ISTANBUL
Celtic secured their first UEFA Europa League victory of the season Thursday, defeating previously unbeaten Besiktas 3-2 at home in Round 4, with substitute Camilo Duran scoring twice in the second half.
The Scottish side entered the encounter without a point from their opening three matches, while Besiktas had collected seven points from their first three games.
Celtic created the first opportunity in the eighth minute, when Benjamin Nygren fired wide from inside the penalty area following a pass from Sebastian Tounekti.
Besiktas nearly broke the deadlock in the 30th minute when Leandro Trossard unleashed a powerful strike from outside the area, but goalkeeper Sam Johnstone tipped the ball onto the crossbar. The effort was subsequently ruled offside.
The teams entered halftime with the score level at 0-0.
Besiktas took the lead in the 54th minute after Jordan Lotomba fouled Ernest Poku on the edge of the penalty area, prompting the referee to award a penalty.
Johnstone saved Junior Olaitan’s spot kick, but the Besiktas forward reacted quickest to the rebound and fired home from close range.
Celtic responded in the 62nd minute when Callum McGregor intercepted Emmanuel Agbadou’s pass before setting up substitute Callum Osmand, who drilled a low shot into the bottom corner with his first touch, just 43 seconds after coming on.
The hosts completed their comeback in the 78th minute when Osmand played a through ball to fellow substitute Duran, who raced behind the Besiktas defense, rounded goalkeeper Alexander Nubel and finished into the empty net.
Besiktas captain Orkun Kokcu, who had entered the match in the 76th minute on his return from injury, equalized in the 85th minute with a stunning long-range strike into the bottom-left corner.
However, Celtic restored their advantage just two minutes later when Duran controlled a long ball from Kieran Tierney inside the penalty area before firing home from close range to complete his brace.
The late winner secured Celtic’s first three points of the Europa League campaign, while Besiktas remained on seven points after suffering their first defeat in four matches.
