Celtic pegged back in draw at Red Star Belgrade after Kelechi Iheanacho opener

Half-time substitute Kelechi Iheanacho fired Celtic ahead in Belgrade before the Scottish champions had to settle for a point against Red Star in their Europa League opener.

Iheanacho finished brilliantly as Celtic made a flying start to the second half but they were pegged back by former West Ham, Stoke and Inter Milan forward Marko Arnautovic, who scrambled the ball home following a corner.

Brendan Rodgers’ side could not get back on the front foot and would have been more than satisfied to take a 1-1 draw back from Serbia given the overall balance of play in the Rajko Mitic Stadium.

Celtic started with Daizen Maeda in the centre-forward role while 19-year-old Colby Donovan continued at right-back despite Anthony Ralston rejoining the squad following an ankle injury.

The visitors struggled to get going as an attacking force, with Maeda unable to sniff out any opportunities to get in behind or get hold of the ball.

Celtic were unable to get Sebastian Tounekti regular service following his impressive start as a Hoops player, while Reo Hatate was particularly wasteful in possession.

The visitors’ only first-half chances came at either end of the 45 minutes and both fell to Cameron Carter-Vickers from Benjamin Nygren free-kicks. The defender opted to head the first opportunity across the face of goal and was off target with the second.

Red Star were a semi-regular menace from crosses into the box. Liam Scales produced several important interventions but there were chances for the hosts. Mirko Ivanic sent a free header wide, Bruno Duarte volleyed into the side net and Arnautovic sliced a volley wide.

Duarte came closest a first-half breakthrough when his 22-yard strike was pushed on to the bar by Kasper Schmeichel’s fingertips.

Celtic looked a different side in the opening stages of the second half and forced three saves in three minutes from Matheus.

Nygren shot straight at the goalkeeper from Kieran Tierney’s cutback before the Brazilian produced a brilliant point-blank stop from Iheanacho after the striker got on the end of Nygren’s square pass.

The home goalkeeper then made a near-post stop from Donovan’s flick following the resulting corner.

Celtic were soon in front in the 55th minute. Nygren made a direct run at the heart of the home defence and zipped in a pass to Iheanacho, who took a touch and sidefooted the ball into the top corner from 16 yards.

It was a wonderful finish from a man who is having to win over the Celtic support after being seen as a last-resort signing after the club failed to get earlier deals over the line in the transfer window.

Celtic could not retain control, though, and Duarte headed off target from a free-kick before the home side levelled in the 65th minute.

Schmeichel committed himself after a corner sailed beyond his far post but Tebo Uchenna cut the ball back into the goalmouth and Arnautovic got ahead of Carter-Vickers to knock home from close range.

Red Star were almost ahead moments later following a slip by Hatate but Schmeichel foiled Ivanic with his foot.

The hosts continued to threaten from crosses but substitute Marcelo Saracchi in particular helped Celtic deal with the threat.