In a thrilling fifth-round Scottish Cup tie, Martin O’Neill’s Celtic managed to avert disaster against Steven Pressley’s Dundee, coming from behind to secure a 2-1 victory after extra time. The match began with Celtic dominating the first half, consistently pushing against Dundee’s packed defense. However, the Tayside side took a surprising lead just four minutes into the second half, thanks to a stunning strike from Ethan Hamilton, marking his first goal for Dundee.
Despite the initial setback, O’Neill’s side rallied and increased their pressure in search of an equalizer. With tensions running high and just moments remaining, O’Neill introduced Junior Adamu, a new loan signing from Freiburg. The Austrian international made an immediate impact, back-heeling a pass from fellow newcomer Tounekti into the net in the sixth minute of added time, igniting celebrations among the Celtic supporters who had ignored calls for a boycott of the match. Just moments later, in the second minute of injury time, Tounekti found the back of the net himself after a clever interplay with Luke McCowan, sealing a dramatic 2-1 win after 120 minutes of play.
The match also marked the debut of Joel Mvuka, who joined Celtic on loan from Lorient just before the transfer deadline. Although Mvuka made a few promising runs, he was substituted at halftime as he struggled to find his rhythm, proving the challenge of acclimating to a new team mid-season.
On the other side, Dundee, having employed the same squad that managed a goalless draw with St Mirren last week, started the match robustly. Despite being under sustained pressure at times, Dundee’s goalkeeper Jon McCracken executed critical saves, keeping his side in the game until late. Hamilton’s goal demonstrated Dundee’s ability to capitalize on counterattacks, a strategy that initially paid off.
In the stands, there was a noticeable absence of fans due to a boycott organized by the Celtic Fans Collective. Although exact numbers were hard to gauge, attendance was clearly down from previous matches, such as last year’s fifth-round tie against Kilmarnock, which had drawn over 40,000 fans. The dissent among sections of the Celtic support has focused on calls for changes at the board level and restrictions on fan media.
Additionally, Celtic announced the signing of experienced midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on a short-term deal that same day. The former England international was welcomed warmly by fans and will be looking to rekindle his career after a challenging period following his departure from Besiktas.
This match not only showcased the resilience of Celtic in the face of adversity but also highlighted the passionate, if divided, support surrounding the club, emphasizing that while challenges exist, the team can rally together during difficult moments. The dramatic win serves as a positive sign for O’Neill’s tenure as he aims to steer the team through a testing season.