Celtic have made a habit out of somehow squirreling three points from evenly contested affairs likes these, but sometimes the outcome accurately reflects the balance of play. Everything about this match screamed a draw and it was no less entertaining for that.
While not one for the purist, there was much to recommend it, particularly in an enthralling second half where both sides traded blows. The stalemate was broken by Paul Hartley after the interval, but Francisco Sandaza's 79th-minute equaliser was no less than Dundee United deserved after an impressive showing.
The Tannadice side were clearly smarting from their 3-1 reverse to Hamilton Academical and competed fiercely all over the pitch in a much-improved performance.
Celtic, for their part, also played better than last week's 1-0 victory over St Mirren and could even have left with the full points haul had Scott McDonald not passed up a snip of a chance at the death. However, that would have been more than Gordon Strachan's side deserved, particularly after referee Charlie Richmond had denied United a clear penalty when Gary Caldwell felled Roy O'Donovan inside the box.
Tannadice holds special memories for Celtic after their memorable title win on the final day of last season. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's decisive strike at the end of May sparked emotional scenes which culminated in the presentation of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League trophy.
Yesterday, United's pitch looked distinctly lusher than the turf that the Celtic players cavorted around on as they paraded their silverware a few short months ago. Despite their summer recruitment programme, their line-up showed only two changes from their last encounter, with new signings Georgios Samaras and Marc Crosas both left on the bench.
The home side enjoyed the best of the early exchanges and created the first opening after 11 minutes. Mihael Kovacevic swung in a cross from the right and David Robertson glanced a header towards the top corner which Artur Boruc did well to claw away. The match soon descended into a scrappy midfield battle, with neither side able to hold onto and control possession for any sustained period of time.
United looked marginally more threatening in the final third and had a good chance to break the deadlock in the 21st minute. Lee Wilkie's knockdown fell to Danny Grainger inside the box and his meaty drive whizzed marginally over the bar.
Celtic huffed and puffed in the central midfield area, with Scott Brown ineffectual and Hartley industrious. Shunsuke Nakamura made his first start of the season after returning from a hernia operation and started to drift from his right midfield station in an effort to find pockets of space. Aiden McGeady was Celtic's main outlet on the left- hand side, but he was well-marshalled by a combination of Willo Flood and Kovacevic in the first half.
When he did manage to wriggle free of his markers at one stage, he picked out Vennegoor of Hesselink with a fine cross but the Dutchman's header flew well over. The Republic of Ireland international took the initiative himself towards the end of the half with a shot that stung Lukasz Zaluska's palms.
Celtic emerged for the second half with a renewed sense of purpose and took the lead within six minutes. It was a superbly worked opener that owed much to the endeavour of Mark Wilson. The Celtic left-back started the move in his own half and played the ball to McGeady inside the United half. Wilson continued his run to the bye-line and swept a cross to the backpost, where Nakamura was lurking. The Japanese midfielder made half a yard for himself and cut the ball back to Hartley, who steadied himself to angle a low drive into the far corner of the net.
Four minutes later, Celtic earned a massive reprieve. O'Donovan jinked around Caldwell and the defender slipped the pins from the Irishman as he turned towards goal. It was a certain penalty but, inexplicably, Richmond waved it away as the United players and fans reacted with fury. It was to be the referee's last decision and he had to leave the field soon after when he went over on his ankle following a collision with Nakamura. Unsurprisingly, none of the United players came to Richmond's aid as he hobbled off to be replaced by Iain Brines.
A flowing move involving McGeady and McDonald presented Vennegoor of Hesselink with a chance, but the Dutchman's driven effort was well saved by Zaluska. O'Donovan had a great chance to level for United in the 72nd minute but Boruc came to Celtic's rescue when he saved with his legs.
United's moment would come soon after, though. Craig Levein made two inspired substitutions when he replaced Warren Feeney with Sandaza and, 10 minutes later, Flood with Craig Conway. With his first touch of the ball, Conway hit the left bye-line and steered a cross to the front post, where Sandaza popped up unchecked to flick a left-foot shot into the roof of the net.
McDonald had a golden chance to claim all three points when McManus' header reached him at the back post, but he nodded wide from only a few yards out. Then Sandaza's turn and shot was well saved by Boruc as the game ended with honours even.
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