Eboue Kouassi made his first appearance in over a year as Celtic drew 1-1 with Motherwell in a Reserve Cup tie at Lennoxtown.
UPDATE- It seems that in the event of a draw these matches go to a penalty shoot-out which Celtic won. That bonus point means that they can’t be caught by Motherwell even if they win their final group match against Dundee.
The midfielder suffered cruciate ligament damage in the League Cup semi-final against Hearts last October and hasn’t played since.
Kouassi came through the full 90 minutes of a very competitive match in which the Motherwell players defended with everything they had. This was no box-ticking development match with both sides going all out to win with the Fir Parkers now favourites to progress to the knock-out pgase. .
The Ivorian was selected alongside Luca Connell in the centre of the Celtic midfield as Tommy McIntyre’s side completed their Reserve Cup campaign.
There was a set-back in the fifth minute when a pass-back from Jack Hendry put Liam Hughes under pressure, his rushed clearance fell to a Motherwell forward who scored with ease.
Cameron Harper and Liam Burt were providing Celtic’s main attacking threats down the flanks but around the penalty area the hoops were getting crowded out.
Jonathan Afolabi drew Celtic level on the half hour with a clever lob over the advancing keeper with his shot dropping just under the bar.
Moterwell were happy with their point, with their final group matc coming on January 27 against Dundee a win will see them pip Celtic for top spot on goal difference.
Celtic pinned Motherwell back in stretches during the second half but had few direct chances on goal.
In the last ten minutes substitute Armstrong Oko-Flex had a shot blocked from a Karamoko Dembele through ball while Harper should have hit the target when he had a free header from an Oko Flex corner.
CELTIC: Hughes; O’Connell, Hendry, Church, Paterson; Connell (Coffey), Kouassi; Harper, Dembele, Burt (Oko Flex), Afolabi
