Dons share spoils with Celtic in eight-goal thriller

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GLASGOW, Feb 13, 2010 (AFP) - A late Steven Maclean double helped Aberdeen come from behind to secure a point in a 4-4 thriller against ten-men Celtic at Pittodrie on Saturday.

The Hoops went ahead in the third minute when Diomansy Kamara tapped in but the Dons were level six minutes later when Michael Paton sent a superb shot past Artur Boruc.

Marc-Antoine Fortune restored Celtic's lead before Darren Mackie fired Aberdeen level just over a minute later.

The second-half was just as entertaining with Robbie Keane heading Celtic ahead and Aiden McGeady giving them a two-goal lead for the first time in the match.

However former Rangers player Maclean cut their advantage with a penalty after Edson Braafheid had handled in the box before popping up to make it 4-4 with minutes left.

Darren O'Dea was sent off two minutes into injury time for his second bookable offence to compound Celtic's misery.

The result left Celtic seven points behind Rangers, who could restore their ten-point advantage if they defeat Hibernian at Ibrox on Sunday.

Mark McGhee thought his side were alwaysstill in it.

"At 4-2 I still felt we had the legs and desire so when the fourth one went in I wasn't surprised," the Dons boss said.

Tony Mowbray said he was stunned by the result.

"I felt the game was finished at 4-2 and inexplicably we gave them a lifeline," the Celtic manager said.

"They pushed very hard for the equaliser and ultimately got it."

The Hoops only had to wait 140 seconds for the opener. McGeady picked out Keane in the box and Jamie Langfield could only parry his shot away to Kamara who lifted the rebound into the net.

Their lead lasted just six minutes.

Braafheid's headed clearance landed at the feet of Paton 20 yards out and he sent a scorching shot past Boruc.

On-loan Spurs star Keane set up Fortune to score Celtic's second in the 36th minute.

Captain Scott Brown released Keane who rolled a perfectly-weighted pass to the back post where Fortune was on hand to tap in his 10th of the season.

Aberdeen levelled just over 60 seconds later when Jim Paterson's cross from the left reached the back post where Mackie took a touch on his chest before slamming home a fierce drive.

Celtic took the lead for the third time in the 65th minute.

Kamara hooked the ball into the box from the right and Keane jumped higher than Zander Diamond to knock a header past Langfield.

McGeady gave the Hoops a two-goal cushion in the 72nd minute.

The Irish international cut past Paton before firing a fierce shot into the roof of the net.

Aberdeen pulled one back three minutes later when Braafheid handled in the box. Maclean took the resultant penalty and despite getting a hand to it Boruc couldn't keep it out.

Boruc made a point-blank save from Maclean before he scored his second just two minutes from time after he turned in Mackie's off-target shot from close range.

Two minutes into injury time Braafheid crashed a shot off the bar and O'Dea saw red for his second bookable offence as Celtic's title hopes are left in tatters.

Elsewhere the Lanarkshire derby between Hamilton and Motherwell ended in a goalless draw, Dundee United scored late to win 2-1 away to St Mirren, Kilmarnock won their third straight league game with a 3-2 victory over St Johnstone and Steven Pressley's first game in charge of Falkirk ended in a 3-2 defeat to Hearts.