Celtic beat Besiktas 3-2 in the Europa League on Thursday, earning their first points of the League Phase. They were 1-0 down in the 60th minute before completing the comeback.
Celtic turn the game around
Callum Osmand was introduced from the bench on the hour mark, with Camilo Durán also coming on around the 60th minute. Osmand scored with his first touch and then assisted Camilo Durán, who scored the winner with a couple of minutes remaining.
It was Osmand’s first European goal. Camilo Durán had scored 13 goals in all competitions that season and had found the net seven times in his last eight matches.
Osmand on his first European goal
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Osmand said: “The first half was so strong. This is a great team we’re playing against, so to keep it secure, they did really well. Obviously, Camilo done amazing. That’s why you see he’s such a poacher. He scores amazing ones and then poaching ones as well, so well done to him again.”
He also said: “It caught me off guard. As soon as Cal went, I knew he was gonna, because he’s good at that reverse. It caught me really off guard, but I’m so glad. I caught it really nice.”
Osmand added: “To be honest, you get so up for it. In my head, I’m all jittery, and I just want to come on and do something, so that’s what I try and do: come on and make something happen. I’m so happy with tonight.”
O’Neill backs Høgh
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill said of Høgh’s performance: “I want my central strikers to be able to hold up the ball, and that is exactly what he did.”
O’Neill said: “He isn't Duran. He isn't a dribbler. But if he can perform like this for us against strong opponents, it puts him in a good position going forward.”
He added: “I wanted to see him show strength and fight when the ball was played up to him. He did that very well and brought his teammates into the play.”
Høgh had reached 15 matches without scoring for Celtic but had provided four assists during his goal drought. He became Celtic’s record signing in a £11 million transfer plus add-ons and scored a hat-trick in his second match for Celtic, a 5-1 victory over Kilmarnock.
Hart assesses Celtic’s display
Former Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart said on The Overlap Daily: “That’s the thing about that club, and that is why I adore it, and I’m so pleased that I got to spend time there and be a part of it. The expectancy and the expectation, unless you are a Celtic man or a Celtic person, you wouldn’t understand, because, like you say, they’re still top. And domestically, Celtic have lost two and drawn one in 11 games. It’s not the reason. I was looking at how they’ve started leagues in the past eight, nine years, and they’re right up there with what they do, but they’re not flowing. The strikers aren’t scoring.”
