CELTIC goal hero Kieran Tierney said last night that the strike which opened the scoring against RB Leipzig was even sweeter than the one he grabbed in a famous 3-3 Champions League draw against Manchester City – because the Parkhead side ended up taking all three points.
The left back ran to the same corner of the ground where the standing section is located after firing in a fine 11th minute drive from a James Forrest cross, and dedicated the goal to each one of the supporters who turned up on what was another epic European night for the Scottish champions.
"Jamesie cut a lovely ball back and it came all the way through to me,” said Tierney. “All I was thinking was, 'Touch and shoot'. I hit it as hard as I could and hoped for the best.
"Luckily for me, it went in - even though the keeper got a touch. To score at that end was amazing. Everyone knew where I was running.
"It was a brilliant way to celebrate but you can't get too carried away as the game is back on. I scored at the same end against Man City but we didn't win that night, so I was gutted. To get a goal in a win like that makes it even sweeter.”
Perhaps the biggest plus on the night, however, was the resilience Celtic showed after conceding a 78th minute equaliser on the night to Leipzig’s Jean-Kevin Augustin. Within a minute they had gone back up the park and restored their lead.
"The biggest plus from the game was the way we reacted to the Leipzig equaliser,” said Tierney. “In the past, we have crumbled when we conceded a goal. This time, we went forward, put pressure on them and got the winner. That felt like a Champions League night against one of the biggest and best sides in Germany.”
“A few of us, me, Callum and Jamesy all came through the academy and I think that’s what Celtic fans want to see as well. A mixture of academy players, foreign players and other boys coming. It is a great mix we have got in the team, a great bond, and a huge honour for me to be part of it
Red Bull Salzburg top Group B with 12 points, with Leipzig ahead of Celtic only on head-to-head, but victory in Norway against Rosenborg and the Parkhead side would be entitled to fancy their chances of reaching the last 32.
“There’s no guarantees,” said Tierney. “Leipzig might now be favourites but we have given ourselves a chance and that is all you can ask of us. I would personally like to thank every fan because the atmosphere they create for us is brilliant, results like tonight would not happen without them. I didn’t see the lights at the start of the match but I heard they were brilliant. I will go back and watch them!”
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