Celtic’s dramatic comeback win on Sunday had plenty of standout contributors, but one late moment ensured there was only ever going to be one hero.
The game was turned on its head by Martin O’Neill’s bold triple change at half-time. With Celtic flat and trailing, the introductions of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tomáš Čvančara and Sebastian Tounekti completely altered the tone of the contest.
Celtic played with far greater intensity and control in the second half. Oxlade-Chamberlain produced several composed passages of play, calming the midfield and helping Celtic dictate tempo. Čvančara’s presence up front brought much-needed physicality and structure, while Tounekti was direct, fearless and a constant threat down the left, capped by a superb strike that sparked the comeback.
Yet for all the impact made by the substitutes, it was Julian Araujo who provided the defining moment. With the clock deep into stoppage time, Araujo stepped up to score a stunning 97th-minute winner, sealing all three points and potentially keeping Celtic’s title challenge alive.
The goal itself owed much to Čvančara’s work in the build-up. The striker showed excellent strength and awareness, holding off his marker and driving to the byline before pulling the ball back into a dangerous area. Araujo arrived with perfect timing and made no mistake, rifling his effort into the top corner and sending the away end into raptures.
The significance of the moment was not lost on his teammates.
Taking to Instagram after the match, Čvančara summed it up perfectly, posting “Last minute HERO” and tagging Araujo.
Araujo’s strike stood above everything else. Late winners have become a recurring theme, and while they may not be sustainable, this one felt enormous. On a day when Celtic needed someone to step forward, Araujo did exactly that.
