Celtic 1 Manchester Utd 1:A Ryan Giggs header six minutes from time all but ended Celtic's Champions League hopes at Parkhead last night. Scott McDonald has got things off to a dream start in the 13th minute when he lobbed United's stand-in goalkeeper Ben Foster from 14 yards out to give the home side a half-time lead.

The Scottish champions withstood a second half of relentless pressure until six minutes to go when Giggs headed the equaliser in from close range after Artur Boruc had parried a Cristiano Ronaldo drive from distance.

Strachan gave a first Champions League start to Bailieborough teenager Cillian Sheridan, the former Cavan minor footballer joining McDonald up front.

The only team yet to score a goal in this season's competition  — Celtic — were up against the only team not to concede yet and the early signs did not look good for the Scottish champions.

The visitors forced the first corner after just two minutes and Ronaldo's drive from 14 yards, following Ryan Giggs' set-piece, was blocked by sheer numbers in the Hoops penalty area.

The game refused to settle down and in the ninth minute, after Barry Robson had clattered into Darren Fletcher 25 yards from goal, Ronaldo fired the free-kick a yard over Boruc's crossbar.

Celtic's aggression, however, was clearly affecting the Old Trafford side and in the 13th minute they stormed in to the lead with a wonderful McDonald goal after United failed to clear a Paul Hartley corner.

When Shaun Maloney knocked Nemanja Vidic's header back towards the penalty area, Gary Caldwell headed on to the Australian international who simply lobbed Foster from 16 yards out to set Parkhead alight.

At the other end, as United battled back, Rio Ferdinand cleared the bar from close range as Celtic defended desperately.

Hoops skipper Stephen McManus cleared from under his bar after a Ferdinand header at the back post as the English club continued to rack up the corners.

However, the United defence, and particularly Foster, did not look too confident any time the ball came in to their box, although the former Stoke goalkeeper did well to save and hold a Maloney drive from distance just before the half-hour mark.

United retained possession easily enough and often strode forward at will. But with the Celtic rearguard focused and determined, Boruc was having little to do.

A renegade pitch invader stopped proceedings for a few moments, but when play resumed United regained control and with three minutes remaining to the break, Boruc watched Nani's dangerous low drive speed across his six-yard box.

Ferguson sent on Dimitar Berbatov for Nani for the second half and Celtic players were soon throwing their bodies in front of the ball as the visitors drove forward for the equaliser.

But it was Foster who was called upon first as he had to stretch up to his top left hand corner to catch Maloney's curling effort from 30 yards.

The siege on the Hoops' penalty box continued and amid the intensifying onslaught, Vidic headed another Giggs corner wide of the target before Maloney cleared a Berbatov flick off the line.

In the 61st minute Celtic came close to doubling their lead when Sheridan climbed high to head a Hartley corner just over.

Midfielder Massimo Donati replaced the big Irishman moments later as Strachan looked to hold on to the precious advantage while soon after Evra came on for Rafael.

Celtic continued to withstand some astonishing pressure from the Red Devils who piled forward aided by Wayne Rooney, who replaced Carlos Tevez in what was the last throw of the dice by Ferguson.

And in the 84th minute the equaliser arrived. Ronaldo's swerving drive from 35 yards was parried by Boruc and Giggs was first to the ball to head into the net from close range.

After Scott Brown had fouled Ronaldo perilously close to the Celtic penalty area, the Portugal international drove the free-kick wide but the visitors will live to fight another day while Celtic's Champions League hopes are all but over.

Sheridan was delighted to make his start but disappointed that his side couldn't hold on at the death.

"It was a brilliant experience personally, it's a pity about the final result but they are the European champions. I suppose getting the goal so early meant it was backs to the wall afterwards," remarked Sheridan.