Match Report: Celtic 2-2 Kilmarnock (A)

An early goal from Leigh Griffiths and a wonder strike from Nir Bitton wasn’t enough to give Celtic the three points as a late penalty gave Kilmarnock their first points of the season.

Kilmarnock punished Celtic for wasting chances in front of goal earlier in the half. Following a good 15-minute spell, Josh Magennis got Kilmarnock’s first league goal of the season.

Celtic took the lead after just two minutes after a quick free kick and defensive lapse from Killie allowed Griffiths to get in behind the Kilmarnock defence and slot the ball past a helpless MacDonald in goal.

MacDonald kept Killie in the game on a number of occasions in the first-half, but couldn’t keep out Nir Bitton’s fantastic effort from 30-yards out after 55 minutes. The Israeli fired a rocket of a shot into the top right-hand corner leaving the ‘keeper with no chance.

Referee Crawford Allan awarded Kilmarnock a penalty in the closing minutes for a foul committed by Izaguirre. Higginbotham stepped up and calmly chipped it down the middle sending Gordon diving to the right.

The Hoops dominated the opening stages testing the Kilmarnock goalkeeper regularly as the home side struggled to get a foothold on the game. Commons, Rogic and Forrest all had chances to double Celtic’s lead early in the half, but all their efforts were saved by the Kilmarnock ‘keeper.

Kilmarnock’s first notable attack saw them get a corner after 20 minutes, but a wayward shot by Smith saw the opportunity go astray.

Griffiths won a corner for Celtic after some good running by James Forrest cutting inside and sliding a ball in behind the Kilmarnock defence. From the resulting corner, stand-in captain Johansen’s shot from the edge of the area went just over the crossbar.

Kilmarnock caught the Celtic defence out after a through ball from the right-hand side caught out both central defenders. After a well-timed run, the Killie striker Magennis couldn’t finish the one-on-one against Craig Gordon and fired over the bar.

Another chance for Kilmarnock after 38 minutes saw Celtic switch off at the back from a set-piece that found Smith’s head, but Gordon showed great reactions to stick a foot on the ball to prevent a goal and easily caught the follow-up header.

Kilmarnock punished Celtic for wasting chances in front of goal earlier in the half. Following a good 15-minute spell, Josh Magennis got Kilmarnock’s first league goal of the season. Magennis squandered several chances earlier in the half poked the ball home from a cross on the right-hand side to level the score just before half-time.

Rogic continued to cause problems for the Killie defence driving down the left side of the defence and into the box leaving the Killie defender on the ground but failed to square the ball to Griffiths in the middle.

Celtic started the second-half in a similar fashion to the first, dominating possession and creating chances but none as clear-cut as the opening goal.

Forrest again was the architect down the left-hand side, driving at the home sides defence and almost going to ground before finding Griffiths in the box who dragged his shot wide of the goal.

Janko again showed his attacking intent and played the ball across the edge of the area before the ball found its way to Griffiths only to see his effort once again parried away by the Killie shot stopper.

MacKenzie forced Gordon to make a save from an audacious distance but the Scot wasn’t too troubled as it was hit right down the middle of the goal.

Izaguirre broke done the left wing and fired a cross into the box finding Griffiths with an almost spectacular effort that trickled just wide of the target.

Set-pieces continued to cause Celtic problems at the back as they failed to deal with several corners and only for Gordon in goal and some frantic defending to prevent a second goal.

The home side managed to hang on to earn their first point of the season in what was in the end a very frustrating night for Celtic at Rugby Park.