Europa League - Celtic stung by late penalty
Almen Abdi's late penalty salvaged a 1-1 draw for Udinese in their Europa League Group I clash with Celtic at Celtic Park.
South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng scored from the spot in the third minute after striker Gary Hooper had been fouled by Joel Ekstrand.
But Hooper gave away a penalty on 86 minutes when he clipped Neuton in the box and Abdi sent Celtic goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska - who replaced the dropped Fraser Forster - the wrong way to earn Udinese an unlikely point.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon was understandably disappointed with the concession of a late penalty, but will be encouraged by the effort of his young team against a makeshift Udinese outfit, who only came to life in the match when they threw on Mauricio Isla, Mehdi Benatia and Pablo Armero after the break.
The Turkish referee Bulent Yildirim probably called the decision wrong with Neuton brushing against Hooper before going to ground as Celtic were deprived of three points and a win they merited after dominating the first period without creating too many clear-cut opportunities.
Yildirim was surrounded by several unhappy Celtic players at the full-time whistle after a draw that places major importance on the Glasgow side's forthcoming double-header with Rennes.
With Udinese and Atletico Madrid top of the section on four points, Celtic really need four points from their matches against the French side - who are also on one point after a 1-1 draw with Atletico - away and home to retain realistic hope of qualifying in the top two of the section.
Udinese rested star forward Antonio Di Natale, while Antonio Floro Flores and Barreto were sidelined due to injury. Summer signing Gabriel Torje was cup-tied with defender Maurizio Domizzi also absent.
There were little in the way of chances in the first half as Udinese goalkeeper Samir Handanovic repelled a Hooper effort from distance on 29 minutes before continuing to frustrate the home side by clawing out Charlie Mulgrew's free-kick on 54 minutes.
Benatio had a goal rightly ruled out for offside on 63 minutes after Hooper was fouled in the box before Handanovic again saved Udinese when he swatted a blistering effort from Ki over his bar in the closing 10 minutes.
That was to proved a key moment as Abdi converted the penalty for the Serie A leaders seconds after he saw an audacious shot fly inches wide with Zaluska beaten.
Celtic had one final chance to snatch the three points in injury time, but their luck was out on the night as Mulgrew's thumping free-kick was halted by Handanovic, who was probably the difference between a draw or defeat for Udinese.
Comment 44 - 63 of 63
lol football was it not called stand and slide.: celtic deserved to win .cant believe they didnt win
wow celtic are happy to draw against udinesse bench in thier home watch out reenes completely destroy celtic
Yet again celtic fail in a big game. How they fail to beat a vastly understrength rested team i dont know. Ah well
That's the truth: Udinese is the only one in Italy that play with heart, brain and feet at same time.
By the way, I think that a draw by 1-1 decided by 2 penalties is than a 0-0... and I'm right.
league table in the spl and europe does not lie celtic fc are simply out of there depth in both simplesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss sssssssssssssssssssssss
celtic fc bottom mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm am loving it
Stela.... Outclassed yip and Udy will take 4 aff yes in the return fixture... in Lemmon you Rust
Septic FAIL again. Nothing new there then.
Maybe Neil Lennon hasn't got the hang of management just yet. Still, he is new to the role and it is very hard to pick the right players from so many that were available. It isn't easy having to use things like tactics to win games.
So lets all give good old Neil a round of applause and a hearty "well done"for nearly winning since it is all a little bit much for him to cope with and learn just now.
Dave, I agree. Is there any truth in the rumour that celtic are lookingto sign Tom Daley
Lol nae neck Hopper dives for the first pen.. then gives away a pen with two mins to go! Well done Ref for spotting the hoopy the cheat.... Oh nearly forgot.... Lemmon Lemmon what's the score
Great result for Celtic against Udinese's second string... not.
Dash. Give them a break. Udinese don't have the the same quality of manager, an old celtic hero..... wait a minute. OK they havn't been around as long as the Jags... wait a minute ok they were unlucky tonight... wait a minute...
Diving is what keeps this sport from getting bigger in the USA.We see it and want no part of a game where simulation decides the outcome.
hats of to rovers their whole gig tonite in london.was fantastic, fair play to them,and their fans who were pure brill.well done lads,keep up the good work.
hats of to rovers their whole gig tonite in london.was fantastic, fair play to them,and their fans who were pure brill.well done lads,keep up the good work.
A.... get off the drugs!! Glasgows finest?? Yer havin a laff are you not?? Septic are just a little bit better than the Jags! Udinese made Eight yes Eight changes from the weekend and still outclassed Septic
obi would it be anything to do with a 6 pm kick off !!! i couldn't go tonight because of that
Manky Mob concentrate on your own team ........... why so interested in Glasgow's finest??? ......... WATCHIN HOW A REAL TEAM PLAYS
59 - No.
a rescued a wee pasycat fae tha hedge tanite. e had got esell stuck an batween a wall rite? & a very jaggay thorn bush. e didnae want tae get esell stabbed like so e jost kinda sat ther. til i rescued em. a put em in tha washin macheen so e's dead now like. NAT!
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