Lasse Schone bagged an 84th-minute equaliser as Ajax drew 2-2 with 10-man Celtic in their Europa League opener at the Amsterdam ArenA tonight.

Goals from Nir Biton and Mikael Lustig, either side of Viktor Fischer's equaliser, helped the Bhoys into a 2-1 half-time lead.

However, Emilio Izaguirre picked up a second yellow card with 15 minutes to play as Ajax piled on the pressure, and it paid off when Schone's free kick flew past Craig Gordon.

Here, Sports Mole sorts the heroes from the villains.

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Goal

Jasper Cillessen: Looked relatively suspect at times, whereas other times he justified speculation linking him with a move to Manchester United. Pulled off a fine first-half save to keep out Griffiths. (6/10)

Defence

Kenny Tete: Got forward excellently and kept the often-lively Forrest relatively quiet at the other end. (6/10)

Joel Veltman: Shackled Griffiths expertly, though should have scored in the second half when his free header flew over from close range. (7/10)

Jairo Riedewald: Better in the second half but two first-half errors which led to goals could be traced back to him. (5/10)

Mitchell Dijks: Was nowhere to be seen for Celtic's opener as the unmarked Biton fired them ahead after being granted an acre of space. (4/10)

Midfield

Daley Sinkgraven: Inexplicably lost possession, after being given a hospital ball by Riedewald, in an error that led to Celtic's opener. Subbed on 62 minutes. (4/10)

Nemanja Gudelj: Executed a number of tame long-range efforts, and lost the run of Lustig for Celtic's second from the corner. (4/10)

Viktor Fischer: Stroked home a wonderful equaliser from outside the box but was unable to boast too much influence overall by virtue of Biton's pressing. (6/10)

Attack

Davy Klaassen: Produced a wonderful assist for Ajax's equaliser but also missed a host of excellent chances. Lukewarm overall. (6/10)

Amin Younes: Only managed to show what he could do in spurts. Would have given Lustig a torrid time down the left-hand side had he been a little braver in possession. (4/10)

Anwar El Ghazi: Only really came to life after Izaguirre's dismissal, but excelled then as he whipped in a number of superb crosses; one of which led to Malik hitting the post. (5/10)

Substitutes

Arkadiusz Milik: Hit the post and could, and should, have snatched all three points for Ajax when his header from point-blank range went over the bar late on. (5/10)

Lasse Schone: Won the point for Ajax, albeit in fortuitous fashion, when his free kick - meant as a cross - deceived everybody and nestled in the corner. (6/10)

Goal

Craig Gordon: Blameless for the first goal, but could have perhaps anticipated Ajax's second goal better than he did. Also flapped at a few crosses. (5/10)

Defence

Mikael Lustig: Scored what is now proven to be a key second, although the Swede looked relatively suspect defensively at times. (6/10)

Dedryck Boyata: Looked solid for the most part, but a rocky last 10 minutes or so would have made him desperate for the full-time whistle. (6/10)

Jozo Simunovic: Given his Celtic debut by Deila, Simunovic impressed at the heart of the Bhoys' defence. He will naturally be compared with Virgil van Dijk - whom he replaced - and, on first viewing, looks a worthy replacement. (7/10)

Emilio Izaguirre: Arguably cost his team all three points after being sent off for a moment of sheer stupidity to lunge into El Ghazi. (3/10)

Midfield

Scott Brown: Gave the ball away time and again, but read the game excellently as usual. (6/10)

Stefan Johansen: Far too quiet by his high standards and 90 minutes more or less ended up passing him by. (4/10)

Nir Biton: Opened the scoring with a fine finish after being set up by Commons, and was an unmovable object in Celtic's midfield as he broke up Ajax attacks again and again. (8/10)

James Forrest: Certainly had the pace to trouble Tete but he never got many chances to prove it by virtue of the right-back glue-like marking. (5/10)

Kris Commons: Bagged two assists but he conceded the free kick which led to the hosts' late equaliser. Looked slightly heavy, but was easily one of Celtic's better players overall. (7/10)

Attack

Leigh Griffiths: Relatively anonymous but did spurn two good opportunities in both halves, only one of which he can put down to Cillessen's heroics. (4/10)

Substitutes

Efe Ambrose: Was supposed to solidify Celtic's defence but their right-hand side was much more vulnerable when he replaced Lustig. (4/10)

Tyler Blackett: Slotted in at left-back to cover Izaguirre but struggled to keep El Ghazi quiet. (4/10)

Written by
Shane Callaghan