CELTIC 3 (Commons 45, Samaras 48, Forrest 90)
SHAKHTER KARAGANDY 0
There have been more cultured European nights in the east end of Glasgow but this theatre of football has rarely seen such a dramatic game and finale.
Goals either side of half-time had given Neil Lennon’s side a Champions League reprieve but the tie was heading into overtime when James Forrest struck and Celtic Park exploded.
The home side were often utterly dominant but unable to finish off a side hoping to give Kazakhstan representation in the group stage for the first time.
The visitors were themselves unlucky not to score a crushing away goal midway through the second half but will have to content themselves with a place in the Europa Cup.
Celtic, making three changes from the first leg, had the obvious intent of testing Aleksandr Mokin as early as possible but the Shakhter goalkeeper, whose handling had been woeful in Astana, responded well.
Mikael Lustig’s far post header from a Kris Commons cross had the crowd on their feet but Mokin punched the ball over the bar.
Although Fraser Forster had to stretch low to save a shot from Sergei Khizhnichenko, Celtic continued to pound the Shakhter penalty box with shots and crosses.
Forrest forced another save from Mokin and the goalkeeper continued to dispel the image he had presented in the home game when he palmed away another goal-bound effort, this time from the lively Anthony Stokes.
Wicked free kick
Next up in the effort to secure the relaxant of an early goal was Commons with a wicked free kick which Mokin, not so convincingly this time, pushed to safety.
It seemed Celtic must score but somehow the Kazakhstan side survived. With half an hour played there was a reminder of the doomsday scenario for the home side of a Shakhter away goal when Aldin Dzidic headed over Forster’s bar.
Encouraged, the visitors enjoyed their best spell of the half with Lustig required to block a Khizhnichenko attempt.
Both Celtic and the crowd were subdued and the game entering injury-time when Commons gloriously transformed a fruitless first half by unleashing a venomous shot from 25 yards to put his side unexpectedly, if deservedly, ahead.
The psychological impact of the goal negated any need for Lennon to give a state of the nation address in the home dressing room at half time.
If anything his players started the second period even more pumped up than they had been in the first and this time they got their reward quickly.
Just three minutes, and much Celtic pressing, were on the clock when Lustig's shot from the edge of the box landed at the feet of Georgios Samaras.
Close range
From close range he put Celtic level on aggregate with almost the whole of the second half to find the third which, if not responded to at the other end, would take the Glasgow club into the group stage for a second successive season.
They very nearly got that goal when Forrest sent over a teasing cross which found Stokes unmarked at the far post. He should have buried it but instead his right foot volley hit the bar.
Just how vulnerable Celtic’s position was couldn’t have been more vividly illustrated than in the next two minutes.
First Adam Matthews, guarding the far post, had to desperately scoop Dzidic’s net-bound shot off the line and then Shakhter came even closer.
In the first game the long throws into the box of Gediminas Vicius had caused the Celtic defence undue problems and there was a mighty sigh of relief when Khizhnichenko’s effort from another hit the bar.
Even if they did not score, the visitors made it clear they were not going to roll over and provided a timely warning to Celtic that they could not attack with abandon in pursuit of the third goal.
With the game ebbing and flowing more evenly than at any other point the spectacle was gripping, both teams aware that one slip would consign them to the Europa League.
Almost unbelievably, lightning struck twice as the game went into injury-time with an extra 30 minutes, and possibly penalties as well, looming. This time it was Forrest, who had been lively but often lacking a finishing flourish, who redeemed himself by sweeping home Stokes' low cut back and send Celtic Park into raptures.
Guardian Service
