's corner squeezes through to the far post, but Lustig hooks it clear.

Fenerbahce are dominating the ball now. It's important Celtic keep their concentration - particularly Ambrose!

SUBSTITUTION: A double change for Celtic. Tierney's impressive European debut comes to an end as he's replaced by Blackett, while Johansen comes off to be replaced by Rogic.

CHANCE! Commons gets another chance remarkably similar to his goal. This time the cross is from the right-hand side and the shot is from a little further out, but the midfielder should have kept his effort down. Instead, it sailed over the bar.

OUCH! Fabiano does well to punch a cross clear, but inadvertently smashes into Lustig in the process. He caught the full-back with both fists. That looked painful! Thankfully he's back on his feet.

Van Persie's again back in his own half as he shepherds the ball out for a goal kick. Perhaps he's been a centre-back all along!

Bizarre stuff from Nani. He found himself in space on the left wing and had the chance to swing in a cross, but strolled away from goal and passed the ball back inside. Fenerbahce would probably take a draw but that was strange!

BOOKING: Kjaer is given a yellow card for scything down Kjaer. Taking one for the team, you might say.

SUBSTITUTION: McGregor comes on for Forrest as Celtic's final throw of the dice.

THREE MINUTES OF ADDED TIME

Diego falls onto the ball and grabs it with his hands, but the referee correctly gives the free kick in Celtic's favour for hand ball.

Panicked defending from Fenerbahce! Kjaer slices Armstrong's cross high into the air before Alves hammers it into the stand! Can Celtic mount one final attack?

No, it's Fenerbahce who come forward with the ball, but Celtic hack the cross away at the second attempt.

FULL TIME: Celtic 2-2 Fenerbahce

That will be so disappointing for Celtic. They led 2-0 and looked incredibly good value for the lead, only for two goals from substitute Fernandao to give Fenerbahce a share of the spoils.

That's all from me, but before I leave you, check out our prompt match report. Thanks for joining me!

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Manchester Uniteds international striker Dutch Robin Van Persie juggles with the ball after signing a contract with the Turkish Super Lig giants football club Fenerbahce at the Sukru Saracoglu stadium in Istanbul on July 14, 2015
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