Celtic secured their first Europa League win of the season with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Besiktas at Parkhead on Thursday, thanks to a second-half turnaround inspired by substitutes Callum Osmand and Camilo Duran.
Substitutes Turn the Match Around
Trailing 1-0 with an hour played and heading toward a fourth consecutive defeat in the competition, Celtic manager Martin O’Neill introduced Callum Osmand and Camilo Duran from the bench. The impact was immediate, as 20-year-old Osmand scored with his first touch just 43 seconds after coming on, nestling the ball into the bottom corner of Alexander Nubel’s goal to level the score.
On 77 minutes, O’Neill replaced club-record signing Kasper Hogh and shifted Duran into a central role. The tactical adjustment paid off when Osmand played a pass through to Duran, who rounded Nubel to put Celtic ahead. Although Orkun Kokcu equalized for Besiktas with a fine strike, Duran secured the win two minutes later by controlling Kieran Tierney’s scuffed shot and beating Nubel from close range.
Speaking on TNT Sports, former Celtic midfielder Stiliyan Petrov said, “Everything changed with the subs; Osmand coming on and Duran going through the middle. They freed up space for Nygren and Baur. It was a really positive 30 minutes.” The feat marked the first time a Celtic substitute scored twice in a European match, excluding qualifiers, since Johannes Edvaldsson against Jeunesse d’Esch in September 1977.
O’Neill praised his goalscorers, stating, “Osmand came on, first touch put the ball in the net and that’s really difficult, he can definitely score a goal. Duran has been fabulous for us all season no matter where he plays.” Addressing whether the changes proved he should have started his best players, the manager explained that the team had played nine games in 25 days, making a breather and re-energised substitutes part of the plan.
Duran Outperforms Hogh in Attack
The contrast in Celtic’s attack between Hogh leading the line and Duran playing centrally was stark. Despite his £11 million price tag and industrious efforts, the Danish forward has failed to score in 16 of his 17 appearances since arriving from Bodo/Glimt in the summer. During his 77 minutes against Besiktas, Hogh failed to register a single shot or touch in the opposition box, while Duran managed two goals, two shots, and four touches in the box in just 30 minutes.
Hearts defender Craig Halkett noted on TNT Sports that the situation will be tough for Hogh as a big-money signing, advising that he must keep working hard. Meanwhile, Osmand’s performance has positioned him strongly to start on the left wing. Osmand told TNT Sports that the team dug in and stayed strong to earn their rewards, adding that he simply wants to come on and make an impact.
With Duran establishing himself as the best option through the middle, it appears inevitable that Hogh will feature among the substitutes for upcoming high-stakes matches.
