Celtic draw with Kilmarnock after stoppage-time equaliser | OneFootball

SPFL

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC... 1

(Kyogo 32)

KILMARNOCK… 1

(Watson 90+2)

A stoppage-time equaliser from Kilmarnock saw Celtic drop two points with a 1-1 draw at Celtic Park.

Kyogo’s stunning first-half header looked to have sealed all three points but David Watson headed the visitors level in the second minute of stoppage time.

After securing a 2-0 victory over St Mirren in the Scottish Cup last weekend, Brendan Rodgers stuck with Adam Idah and Kyogo Furuahshi in the same line-up, with the only change seeing Greg Taylor coming in at left-back.

After 11 minutes Celtic were close to going a goal up, with Idah linking up with Callum McGregor to open space in Kilmarnock’s half.

The captain slid Luis Palma through on the left, but as he cut back onto his right foot out came Will Dennis who saved the resulting shot.

Chances were few and far between, with Celtic dominating possession, but the goal would eventually arrive through Kyogo on the 32nd minute.

Anthony Ralston was the provider on his 100th appearance for the Hoops, as he put a delightful cross to the back-post for the striker who rose well and nodded the ball across goal into the right of the net.

Joe Hart had to produce a smart save four minutes later to keep Liam Donnelly’s header out for Kilmarnock from a corner, but it was Celtic who should have scored again before half-time.

In stoppage time, both chances fell to Matt O’Riley as he first of all saw a volley from close range parried back to him, with his header looping in but it was cleared off the line by Corre Ndaba.

O’Riley then had the first chance of the second-half as his shot from the edge of the box on the 53rd minute was pushed away from the bottom right corner.

Kilmarnock did have a spell of pressure after the hour-mark and Hart was required to make a big save to keep the score 1-0 on the 66th minute, as he reacted quickly to push Donnelly’s header over the bar from Danny Armstrong’s dangerous free-kick delivery.

Neither team threatened in terms of goal-mouth action, with the next best chance coming to Paulo Bernardo with nine minutes to play, but he curled a shot just wide of the top-right corner from around 12 yards out.

But in the second minute of stoppage time, Fraser Murray’s cross from the left found David Watson at the back post and he headed down into the bottom right corner to earn a point for the visitors.