Rapid Vienna 1-1 Celtic: Moussa Dembele scores penalty in pre-season draw
Tuesday 4 July 2017 08:21, UK
Moussa Dembele equalised from the spot as Celtic continued preparations for their Champions League campaign with a 1-1 draw against Rapid Vienna.
Dembele converted a 72nd-minute penalty after new signing Jonny Hayes was brought down, cancelling out a spot-kick the hosts converted themselves through Joelinton on the stroke of half-time.
Brendan Rodgers made 11 changes in the second half but after a narrow 1-0 victory over Linz in their opening friendly last week, his side remain unbeaten in Austria as a Champions League second-round qualifier against Linfield or La Fiorita looms later this month.
Rodgers had shuffled his his starting XI, Wednesday's match-winner James Forrest recalled alongside Craig Gordon, Dedryck Boyata, Kieran Tierney and Scott Sinclair. But there was no place this time for son Anton, who made a surprise trial appearance against Linz after leaving Swindon.
Rapid's start was swift and Craig Gordon was forced into a diving save to deny Joelinton, before having to pick a ball tapped in by Tamas Szanto out of the net as Celtic were saved by the offside flag.
Stuart Armstrong took aim from distance, while Thomas Murg fired over the bar at the other end as the Austrians continued to dominate, and the hosts got their reward in the final moments of the half.
Boyata's poor backpass drew a foul from Gordon and Joelinton brushed himself down before beating the goalkeeper to his left.
Dembele and Hayes were among the men introduced on the hour as Rodgers refreshed his entire side and Hayes made a swift impact, taking on his man and darting into the box to draw a desperate tackle that prompted the referee's whistle.
Dembele finished high into the net - his first goal since March following injury - but the Hoops had to settle for a draw after what proved a brisk workout in the July sunshine.
