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Celtic 1-1 Motherwell: Jon Obika earns late draw for visitors in another chaotic encounter

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Obika scores at Celtic

Jon Obika’s dramatic 90th-minute equaliser ensured Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic failed to stretch their advantage to 11 points in another chaotic encounter with Motherwell.

That late leveller came just four minutes after David Turnbull’s penalty, awarded after a VAR review penalised Calum Butcher for tugging Mikey Johnston at the back post, looked like it would consign his former club to defeat.

But the visitors, who travelled to Celtic Park without a win in nine games, threw bodies forward and scored with their only second-half effort when Obika headed Blair Spittal’s corner low into the far corner.

In a frustrating afternoon for Celtic, during which Luis Palma had a penalty saved by the impressive Liam Kelly, Matt O’Riley had the chance to score another stoppage-time winner in the fixture – just as he did in September – but diverted a free header wide with seconds remaining.

The result means Celtic’s lead at the top extends to nine points, but second-placed Rangers now have two games in hand.

Motherwell, meanwhile, stay eighth and are now 10 matches without a win, but this late point could prove to be a turning point in their season.

Celtic’s spot-kicks made up half of the four shots on target the hosts managed with their 81% possession as Stuart Kettlewell’s side, inspired by Kelly, made life difficult for the leaders throughout.

O’Riley had a side-foot finish from inside the box parried away by the Scotland keeper, who made a stunning stop to prevent team-mate Stephen O’Donnell heading into his net.

The away side posed their own threat as the first half progressed, O’Donnell having a lob cleared off the line and Harry Paton stinging the palms of Joe Hart.

But their second-half display was all about defensive resilience. Aside from Bevis Mugabi’s clumsy challenge through the back of Oh Hyeon-gyu – which gave away the first penalty – and Butcher’s daft tug on Johnston, Kettlewell’s backline were superb.

All that good work looked certain to be undone, though, when Turnbull rolled his spot kick into the bottom-right corner, but Obika’s glanced header claimed a sensational point and sparked wild scenes among a pocket of away fans as Celtic Park fell silent.

Player of the match – Liam Kelly (Motherwell)

Liam Kelly v Celtic

Deja vu for Celtic as Well show fight – analysis

Celtic are now unbeaten in 30 meetings with Motherwell, and 14 without defeat in the league this term, but this will sting. No doubt about it.

For the league leaders to have over 80% of the ball, two penalties, and still not come away with three points is disappointing. It was a similar story against St Johnstone earlier in the season.

This result creaks open the door a bit further for a resurgent Rangers, who can reduce the gap to six on Sunday at Aberdeen with a game to spare.

There is now a real possibility of that margin being just three by the next Old Firm derby on 2 January.

For Motherwell, this has to be the start of something. The 10-game winless run they are on is currently the longest in the division – but this result is massive for Kettlewell, whose decision to nudge Butcher into midfield paid off.

With three fixtures against Dundee, Ross County and St Johnstone to come, this simply has to be a launchpad for the Fir Park side to reignite their season.

What’s next?

Celtic are in midweek Champions League action as they travel to Rome to face Lazio on Tuesday (17:45 GMT).

Motherwell return next Saturday (15:00) when they host Dundee before the league leaders make the trip to St Johnstone the following day (12:00).

Line-ups

Celtic

Formation 4-3-3

1Hart

56Ralston20Carter-Vickers5Scales3Taylor

33O’Riley42McGregor15Holm

13Yang8Furuhashi7Palma

  • 1Hart
  • 56Ralston
  • 20Carter-Vickers
  • 5Scales
  • 3TaylorBooked at 70mins
  • 33O’Riley
  • 42McGregor
  • 15HolmSubstituted forOhat 45′minutes
  • 13YangSubstituted forTilioat 90+4′minutes
  • 8FuruhashiSubstituted forTurnbullat 67′minutes
  • 7PalmaSubstituted forJohnstonat 67′minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Johnston
  • 6Phillips
  • 14Turnbull
  • 19Oh
  • 23Tilio
  • 25Bernabéi
  • 28Gonçalves Bernardo
  • 29Bain
  • 90Johnston

Motherwell

Formation 5-3-2

1Kelly

2O’Donnell15Casey5Mugabi20Blaney22Spencer

8Slattery66Butcher12Paton

24Biereth7Spittal

  • 1Kelly
  • 2O’DonnellBooked at 41mins
  • 15Casey
  • 5MugabiBooked at 64mins
  • 20Blaney
  • 22Spencer
  • 8SlatteryBooked at 14minsSubstituted forBairat 89′minutes
  • 66ButcherBooked at 85minsSubstituted forWilkinsonat 89′minutes
  • 12Paton
  • 24BierethSubstituted forObikaat 78′minutes
  • 7Spittal

Substitutes

  • 3Gent
  • 9Obika
  • 13Oxborough
  • 14Bair
  • 17Zdravkovski
  • 18Shaw
  • 39Ross
  • 42Ross
  • 99Wilkinson
Referee:
Steven McLean

Match Stats

Live Text

Post update

Match ends, Celtic 1, Motherwell 1.

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