Celtic draw 2-2 with Dundee United at home, miss chance to move six points clear

Celtic missed the chance to open a six-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership, the country's top-tier football league, after drawing 2-2 at home with Dundee United in Glasgow. The champions-elect tag does not apply here, but the result still leaves them four points ahead, as Rangers scored a late equaliser away at Hearts.

How the match unfolded

Celtic, managed by Martin O'Neill, started brightly. In the 19th minute Camilo Duran finished off a well-worked move involving Hogh to give the hosts the lead.

The visitors turned the game around within about three minutes. In the 28th minute Zachary Sapsford got ahead of Liam Scales to head in an equaliser. In the 31st minute Neil Farrugia scored from close range after Celtic made a messy attempt to clear a free-kick, putting Dundee United 2-1 up.

Second half

Fan favourite Jota came on at half-time. His inswinging cross found the head of Scales, who levelled the score just after the hour mark. That helped Celtic avoid a first home defeat to Dundee United since 1992.

Dundee United goalkeeper Jack Walton denied Mika Baur's shot from point-blank range in the 71st minute, preventing Celtic from taking all three points, which the source describes as relatively undeserved. The hosts were forced to come from behind for the second time in four days, which can be seen as a positive sign of their spirit. They had also given an unconvincing display against Hibernian at the weekend.