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Fraser Forster saved a VAR-awarded penalty as Celtic fought out a 1-1 draw with FC Copenhagen in their Europa League last-32 tie in Denmark.<\/p>\nFraser Forster saved a VAR-awarded penalty as Celtic fought out a 1-1 draw with FC Copenhagen in their Europa League last-32 tie in Denmark.<\/p>\n
On a perishing night in the Parken Stadium, French striker Odsonne Edouard missed a couple of early chances before scoring with his third opportunity in the 14th minute, his clever finish taking his tally for the season to 25.<\/p>\n
Neil Lennon\u2019s side had controlled the game until the break but the home side responded and 34-year-old Senegal striker Dame N\u2019Doye leveled in the 52nd minute.<\/p>\n
In what was Celtic\u2019s first experience of VAR in a competitive game, there was drama after Russian referee Sergei Karasev used a pitchside monitor to give Stale Solbakken\u2019s men a penalty in the 78th minute for a Ryan Christie hand ball \u2013 his yellow card meaning he misses the return at Parkhead.<\/p>\n
Forster came to his rescue to tip Jens Stage\u2019s penalty onto a post and away, leaving the tie finely balanced heading into next week\u2019s second leg.<\/p>\n
Lennon made three changes for another big European night for the Scottish champions. Teenage right-back Jeremie Frimpong made his European debut and on the other flank Jonny Hayes came in for injured left-back Greg Taylor.<\/p>\n
Christie took over from Leigh Griffiths, who was left behind in Glasgow with a niggle, and less than a minute had been played when he sent Edouard clean through on goal.<\/p>\n
However, the 22-year-old\u2019s shot was blocked by home goalkeeper Karl-Johan Johnsson, with defender Victor Nelsson blocking Edouard\u2019s next effort from a tight angle and the ball ricocheting out for a goal-kick.<\/p>\n
Johnsson again thwarted Edouard after he raced onto a James Forrest pass three minutes later, and then saved midfielder Olivier Ntcham\u2019s rebound shot.<\/p>\n
It was an encouraging start for the visitors and the 3,000 or so Hoops fans packed behind the goal were soon celebrating when midfielder Callum McGregor took a Christie pass and moved the ball on to Edouard who this time dinked the ball over Nelsson and Johnsson from 10 yards for a deserved opener.<\/p>\n
Celtic controlled the tempo but the home side had a chance in the 31st minute when Bryan Oviedo drove in from the left but missed the target with a shot as unconvincing as his side\u2019s first-half performance.<\/p>\n
Copenhagen raised the tempo after the break and after Ntcham was caught in possession outside the box, Rasmus Falk played in N\u2019Doye and he flashed a shot from 12 yards past Forster and in off the post.<\/p>\n
The match was up for grabs.<\/p>\n
McGregor fired high over the crossbar at the end of a swift Hoops break, before Mohamed Elyounoussi replaced Ntcham.<\/p>\n
In the 70th minute, Edouard stabbed a Hayes cut-back at goal from eight yards but Johnsson blocked with his foot.<\/p>\n
Nir Bitton replaced Hoops skipper Scott Brown before Celtic had to withstand a period of heavy pressure.<\/p>\n
There was drama when referee Karasev went to the pitchside monitor to look at a penalty claim on Christie, and even more drama when Forster got his fingertips to Stage\u2019s penalty to keep it out with the help of the woodwork.<\/p>\n
Celtic will be favorites to make the last-16 but they will have Forster to thank if they succeed and only themselves to blame if they do not.<\/p>\n