Celtic came from behind to secure a crucial 3-2 victory over Besiktas in the Europa League, with substitutes Callum Osmand and Camilo Duran inspiring the win after both came off the bench in the second half.
Trailing to a penalty just after the hour mark at Celtic Park on Thursday, manager Martin O’Neill turned to his bench for inspiration. The impact was immediate. Osmand, on for just 43 seconds, fired home with his first touch to level the scores before setting up Duran to put the Hoops ahead. Orkun Kokcu equalised for Besiktas, but Duran had the final say, netting the winner two minutes later to keep Celtic’s European campaign alive.
A Spark from the Bench
With Celtic facing a fourth straight European defeat and heading towards a historic fifth, O’Neill made a triple substitution on 65 minutes, introducing Osmand, Duran, and Colby Donovan for Sebastian Tounekti, James Forrest, and Jordan Lotomba. The changes had an instant and electrifying effect. Osmand rifled in the equaliser from the edge of the box, stunning the home support and giving Celtic a new lease of life.
The substitutions completely altered the dynamic of the game. Everything changed with the subs; Osmand coming on and Duran going through the middle,
former Celtic midfielder Stiliyan Petrov said on TNT Sports. They freed up space for Nygren and Baur. It was a really positive 30 minutes.
Duran, who had started the match on the bench, was then moved into a central striking role, a decision that proved decisive. O’Neill had withdrawn club record signing Kasper Hogh, who had delivered an underwhelming display, to make this tactical switch.
The last time a Celtic substitute netted a brace in a European match, not counting qualifiers, was when Johannes Edvaldsson did it against Jeunesse d’Esch in the European Cup in September 1977. His impact was immediate and undeniable.
Duran Seals the Win
On 77 minutes, O’Neill’s tactical shift saw Osmand play Duran through with a delightful pass. The Colombian rounded goalkeeper Alexander Nubel and slotted Celtic into the lead. The Colombian’s strike sent the home support into ecstasy, but the drama was not over.
Besiktas struck back through substitute Orkun Kokcu, who curled a fine strike into the bottom corner from 25 yards with five minutes remaining. However, Celtic refused to buckle. Duran, who had been a constant threat, pounced on Kieran Tierney’s scuffed shot two minutes later to bundle the ball into the net and secure a famous victory. Mika Baur fed Tounekti who squared the ball to Benjamin Nygren in the build-up to some of Celtic’s improved second-half play.
Questions for Hogh and O’Neill’s Plan
The performance and subsequent substitution of Hogh, who cost £11m from Bodo/Glimt, has raised questions. In 77 minutes, the Dane failed to have a single shot and managed just one touch in the Besiktas box. In contrast, Duran, who played only half an hour, scored two goals, had two shots, and registered four touches in the opposition box. The difference in Celtic’s attacking approach with Hogh as the focal point versus with Duran in the centre was significant.
You have to wonder where that second-half performance has been for the last two months. Quality, desire, running power – all of the things the team’s been accused of lacking recently were there.
The result gives Celtic a chance of reaching the knockout stages, with O’Neill adding: We’ve given ourselves a chance because of the result.
🙌 Durán latches on to Osmand’s brilliant pass, rounds the keeper and fires the ball into the net! pic.twitter.com/wXzhEQ5LUr
Former Hearts defender Craig Halkett, speaking on TNT Sports, commented on Hogh’s situation: He was the big-money signing but it’s not coming off for him.
O’Neill also praised the contributions of his goalscorers. Duran has been fabulous for us all season no matter where he plays,
O’Neill said of his Colombian forward.
More on Camilo Duran
61' – Subs for Celtic: 🔛 Osmand, Durán & Donovan ↩ Tounekti, Forrest & Lotomba 🟩0️⃣-1️⃣⬜️ #CelticBeşiktaş | #UEL | #CelticFC🍀 pic.twitter.com/7ZeglVyczz
