Kilmarnock 2-3 Celtic: Player ratings + talking points as Hoops stage comeback of champions to keep title hopes alive
How we rated the Celtic players in their last-gasp 3-2 Scottish Premiership win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park
Martin O’Neill confessed pre-match that his 300th game in charge of Celtic didn’t “count a jot” - but the interim boss might seldom look back on a result of such importance when he packs it in at the end of the season.
For a third consecutive game, the reigning Scottish Premiership champions left it deep into injury-time to salvage an unlikely victory. On this occasion, they came from two goals down against Kilmarnock as January signing Julian Araujo’s netted a 97th minute winner.
It completed a sensational turnaround with second half strikes from Sebastian Tounetki and Benjamin Nygren cancelling out first-half goals from Tyreece John-Jules and Joe Hugill as both sides served up a Rugby Park thriller.
O’Neill knew his side needed to take care of business in Ayrshire against a Killie outfit scrapping for their lives towards the foot of the Premiership table, with fellow title hopefuls Rangers and Hearts clashing at Ibrox later that afternoon.
The Irishman made four changes to his starting line-up from the team that started their last-gasp 2-1 midweek win at home to rock-bottom Livingston with debutant match-winner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain still left on the bench.
There was a first start for Junior Adamu up front, with Kieran Tierney, Reo Hatate and Yang Hyun-jun restored in place of the injured Arne Engels, Marcello Saracchi, Tomas Cvancara and Tounekti.
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The reigning champions, who started the day six points adrift of the pacesetting Jambos, couldn’t afford another slip-up at a notoriously tricky venue where they have only just managed to clamber over the line at in recent visits.
“We can only control the things in front of us and whatever happens later on has no bearing on this game,” O’Neill declared before kick-off.
A resurgent Kilmarnock were gunning for a third straight win on home soil after being sucked into relegation bother in recent months. However, the arrival of Rangers legend Neil McCann as manager has brought about an upturn in their fortunes.
Looking to build on an impressive victory over St Mirren, they started this contest on the front-foot and were first to threaten through Wednesday night’s hat-trick hero Tyreece John-Jules. The striker gathered a teasing cross in the penalty area but found himself quickly crowded out just as he attempted to pull the trigger.
Shortly after, Rangers loanee Findlay Curtis dragged his low drive narrowly wide of the far post from the edge of the box as Killie continued to cause early signs of panic in the visitors defence.
Celtic were struggling to get a foothold in the game and the hosts had a penalty appeal waved away by referee Duncan Nicolson after seven minutes when Brad Lyons hit the deck somewhat easily under Callum McGregor’s challenge with VAR deciding not to get involved.
Killie were pressing their opponents high up thew pitch and Curtis had another shot saved by Kasper Schmeichel before John-Jules fired straight at the keeper from a corner moments later.
It came as no surprise when the home side opened the scoring on 21 minutes and it was nonother than in-form John-Jules who maintained his rich vein of form in front of goal. The former Arsenal youth starlet charged into the box on the counter and just when it appeared he had passed up the chance to get a shot away, he re-composed himself before moving inside Auston Trusty and curling a low effort into the far corner from a tight angle.
It was a classy finish from a player exuding confidence at the moment.
And Kilmarnock found themselves in dreamland just seven minutes later with John-Jules again at the heart of the action, lifting a neat clipped cross over to new signing and strike partner Joe Hugill, who rose above Liam Scales to loop a header over the despairing dive of Schmeichel into the net.
Celtic were in serious trouble. They needed an urgent response and it almost came through Daizen Maeda, but Killie defender Dom Thompson made a crucial goal line block.
The green and white hoops finished the first-half pressing hard for a route back into the game. Nygren had a shot on the turn flash wide of the target before Adamu’s back-post header from a corner was smothered by Roos.
Their best opportunity fell to unmarked centre-back Liam Scales on the stroke of half-time when he connected with Julian Araujo’s dangerous delivery but could only glance his header agonisingly past the far post.
It was a highly entertaining first 45 minutes and not many supporters in attendance would’ve expected such a score line at the interval. As bad as Celtic were, Killie had been outstanding and thoroughly deserving of their lead.
