Celtic secured their first win of this Europa League campaign on Thursday night, coming from behind to beat Besiktas 3-2 at home, according to Sky Sports. Martin O'Neill's substitutes turned the match after the visitors had taken the lead from the penalty spot.
Junior Olaitan put Besiktas ahead in the 54th minute after Jordan Lotomba's needless challenge on Ernest Poku gave away a penalty. Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone saved Olaitan's initial effort, but the forward converted the rebound. At that point, Celtic were staring at a fifth straight European defeat, which Sky Sports notes would have been a first in the club's history.
Why it matters
The result keeps Celtic's Europa League campaign alive. Sky Sports reports that the Hoops remain in the bottom 12 of the table, but with four games still to play they retain a chance of reaching the knockout stages. Just as significant was the manner of the win: O'Neill's bench changes transformed a flat performance into a comeback, lifting the mood around a club that had been under pressure.
How the substitutes changed the game
O'Neill brought on Callum Osmand, Camilo Duran and Colby Donovan shortly after the hour mark, and Sky Sports describes the move as a masterstroke. Osmand needed only his first touch to level the score in the 65th minute. He then turned provider, releasing Duran, who rounded the goalkeeper to put Celtic in front in the 79th minute.
Besiktas hit back with five minutes remaining when Orkun Kokcu, brought on as a substitute, struck from around 25 yards into the bottom corner. But Duran restored Celtic's lead two minutes later, collecting a pass from Kieran Tierney before calmly poking the ball home.
Earlier, Celtic had struggled to create clear chances. Sky Sports' match log shows Benjamin Nygren sending a cross from Sebastian Tounekti wide in the eighth minute, and Kasper Hogh unable to connect with another Tounekti delivery in the 26th. James Forrest produced Celtic's first shot on target in the 50th minute, forcing a low save from Alexander Nubel.
O'Neill praises whole team as BBC raises selection question
Speaking after the match, O'Neill said the game had been difficult but that his players came through it convincingly. He told reporters he had described the team as a credit to the football club, and he highlighted the impact of the substitutes in adding pace up front. The manager also said the win could provide a platform for the rest of the campaign, while acknowledging it would not be easy.
O'Neill singled out several individual displays, including Tierney at left-back, the back four as a unit, Donovan's contribution after coming on, and Mika Baur in midfield. He also praised the experienced players at the club who, he said, came to the fore on the night.
Sky Sports' post-match analysis asked whether the second-half display raised questions about the starting line-up, noting that the qualities Celtic had been accused of lacking in recent weeks — desire, running power and quality — were all present after the changes. BBC Sport framed the same issue around Kasper Hogh, questioning where the result leaves the striker after he was withdrawn.
What to watch
Celtic now have four Europa League fixtures left to close the gap on the knockout places, with the mood around the club lifted by a night Sky Sports suggests the fans will not quickly forget.
