Iheanacho’s stunning strike saves Celtic from Europa League defeat

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho opened the scoring for Celtic on Wednesday in their opening Europa League match against Crvena Zvezda which ended in a 1-1 draw.

For Celtic, it was Nigerian forward Iheanacho who again showed his growing importance, scoring the visitors’ goal ten minutes after coming off the bench on Wednesday,

Daizen Maeda was replaced at halftime by Iheanacho, and the change paid off. Benjamin Nygren threaded a precise pass into Iheanacho’s path in the 55th minute; Iheanacho’s first touch was sharp, and his side-footed finish into the top corner left the goalkeeper no chance.

The lead was short-lived. Crvena Zvezda responded in the 65th minute when Marko Arnautović headed home from a well-worked corner after defensive lapses by Celtic.

From that point, the remainder of the contest saw both sides press, but neither could find a winner.

Iheanacho’s performance, though ultimately yielding only a point, reinforced his value to Brendan Rodgers’ side.

His ability to change the game after coming on reflects a blend of composure and opportunism traits Celtic will depend on in European competition.

Defensively, Celtic were tested often by Crvena Zvezda’s aerial threat, particularly from set-pieces. Kasper Schmeichel was busy, making several sharp saves to keep Celtic in the game.

Overall, the result leaves both teams with reason to be content but highlights the fine margins in European matches.

For Iheanacho, the goal is another confidence booster, contributing to what increasingly looks like a crucial role off the bench.