Play-off hopes very much alive

TEN-MAN Celtic lost a two- goal half-time lead but held on for what could be a precious Europa League point in Italy.

- BY GAVIN MCCAFFERTY

Reo Hatate opened the scoring early on before collecting two yellow cards in three minutes.

Auston Trusty doubled Celtic's lead, but Martin O'Neill's side came under sustained pressure after the interval and goals from Thijs Dallinga and Jonathan Rowe brought Bologna level.

Although the Italian side managed 37 attempts at goal in total, both teams had chances to win it before the game finished 2-2.

The Celtic fans celebrated the result, which puts their team on eight points ahead of their final game against the already eliminated Utrecht at Parkhead next week - a win should see Celtic qualify for the playoff round.

Former Aberdeen and Hamilton midfielder Lewis Ferguson came back into the Bologna team to captain the side but was left looking for a first career win over Celtic after his 17th attempt.

Hatate opened the scoring in the sixth minute after a gift from Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski, who passed the ball straight to Daizen Maeda. The Japan forward squared the ball for his compatriot to roll into an empty net.