Trusty's First Goal of the Season

Defender Scored at the Back Post in Europa League Draw

Auston Trusty provided both defensive heroics and an attacking spark for Celtic in their dramatic 2-2 Europa League draw against Bologna on Thursday, scoring what appeared to be a crucial insurance goal before his side was forced to withstand relentless pressure playing a man down for over an hour.

The American center-back found the net in the 40th minute, arriving at the back post to convert Arne Engels' flick-on from Kieran Tierney's inswinging corner. Trusty's lunging shot struck the underside of the bar before crossing the line, doubling Celtic's advantage at a critical moment after Reo Hatate had been sent off just six minutes earlier for collecting two yellow cards in three minutes.

However, Trusty's goal proved insufficient as Bologna mounted a fierce comeback at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara. Manager Martin O'Neill's ten men faced an onslaught after halftime, with the hosts registering 37 total attempts and controlling 84.4% of second-half possession. Thijs Dallinga reduced the deficit with a header in the 58th minute before Jonathan Rowe equalized in the 72nd with a powerful strike past Kasper Schmeichel.

Trusty's defensive contribution was equally vital to Celtic salvaging a point. The 27-year-old completed 90 minutes, recording seventeen clearances, including ten headers, three blocks, three interceptions, and two tackles. He won six of seven aerial duels and demonstrated remarkable composure throughout the siege, delivering crucial interventions inside the penalty area during the first-half pressure and maintaining organization during Bologna's second-half dominance.

Reflecting afterward, Trusty emphasized his team's resilience: "Going down to ten men and having a lot of the game to play is a tough ask, but the team shows the true mentality that we never give up," he explained. "Unfortunately, we tied today, but a point on the road is also good."

The result leaves Celtic on eight points heading into their final Europa League group match against Utrecht at Parkhead, where victory should secure qualification for the playoff round, representing a potential turning point after what Trusty acknowledged had been "a strange period" for the Scottish champions.