Donati puts Celtic back in driving seat

Champions League/Celtic 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk:  Massimo Donati's stoppage-time goal, side-footed into the Shakhtar Donestk goal…

Champions League/Celtic 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk: Massimo Donati's stoppage-time goal, side-footed into the Shakhtar Donestk goal from 12 yards, ensures Celtic have one foot firmly in the last 16 of the Champions League after another incredible European night at Parkhead.

This was an insipid display from Gordon Strachan's side, littered with errors, though Aiden McGeady again drove Celtic forward for much of the game and, yet again, their immense home form came to prominence.

A point against Milan in the San Siro next Tuesday will guarantee Celtic's progression.

Pre-match conjecture surrounded Celtic's aspirations of a three-goal victory that would all-but seal their passage to the knock-out phase.

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However, such thoughts could not have been further from a capacity home crowd's thoughts in the opening stages - the Scottish champions failing to come to grips in any area of the pitch.

Goalkeeper Artur Boruc and Paul Hartley had shaken off fitness concerns to return to the starting line-up but defensive shortcomings were not long in being punished.

Shakhtar's impressive Brazilian forward Brandao capitalised within five minutes; coolly sliding the ball beyond Boruc after the Celtic defender John Kennedy had miscued a clearing header straight into his path.

The frustrations of Celtic's support were understandable, but the throwing of objects towards Brandao and his team-mates as they celebrated after scoring their goal was reckless given that the hosts are already on a probationary period from Uefa.

It took 22 minutes for Scott McDonald to register Celtic's first attempt at goal as the Ukrainians dominated in midfield and offered menace each time they broke forward.

Celtic, who had already lost Lee Naylor through injury, also had to withdraw Kennedy, four minutes before the interval; palpable concern for the defender centred on the fact that he had damaged his left knee, a serious ligament injury in the same area kept him out of soccer for three years until April.

Jiri Jarosik promptly lightened the mood, driving home an angled half-volley after the Shakhtar defence blundered in attempting to deal with a hopeful Gary Caldwell long ball.

Shakhtar's 2-0 win over Celtic in the opening group game had given Mircea Lucescu's side the edge in qualification had last night's match stayed level - which it seemed destined to for most of a tight second half.

Nervousness was a key factor in the second period, McGeady illustrating as much when he inexplicably passed the ball straight to Shakhtar's Jadson, 20 yards out from goal, with the latter blasting over Boruc's crossbar.

The visitors were clearly content to play out a draw, their regular attempts at time-wasting causing anger in the stands and, occasionally, in the Celtic dug-out.

Caldwell was booked as a frustrated Celtic sensed their chances were slipping away, and Donetsk came close to a late winner when Brandao blazed over from eight yards after substitute Olexandr Gladkiy's cut-back.

But salvation was at hand - Donati firing home McGeady's cut-back in the last act of the game as the crestfallen Ukrainians contemplated what might have been.

CELTIC:Boruc, Caldwell, Kennedy (Pressley 41), McManus, Naylor (Donati 16), McGeady, Scott Brown, Hartley, Jarosik, McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink (Killen 79). Subs not used: Mark Brown, Zurawski, Sno, Caddis. Booked: Jarosik, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Caldwell.

SHAKHTAR DONETSK:Pyatov, Srna, Chigrinsky, Kucher, Rat, Ilsinho (Yezerskiy 83), Hubschman, Lewandowski, Jadson, Lucarelli (Gladkiy 88), Brandao. Subs not used: Shust, Duljaj, Vukic, Shevchuk, Beylyk. Booked: Brandao.

Referee:B Layec (France).