A JOHN GUIDETTI equaliser in the 93rd minute rescued a 3-3 draw for Celtic in an enthralling first leg of their last-32 UEFA Europa League encounter against Inter tonight.
A goalkeeping howler from Celtic’s Craig Gordon looked like giving victory to Inter, as Rodrigo Palacio pounced on the stroke of half-time to restore Inter’s lead in Glasgow.
The Scotland international dived at full stretch to collect a routine Gary Medel long ball with Palacio chasing in hope, only to drop the ball upon making contact with the ground, allowing the striker to tap into an empty net.
But Gordon would have breathed a sigh of relief when substitute Guidetti chested down a clever ball from Liam Henderson before firing into the roof of the net in the third minute of stoppage time.
Inter — who remain unbeaten in this season’s competition — had earlier claimed a two-goal lead, as Xherdan Shaqiri and Palacio struck inside the first 12 minutes, but Celtic pegged them back quickly.
Stuart Armstrong first scored in the 24th minute, and less than 60 seconds later, Hugo Campagnaro netted an own goal, giving Ronny Deila’s side all the momentum.
Palacio’s fortunate second swung things in Inter’s favour, but Manchester City loanee Guidetti was on hand to level in dramatic circumstances at the end of a second half that Celtic controlled.
Elsewhere in tonight’s Europa League action, Tottenham were left to rue early missed chances as Fiorentina claimed a valuable 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino made six changes for the first leg of the last-32 clash, as Tottenham tackled the first of six games in 17 days across three competitions, but his remodelled line-up dominated the opening exchanges after recalled forward Roberto Soldado scored a fine sixth-minute opener.
But Soldado was partly culpable for the Fiorentina equaliser, bringing down Joaquin before the subsequent free-kick fell kindly for Jose Basanta to score a vital away goal.
Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku displayed his top-level credentials with a ‘perfect’ hat-trick, as Everton demolished Young Boys 4-1 in their first-leg tie in Switzerland.
In an opening quarter largely dominated by the visiting team, it was the hosts who went ahead through Guillaume Hoarau’s impressive curled effort.
But Everton had always looked comfortable on the artificial surface and hit back through quickfire Lukaku and Seamus Coleman goals midway through the first half.
Another from Lukaku put Martinez’s men in the driving seat and he completed his treble with a neatly taken strike in the second half.
Hoarau missed a penalty soon after, while John Stones was dismissed in giving the spot-kick away. But it mattered little as Young Boys’ seven-match winning streak in home European games was snapped, putting Martinez’s side in firm control of the tie.
