Kristoffer Ajer v Junior Kabananga
Still wet behind the ears as he made only his fourth start for Celtic, the Norwegian defender looked a little unnerved after putting the ball into his own net, and his night seemed to go from bad to worse in the second period. With no experience practitioner of the role to lean on, he was completely spooked as Celtic found themselves bombarded in the second half and the teenager might take a little time to find his composure after this one. It was a hugely difficult evening for Ajer who was dragged all over his own box at times and while he may have learned far more from that experience that he will from domestic games as Celtic coast to victories, it would not have been the most comfortable of games. Kabanaga’s physical presence was a handful but the sheer energy of Patrick Twumasi meant that there were holes throughout Celtic’s backline.
Nir Bitton v Patrick Twumasi
Twumasi was probably Astana’s best player with the Ghanan internationalist causing all manner of discomfort in the makeshift Celtic defence. Those hectic early minutes of the second period as Celtic suddenly sensed a different atmosphere and mentality within the Astana side. Two quick goals as soon as the game restarted unnerved Celtic and it was Twumasi who seemed to be the catalyst for the forward forays of the Kazakhstans. Moved into a more central position as the game looked out of reach for Astana and it was Twumasi who was able to impose himself on Bitton. The top scorer at the African Cup of Nations in January, Twunamsi sensed the panic within the Celtic defence and as he appealed to the home crowd to firmly get behind the team, there was a danger that he might well have inspired the hosts to the most unlikeliest of comebacks. Bitton’s night may well have ended any suggestions that he is capable of playing at centre-half, particularly at any kind of top-level.
Scott Brown v Ivan Maevski
Such was Brown’s dominancy in the opening period that he might have pulled out the cigars at the interval; whatever happened at the break, though, the Celtic captain took his head off the ball. Cuplable for two sloppy mistakes that directly led to Astana scoring a quick-fire double after the restart, Brown went from running the show to risking taking on a different kind of role. Will be relieved to have come through the game with those errors brushed under the carpet given the fact that Celtic have progressed. Ultimately it was a tie to win by any means necessary but the second-half flirtation with disaster ought to underline that Celtic might need a little help before the group stages gets underway.
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