Celtic’s u-17 side staged an unlikely comeback to beat Estudiates of Argentina 2-1 at the Al Kass International Cup in Qatar.
The young hoops failed to get a single shot on target during the first half with Franco Avila netting in the 17th minute from one of Estudiates’ eight shots on target.
Celtic looked dead and buried at the break but midway through the second half Keiran Campbell and Kerr McInroy netted to turn the match around.
Estadiantes will have to beat Redbull Salzburg on Tuesday to deny the hoops a place in the quarter-finals of the 12 team competition.
Michael O’Halloran made three changes to the side that started against Redbull with Shaun Bowers, Grant Thorburn and McInroy coming in for Robbie Deas, Ross McLaughlin and Broque Watson.
Celtic struggled through the first half and it was no surprise when Avila netted at the back post from a deep diagonal cross from the left.
It could have been worse for the hoops but faced with an open goal and the ball rolling into the net in the 44th minute an Estudiantes forward poked the ball into the net with the linesman instantly raising his flag.
#MCinroy scores for @celticfc at #AlkassU17 pic.twitter.com/4fpkLfRxHR
— ALKASS Intl Cup (@ALKASSIntlCup) February 7, 2016
Celtic imposed themselves a bit more after the break and almost levelled on the hour mark when Ciaran Diver headed a McInroy corner onto the bar with Wallace Duffy almost connecting with the rebound.
Five minutes later Celtic were back on level terms with Cambell steering his shot home from four yards out after a Michael Johnston header was parried into his path by the keeper following a cross from Diver on the left.
In the 76th minute Celtic took the lead with a great shot from McInroy after Johnston had slipped him in with a perfectly weighted pass.
CELTIC: McAdams; Bowers (Potter 90), Welsh, Duffy, Church; Campbell, Bell (McLauglin 63), Thorburn (Antonazzi 58); Johnston (Barr) 85, Diver