That prompted O’Neill to make THREE alterations for the second half, with Oxlade Chamberlain, Cvancara and Tounekti all introduced in place of ineffective trip Adamu, Hatate and Yang. It proved a stroke of genius from the 73-year-old Irishman.
On loan Borussia Monchengladbach frontman Cvancara made his presence felt straight away, firing straight at Roos before Tounekti’s fierce strike was saved by the Killie No.1.
The hosts almost added a third shortly after when Greg Kiltie’s low drive was saved by Schmeichel’s legs before John-Jules headed over the crossbar from a corner.
Instead it was Celtic who were handed a vital lifeline by Tunisian international Tounekti. The winger produced a trademark finish from 25-yards as he cut into space before unleashing a wicked curling effort into the far corner.
Suddenly, the champions had released the handbrake and Killie were firmly under the cosh. Seconds after Oxlade-Chamberlain’s thunderous shot almost wiped Lyons out, Celtic were back on level terms after 64 minutes.
The hosts were guilty of failing to clear a long throw into the penalty area and the ball dropped kindly to Nygren who prodded home his 13th league goal of the campaign as the away end erupted. The momentum has swung dramatically in the visitors’ favour.
To their credit, Kilmarnock managed to steady the ship. Even though their two-goal cushion had evaporated, substitute Aaron Tshibola went close to restoring the lead with a header that flew inches wide. Robbie Deas then headed narrowly over from a Kiltie corner.
Killie kept up the pressure and John-Jules came within a whisker of making it 3-2 with a spectacular free-kick from distance which crashed off the woodwork before the rebound was blazed high into the stand.
Tounekti, who had been a constant menace since his introduction, then headed wide at the opposite end before captain McGregor’s snapshot failed to trouble Roos as the clock continued to tick down.
Celtic had seven minutes of stoppage time to potentially save their fading title hopes. It was backs-to-the-wall stuff for Killie as they tried desperately to cling on a priceless point in their battle to avoid the drop.
The Hoops, however, have developed a knack for scoring late, late goals and they did so again in the final seconds of the match. Marcello Saracchi’s throw-in from the left saw Cvancara spin away from his marker before firing the ball across the face of goal through a see of bodies for onrushing full-back Araujo to rifle home, sparking utter bedlam in the away end.
Caught up in the emotion of the moment, the AFC Bournemouth loanee proceeded to dive into the crowd and celebrate with jubilant supporters amid chaotic scenes as fans spilled over onto the pitch.
Having strung some fortunate results together in recent times, Celtic had left it late again but managed to find a way to grind out three points. Over to you, Hearts and Rangers...
Here, GlasgowWorld breaks down three main talking points from the game and how the Celtic players fared:
300 almost out for colossus O’Neill
Following on from his 200th league in charge of Celtic across three separate spells on Wednesday night, Martin O’Neill hit another major landmark this afternoon by marking his 300th game as manager of the club with a hugely important win to keeper their title defence intact for the time being.
His side staged a comeback of epic proportions to put the onus back on their rivals to the silverware, with his half-time substitutions making the difference yet again.
O’Neill knows who he can trust
Celtic are now unbeaten in 10 games, having won their last five as they moved into second place in the table, but O’Neill keeps needing to rotate his squad heavily to find a that winning formula.
On this evidence, it’s quite clear the players he trusts most to impact games by opting to leaves the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho, Paulo Bernardo and Michel-Ange Balikwisha out, while new recruits Joel Mvuka and Benjamin Arthur were absent from the matchday squad all together.
Oxlade-Chamberlain stakes strong claim to start
With Arne Engels expected to be sidelined until after the international break next month, it’s likely that O’Neill will turn to the former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder, who if anywhere near close to full fitness needs to start going forward.
Just as he did against Livingston, Oxlade-Chamberlain looked sharp in his cameo appearance here and has a couple of late chances to score. He brings composure and quality on the ball, as well as crucial experience of high-pressured situation.
Celtic player ratings vs Kilmarnock
GK - Kasper Schmeichel (4/10)
RB - Julian Araujo (7/10)
LCB - Liam Scales (5/10)
CM - Callum McGregor (7/10)
CM - Reo Hatate (3/10)
CM - Benjamin Nygren (6/10)
LCF - Daizen Maeda (4/10)
RCF - Yang Hyun-jun (5/10)
CF - Junior Adamu (4/10)