An injury-time header from Daizen Maeda gave Celtic a thrilling comeback win over Motherwell, as new signing Michel Ange Balikwisha finally announced himself as a Celtic player by providing the assist for a goal that broke the game visitor’s hearts.
Kelechi Iheanacho had opened the scoring from the spot midway through the first half after Regan Charles-Cooke had been penalised for a handball in the area, but Apostolos Stamatelopoulos stunned the home support by bulleting home a low header at the near post to draw the visitors level before the interval.
Remarkably, the visitors then hit the front after the break as a VAR review gave them a penalty of their own, Stamatelopoulos converting from 12 yards for the second week in succession, but Motherwell keeper Calum Ward had another moment to forget as his horror mistake put an equaliser on a silver platter for substitute Benjamin Nygren, before Maeda popped up at the death to sicken The Steelmen.
Here are the talking points from Celtic Park…
Balikwisha announces himself at last
It has been a low-key start to his Celtic career, but just when his team needed a hero, the winger came up with the goods to help seal an unlikely looking three points.
Motherwell had switched off in the wide area, allowing Balikwisha to collect the ball and get his head up. He didn’t panic, and whipped in a dangerous ball to pick out Maeda amid a mass of bodies to stoop low and head home.
It had been another frustrating afternoon for Maeda to that point too, but his name rang out long and loud as he showed he still has that golden touch in front of goal when it mattered most.
All is not 'Well though at Celtic Park as champions toil again
If the atmosphere around Celtic Park was flat after the dismal defeat to Braga on Thursday night, it was hardly likely to be any livelier here for a Sunday afternoon match against Motherwell, at least until their team had given the home fans something to get excited about.
Reports of peace breaking out between the board and the support may be slightly exaggerated going by the pre-match banners displayed on the North Curve, with the fans in that section of the ground having cancelled their planned silent protest (though at times, it was difficult to tell) in lieu of a meeting with the board on Monday. They were still determined to make their point.
The message was clear enough. ‘Celtic Board – Unfit for Purpose’, read one banner, with another sporting the rather more direct message of, ‘F*** the meeting, resign’.
In fairness to the fans, you can see why they are disgruntled. For long spells, the football was uninspiring, with the most noise made outside of the Celtic goal being when one of their players passed the ball backwards for the umpteenth time during the first period.
You couldn’t fault their players for effort though, and they stuck at it until the last, and were rewarded with Maeda's last-gasp goal to quell the unrest at least a little, for a little while.
Motherwell risk doesn’t always bring reward after another Ward clanger
Jens Berthel Askou had stated during the week that he wasn’t sending his team to Celtic Park to frustrate the champions, but to take them on, and to win.
They certainly were sticking to their principles, but Celtic’s pressing in the early stages was causing them a few issues, and they were fortunate to get away with it on a couple of occasions when they coughed up possession and left themselves wide open.
They kept trying to pass it out though and continued to press Celtic high, and they did get their reward with their equaliser, albeit with the aid of a horrendous touch from Anthony Ralston that allowed them to gain possession in the final third and work the opportunity.
Ibrahim Said did well to work it wide to Tawanda Maswanhise on the Motherwell right, and his low cross picked out Stamatelopoulos sneaking between defenders to bullet home a diving header.
On the flip side of the coin though, goalkeeper Ward had another moment to forget after a couple of clangers earlier in the season cost his side, and this time it came from trying a straight pass out from his six yard box that was never on, as he succeeded only in passing straight to Nygren for the Swede to level.
In fairness to the keeper, he had played so well to that point, and this is exactly what his manager wants him to do. There is risk, sometimes reward, and sometimes you are left looking foolish. But if that is the price of producing a level as competitive as this at Celtic Park, Berthel Askou will be happy to pay it.
Penalties spot on
It was hard to argue with either penalty award, though Motherwell will no doubt feel hard done by as Charles-Cooke had no intention to play the ball with his hand as he came charging out to block a Callum McGregor shot. Intent is neither here nor there these days though, and it was the right call.
Similarly, when the excellent Emmanuel Longelo powered away down the Motherwell left and cut the ball back for Maswanhise, it looked for all the world that Marcelo Sarrachi had clipped him, and a VAR review spotted what referee Scott didn't.
Stamatelopoulos has his mojo back
The Australian had endured a frustrating start to the season, but had said in an exclusive interview in these pages on Saturday that he felt confident the goals would now come regularly for him after breaking his duck for the Premiership season against Aberdeen.
Not even in his own wildest dreams though would he have thought that he would treble his tally for the campaign here in the one afternoon to temporarily turn the game around for his side.
The striker has endured a tough time of it through injury since making the move to North Lanarkshire from the Newcastle Jets last summer, spending long stretches on the sidelines last term, but he was always confident that if he could get a run of matches under his belt, he would produce for Motherwell.
His first goal here was a brilliant striker’s goal, showing good movement and anticipation to meet
He seems to now be getting his reward for his perseverance, and both he and Motherwell will hope that the second half knock he received that forced him off is a minor one.
