Dundee 3 – 3 Celtic

Arne Engels scored from the penalty spot in stoppage time to earn Celtic a dramatic draw in a six-goal epic against Dundee.

Luke McCowan returned to Dens Park to show them what they had lost when he headed the Premiership leaders ahead early on.

Despite their domination, Dundee were level at the break as Oluwaseun Adewumi fired in from a quick counter-attack.

It was a dramatic encounter and Hyun-Jun Yang had the Hoops back in front only for Cameron Carter-Vickers to turn Josh Mulligan’s low cross into his own net.

Aaron Donnelly thought his first Dundee goal had earned them their first win against Celtic since 1988, but Mo Sylla handled in the box and Engels made no mistake from the spot as they moved 16 points clear at the top of the table.

Dundee, who are unbeaten in three, are up to seventh.

Champions leave it late at Dens

Celtic went in front in the fifth minute after Greg Taylor marked his 200th Celtic appearance by delivering a perfect cross for McCowan to head into the far corner. The midfielder’s celebrations were muted.

Dundee had previously had a chance when Donnelly’s up-and-under throw-in bounced into Celtic’s six-yard box. Kasper Schmeichel saved Simon Murray’s glancing header on his line.

However, Donnelly’s next attempt at a long throw failed to make the penalty box and led to a Celtic chance on the break. Adam Idah lacked conviction when running on to Kyogo Furuhashi’s tempting low cross and the ball fizzed out of the danger zone.

Celtic looked in control and were creating chances. Paulo Bernardo headed off the bar and McCowan forced a diving save from Trevor Carson.

The hosts levelled out of the blue after breaking quickly following a Celtic corner.

Murray burst forward from the edge of his box and Finlay Robertson set Adewumi up to run at Alistair Johnston. The Burnley loanee curled a shot into the bottom corner as he ran into the box.

Celtic went back in front in the 53rd minute when Yang netted only his second goal in 49 appearances for the club.

The goal originated from a low cross from Furuhashi, who was again playing in a position towards the right wing. The ball spun up off Carson’s hand as he prevented Idah getting there and Yang showed desire to win the loose ball and head home.

Dundee were level again a minute later. Murray outmuscled Auston Trusty and sent Josh Mulligan sprinting into the box. Carter-Vickers slid in to block the wing-back’s low cross but diverted it inside Schmeichel’s near post.

The home side took belief from their second equaliser and created a series of chances. Adewumi and Robertson came close from long range and Ethan Ingram headed just wide from Mulligan’s cross before Cesar Garza shot well over from a half-chance.

In a sign of the way the game was going, Brendan Rodgers used all five of his substitutions before Tony Docherty made his first.

Docherty’s team were ahead before that change after Donnelly rose well at the back post to head Robertson’s corner into the top corner.

Dundee looked like seeing the game out until Don Robertson pointed to the spot and Engels sent Carson the wrong way three minutes into time added on.

‘Bordering on heroic’

Dundee boss Tony Docherty told Sky Sports:

“I’m really disappointed because I thought we had done enough to see the game out, but I need to balance that and praise the character and the personality of the team.

“When Celtic are bringing on the quality they’re bringing on, and I’ve asked Lyall Cameron to come on when he’s sick and not ready to play. Then I bring on Tiffoney, a striker to do a midfield role.

“I’m so proud about how much those boys give to me, give to their football club. That was bordering on heroic and it was a never-say-die attitude.”

‘We have to be much better’

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers told Sky Sports:

“We lacked aggression against the ball, duels and in our passing. It was sidewards or backwards, not aggressive enough positioning.

“We fight right to the very end and we get the point, but we let a game get away from us that we had so much control for 40 minutes.

“Give credit to Dundee because they fought themselves back into it, but when I look at us, we have to be much better than that.”

He singled out Auston Trusty for criticism for Dundee’s third, adding: “You’re centre-half, you’ve got to be strong, you’ve got to be aggressive and you’ve got to win your header.”

What the Sky Sports pundits said:

Kris Boyd:

“Celtic are way ahead in the league and sometimes the complacency can set in, but Brendan Rodgers will know they need to turn up for these next two Champions League games.

“They’re huge games for the football club, they need to turn up.

“That left-hand side of defence is an issue for them. You look at Trusty [before Dundee’s third], they’ve stood on his toe and he’s rolling about. You’ve got to be a centre-back, you’ve got to stand up.

“Celtic have spent a lot of money bringing in Trusty, bringing in Engels and bringing in Idah. Idah again tonight, wow I just don’t know what’s going on with him.

“I get when you’re a striker and you’re not scoring goals you maybe overthink things but he just doesn’t be the same player that came up here last season.”

James McFadden:

“Brendan Rodgers speaks about being passive and not aggressive enough with the ball, but he’s actually speaking about Simon Murray on Trusty for the second goal and Trusty on Donnelly for the third goal.

“Rodgers is putting it around everyone but he’s letting Trusty know that isn’t acceptable.”

Neil Lennon:

“It’s cost them goals.

“He sets really high standards which the team maintain for long, long periods but when they drop off the standards then they need to be told.”

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