Late Donati strike keeps Bhoys’ Euro dream alive
The Hoops gifted Brandao a fourth-minute opener, and their prospects seemed to be disintegrating as Lee Naylor and John Kennedy both had to be carried off injured.
But Jiri Jarosik volleyed a 45th-minute equaliser, and then Donati put them three points above Shakhtar with virtually the last kick of the game.
Celtic boss Gordon Strachan felt his side had surpassed themselves through “sheer guts”.
“In different games we have had to think, really play well technically but for sheer guts that’s as good as it gets,” Strachan said.
“Just when you think you have seen it all, you think about every scenario, but you can never know what’s going to happen.
“Losing a stupid goal, ending up with a midfielder playing left-back, a centre-half at right-back (Gary Caldwell) and someone who has not played for five months who is 34 (Pressley).
“How did we win the game? The simple answer is with a huge heart.”
Shakhtar’s 2-0 win over Celtic in the opening group game had given Mircea Lucescu’s side the edge in qualification had last night’s match stayed level — which it seemed destined to for most of a tight second half.
Artur Boruc and Paul Hartley shook off fitness concerns to return to the starting line-up, but the positive mood was soon punctured.
Brandao had given Shakhtar an early lead in Ukraine when he capitalised on a Celtic error – and history repeated itself. Kennedy was under little pressure after a hopeful long ball to the edge of the Celtic box. But he headed his clearance against the Brazilian, whose finish was too strong for Boruc.
The home side were making basic errors and suffered a further blow in the 16th minute when Naylor left the field on a stretcher.
Donati came on in midfield, while Hartley slotted in at left-back.
Boruc then defied Brandao twice in 6
Jarosik levelled with a powerful left-foot volley in the 45th minute, after Srna and Dmytro Chygrynsky had collided while trying to clear Caldwell’s long ball.
Jarosik should have put Celtic in front during five minutes of injury-time when McGeady’s superb back-post ball found him unmarked – but the Czech international somehow put his diving header off target.
Celtic started slowly after the break, but Vennegoor of Hesselink forced Andriy Pyatov to push out his volleyed cross – and Shakhtar were relieved the rebound did not fall more kindly for the Hoops.
Celtic created a good chance in the 74th minute – and it fell to Jarosik again. Hartley’s near-post corner found the former Chelsea man, but he headed over under little pressure from eight yards.
The Ukrainians sat deeper, and Gordon Strachan played his final card by putting on Chris Killen for Vennegoor of Hesselink in the 79th minute.
Gary Caldwell was booked as a frustrated Celtic sensed their chances were slipping away, and Donetsk came close to a late winner when Brandao blazed over from eight yards after substitute Olexandr Gladkiy’s cut-back.
But Donati found the bottom corner from McGeady’s ball to the edge of the box at the end of two minutes of injury time, to send the Celtic fans into raptures.
Boruc, Caldwell, Kennedy (Pressley 41), McManus, Naylor (Donati 16), McGeady, Scott Brown, Hartley, Jarosik, McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink (Killen 79).
Pyatov, Srna, Chigrinsky, Kucher, Rat, Ilsinho (Yezerskiy 83), Hubschman, Lewandowski, Jadson, Lucarelli (Gladkiy 88), Brandao.
Bertrand Layec (France).
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
