GIORGOS GIAKOUMAKIS loves saving his best until last.
Late, late goals have become a speciality for him with Celtic – and this time it was an astonishing 95th minute winner.
Just as Celtic appeared to be handing Rangers another enormous boost, the Greek powerhouse dramatically pounced with a precious finish.
Back in August Giakoumakis netted in the 90th minute against Hearts and FOUR times last season he also struck in the dying minutes.
Here, though, was his latest yet – and some delirious supporters spilled out of the away end to celebrate with him trackside.
Amazingly, Saints’ Alex Mitchell had made it 1-1 in the 93rd minute following an Andy Considine own goal just before half time.
But they still couldn’t see it out for a point.
Cameron Carter-Vickers’ return after a three-game absence was massive for the champions, the Celts losing two of them and labouring to victory over Motherwell.
To underline his importance to the team he also got the armband with Callum McGregor now facing being out until after the World Cup.
Alexandro Bernabei came in for his first Hoops league start since a so far underwhelming £3.75 million summer move as boss Postecoglou made six changes from the midweek Champions League defeat in Leipzig.
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Celtic have been nowhere near their best in recent weeks – but this was still a huge task for Saints.
The visitors had triumphed in their last 11 visits while they took seven off Callum Davidson’s men in their last meeting at Parkhead in April.
Ali Crawford and Stevie May dropped out for the Saints from the defeat to Kilmarnock with Ukrainian attacking youngster Max Kucheriavyi, 20, given a full debut.
For 42 minutes the Perth outfit stifled Celtic.
Celtic threatened after three minutes, Stephen Welsh heading over a Matt O’Riley corner.
Bernabei enjoyed a promising first half, composed in defence and plenty of attacking purpose, and he got to the bye-line in the seventh minute and fired a great ball across the face of goal with no takers.
He was at the heart of a fine move seconds later which resulted in Jota picking out Liel Abada just three yards from goal – only for the Israeli, failing to open up his body, awkwardly stabbing an effort high and wide.
Soon after Saints had a moment out of nothing, frontman Nicky Clark in ahead of Welsh and attempting to lob Joe Hart with a chip which dropped not too far over.
Saints No1 Remi Matthews produced an excellent finger tip save from an O’Riley left foot shot from the edge of the box pushing the ball against the post.
Then Sead Haksabanovic tried his luck from distance with a shot which Matthews spilled out but the recalled Giakoumakis couldn’t get to.
Celtic constantly probed as they looked for a bit of individual brilliance to cut open a compact home back-line.
An Abada cross drifted away from a lost Matthews and clipped the crossbar.
Seven minutes from the break Saints’ attacker Kucheriavyi had a wild left foot shot over.
Just when it appeared Celtic were going into the break frustrated they opened the scoring.
Reo Hatate’s delightful pass put Hakasbanovic into the box and from his wicked, driven cross to the near post Saints stopper Considine diverted it past Matthews and into the roof of the net with an outstretched leg.
Celtic deserved the lead, no question. But it still felt harsh on a Saints side which had worked so hard to keep them at bay only to be undone by an OG.
The Hoops thought they’d killed the game in the 50th minute with a Giakoumakis bullet header from an O’Riley free-kick – but he was flagged offside.
Celtic had Daizen Maeda on for Jota to give Saints something different to worry about.
Haksabanovic had grown into the game and was a thorn with his piercing runs.
Saints struggled to get out of their half as Celtic passed for fun and relentlessly worked either flank for openings.
O’Riley hit a free-kick inches past and then Abada had two big chances in quick succession – firstly well denied by Matthews in a one-on-one and then again by the keeper who made a full-dive save at his near post.
Saints had brought on and in the 69th minute he was suddenly sent clear into the Celts box by fellow sub Ali Crawford. But, agonisingly for the home fans, his point-blank right foot shot was touched by a diving Hart onto the far post before Tony Ralston cleared.
It was a massive escape for the Hoops.
Both sides made changes going into the closing stages – and we moved into an incredible final three minutes of normal time and, then especially, five minutes added time.
Maeda thought he’d made it 2-0 in the 87th minute only for Celtic to again be denied by an offside flag.
Then a minute later Saints sub Connor McLennan blasted over a great chance from close range.
Hart pushed away a powerful May shot as Saints maintained late pressure.
Three minutes into injury time, though, the home side sensationally levelled.
The Celts defence woefully failed to deal with a speculative Crawford free-kick and the ball dropped for Mitchell in the box just six yards out and with only Hart to beat he side-footed home.
But just as it seemed the Hoops had astonishingly thrown away two points they delivered a remarkable winner.
As the game moved into the final extra minute they worked the ball to the overlapping Bernabei – helped by Wright pulling up injured – and from his low cross Giakoumakis stormed in to bundle home from four yards and spark bedlam among the away support.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
