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BHOYS HELD AT TANNADICE
United celebrate Sandaza's equaliser.
Francisco Sandaza came off the bench to earn Dundee United a fully-deserved share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw against SPL champions Celtic at Tannadice on Sunday.
Paul Hartley's first-ever SPL goal for the Bhoys put Gordon Strachan's side in front, but they were punished for not adding to their lead when Sandaza snatched a draw from close-range 11 minutes from time.
Chances were few and far between in the first half although the home side started brightly and Artur Boruc had to be en guard to tip over David Robertson's header from Mihael Kovacevic's cross.
The visitors finished the half in ascendancy, but keeper Lukasz Zaluska pulled off a decent save to deny Celtic winger Aiden McGeady.
The champions got their noses in front six minutes after half-time when Shunsuke Nakamura laid the ball off for Hartley and his angled shot nestled into the far corner via the aid of a deflection.
The Tangerines felt they should have been awarded a penalty minutes later, but Gary Caldwell's rash challenge on Roy O'Donovan failed to bring about a response from referee Charlie Richmond.
Nakamura's crisp volley was well saved by Zaluska at the other end while Warren Feeney's snapshot nearly caught Boruc napping in Celtic's goal.
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink was made to pay for missing a one-on-one opportunity when Sandaza levelled with a deft near-post flick on 79 minutes.
Scott McDonald wasted a glorious chance to snatch a later winner for the Bhoys when he sent a back-post header wide but a point apiece was a fair result.
