Guidetti’s late strike secures Inter draw in six-goal thriller
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Celtic, odds-on 8/11 with Coral for a Scottish FA Cup coup, secured a well-fought 3-3 draw at Celtic Park in their Europa League last 32 clash with Serie A side Inter Milan, thanks to a late effort from on-loan striker John Guidetti.
Guidetti, on loan from Premier League champions Manchester City, gave Celtic a roaring belief that they can qualify, having netted after 90 minutes in sublime fashion on another incredible night of European football in Glasgow.
Ronny Deila’s Bhoys made a stuttering start to the tie, conceding two cheap goals within the opening 15 minutes, as former Bayern Munich forward Xherdan Shaqiri and Rodrigo Palacio secured an early 2-0 lead.
However, fortunes soon changed, as recent new signing Stuart Armstrong pegged a goal back and Inter defender Hugo Campagnaro calamitously put the Scottish Premiership leaders level with an own-goal, after failing to deal with Stefan Johansen’s lobbed pass.
In the final moments of a thrilling first-half, the Celtic Park faithful were stunned as Argentine attacker Palacio capitalised on Craig Gordon’s poor handling to send Roberto Mancini’s Italian league strugglers in front.
Guidetti then came to Celtic’s rescue, after being introduced as a late substitute, sending a superb volley into the top corner from Liam Henderson’s well-timed through ball, earning the courageous Hoops a well-grafted draw to take to the San Siro.
Deila’s dominant Scottish league outfit will have a tough task of progressing in Italy, having leaked three away strikes, but with their attacking stars in fine form, the battling Bhoys will be quietly confident of toppling their Italian opponents.
Recent arrival Armstrong has now netted twice for the Hoops since securing a move to Celtic in the late stages of January transfer deadline day, proving he has the goalscoring instinct to succeed in Scotland.
Swedish star Guidetti has become a hit in the green half of Glasgow, with his late equaliser raising his season tally to 12, having previously gone 10 games without a goal before the European encounter.
Guidetti’s current contract at the Etihad is set to expire next summer, but Celtic will be keen to tie up a permanent deal for their young striker, after his heroic exploits on the European stage.
The recent result means that Inter have still never beaten their Scottish opponents over 90 minutes, and Deila’s hopeful Hoops are 150/1 to claim a famous European triumph this year, with a mountain still to climb in their return clash at the San Siro.
