Celtic had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Everton in their opening match in the Premier League International Cup.
Filip Twardzik opened the scoring in the 27th minute but with three points in sight Courtney Duffus equalised in the 80th minute with the home side worthy of a point after dominating the second half.
Celtic’s next match in the u-21 competition is away to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on December 18 with the remaining match against Villarreal still to be scheduled.
The lure of the match seemed lost on the home support but the busy directors box contained Johan Mjallby, Gary Parker, Eric Black, Malky Mackay and Steven Pressley among others passing up the attractions of the Champions League.
Both sides matched up with a heavy emphasis on midfield with little to note in the first 25 minutes with neither keeper seriously called into action.
Just before the half hour however that changed when the visitors took the lead. Paul McMullan’s corner from the left was cleared to the edge of the penalty box with Joe Thomson’s shot carrying little threat until Twardzik stuck out a leg to sclaf the ball past Russell Griffiths.
Celtic were carrying more of a threat than Everton with Thomson and Paul George eager to get forward to support McMullan who was playing the loan striker role.
Everton finished the first half pushing for an equaliser but Leo Fasan didn’t have anything to worry about as Celtic went into the break leading by Twardzik’s goal.
Arouna Kone, Everton’s £6m striker was withdrawn at the interval with Kieran Dowell introduced with the home side starting to play with the purpose that they’d lacked during the first half.
Just past the hour mark Kieran Tierney replaced George with the hoops increasingly on the back foot as Everton pushed for an equaliser.
Celtic looked on course for full points but ten minutes from the end Duffus leveled the scores when he shot past Fasan from eight yards out following a cross from Gethin Jones on the right.
EVERTON: Griffiths, Jones, Kenny, Walsh, Pennington, Galloway, Grant, Williams, Kone (Dowell 46), Long (Henen 67), McAleny (Duffus 65)
SUBS: Hewelt, Connolly.
CELTIC: Fasan; Fisher, O’Connell, Findlay, Waters; Henderson, Lindsay; Thomson, George (Tierney 61), Twardzik; McMullan (Donnelly 90)
Subs: Hart, Kelleher, McCart, Breslin, Donnelly, Nesbitt.
