With only an hour gone at Parkhead on Thursday, the atmosphere among the fans was tense. Celtic found themselves trailing 1-0 against Besiktas, facing the prospect of a fourth consecutive defeat in this season’s Europa League.
In search of a spark, manager Martin O’Neill called upon his bench, substituting Callum Osmand and Camilo Duran for Sebastian Tounekti and James Forrest out wide.
The change proved effective almost immediately. Osmand made his mark within just 43 seconds of entering the pitch, finding the corner of Alexander Nubel’s goal with his first touch.
Suddenly, Celtic appeared revitalized, putting pressure on the Besiktas defense. In the 77th minute, O’Neill opted to replace Kasper Hogh, who had struggled throughout the match, shifting Duran into a more central position.
This tactical adjustment paid off once more. Osmand set up Duran with a beautiful pass, allowing the Colombian to glide past Nubel and score, putting Celtic ahead.
Although Orkun Kokcu managed to equalize for Besiktas with an impressive strike, Duran quickly responded just two minutes later. Controlling Kieran Tierney’s mis-hit shot, he found the net again, igniting celebration among the home supporters.
Former Celtic midfielder Stiliyan Petrov noted on TNT Sports, “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.”
Duran’s contribution marked a record for Celtic, as it had been since September 1977 that a substitute scored twice in Europe, excluding qualifiers.
O’Neill praised the performances of his substitutes, 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.”
When asked if his choices were a result of inspiration or if he should have started his best players, O’Neill replied, “I’m not standing up for myself, not at all. It was designed to do exactly what it did. We’ve played nine games in 25 days; some players needed a breather, and you can get re-energized from coming on the field. This was our plan, and those players were intended to come on at some point.”
Duran Emerges as a Key Player
The difference in Celtic’s offensive approach with Duran compared to Hogh leading the line was stark. Despite Hogh’s evident effort, he has not scored in 16 of his 17 appearances, and against Besiktas, he failed to register a shot during his time on the field and only touched the ball once in the opposition box.
Conversely, Duran, in just half an hour, made a significant impact, scoring twice, taking two shots, and securing four touches in the Besiktas box. O’Neill has expressed uncertainty regarding his best lineup, but it appears Duran stands out as Celtic’s most effective option in the central position.
Despite Hogh’s hefty price tag, it seems likely he will be relegated to the bench for crucial matches moving forward.
Craig Halkett, a defender for Hearts, commented, “It’ll be tough for Hogh. He was the big-money signing, but it’s not coming off for him. As a player, you need to keep your head down, keep working hard and hope it turns.”
Osmand has also positioned himself as a strong contender for a starting role on the left. The former Fulham player has shown directness and an ability to score during crucial games.
Osmand stated, “This is a great team we’re playing against. Camilo [Duran] did amazing; he’s such a poacher. Credit to him. It’s a lot harder starting games. The team dug in, stayed strong, and we got our rewards. [The goal] caught me off guard, but I’m just glad I caught it nice. I just want to come on and make something happen. So happy with tonight.”
