Astra Giurgiu v Celtic as it happened

1. FT: Astra Giurgiu 1-1 Celtic (de Amorim) (Johansen)
2. Celtic well placed to reach last 32
3. Scots are second behind Salzburg in Group D

Well, the table suggests Celtic will be in the last 32 of the competition, though there is still work to be done. Thanks very much for your time and contributions here on the BBC sport website. I hope you can join us for our live text commentary of Motherwell's Scottish Premiership against Dundee United on Friday evening. A very good night to you all.

Celtic manager Ronny Deila

"We are in a better position now than we were before the game." [Celtic are five points ahead of third-placed Dinamo Zagreb and two behind Group D leaders FC Salzburg.]

Celtic manager Ronny Deila

"We had chances to kill the game but it was not enough today. I think we have something to work on when we get 1-0 up. We should go for more. We didn't have too many chances against us. The performance was OK but the result should be better."

Celtic manager Ronny Deila

"The first half was excellent. We scored a nice goal. In the second half we controlled it quite well but they scored with a fantastic shot. In the end it was a point. I am not happy with that but it is better than nothing. The player [Leigh Griffiths] said he didn't do anything [at disallowed goal]. We should have had 2-1. Sometimes that happens."

Text to 80295

Ross, Haddington: "Why Celtic not good away in Europe? Simple, they are used to playing games where if they are ahead in the first half, it is just easy to get a 2nd goal easily in the 2nd half. BUT in Europe the teams are consistently better."

We should hear from the Celtic manager Ronny Deila soon, though it's likely to be in the form of a media conference rather than a one-to-one interview.

SNS

Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon looks on as the ball rests in the back of his net following William De Amorim's superb strike from the left-hand side of the box.

BBC Scotland football pundit Pat Bonner

"I was disappointed in the second-half performance. They got sloppy, passing balls across the midfield, trying things they shouldn't be doing. All they had to do was keep the ball and keep it going. These goals come out of nothing and they put you under pressure at the end of the game. Ronny would have loved to have gone through [tonight] and to top the group. They weren't able to kill the game off. You could see the confidence ebbing away."

BBC Scotland's Tom English

"He [Vincent Laban] went in there to hurt Charlie Mulgrew. It was an awful, awful tackle."

BBC Scotland's Tom English

"Celtic lost their edge. The tempo went. They allowed Astra to get back into it. I'm sure they'll still qualify. They could have done it tonight. This is the fifth time they have lost a lead away in Europe this season. That shows a weakness in the team. Celtic are 127 years old today. They could have had a party if they had won through to the last 32 but it fell flat."

FULL-TIME

It's a point for Celtic in Romania but they will feel it could have been more. A win would have put them through, given the 5-1 victory for FC Salzburg at Dinamo Zagreb.

Virgil van Dijk, Celtic's Dutch defender, is booked for pushing Laban on the back of the head, "encouraging" him to take an early bath. It really was a shocking, lunging tackle by the Astra player - thankfully the studs were down but he had both feet off the ground as he thumped Mulgrew.

RED CARD

Astra's Vincent Laban is sent off for an outrageous tackle on Charlie Mulgrew.

ADDED TIME

Three minutes of injury time.

Craig Gordon saves but fails to hold a George Florescu drive but he can thank his Celtic defence for being in close proximity to mop up his spillage.

Dylan Mckaig ‏@DylanMckaig "WHAT A GOAL WOW!"

BBC Scotland football pundit Pat Bonner

"Celtic just want the match to finish. They would take the 1-1 draw at this stage."

Well, this could go either way now. Four minutes plus injury time remaining.

DISALLOWED GOAL

Leigh Griffiths is through on the keeper but somehow fails to find the net from close range, with Lung making a fine save. Seconds later he does have the ball over the line but the "goal" is ruled out for a soft-looking infringement by Griffiths on the defender who leapt to clear the ball lobbed into the box. That's a shade unlucky for Celtic, I'd say.

GOAL

Astra combine the passes in the Celtic box and when the ball moves away from goal the Scots could be forgiven for thinking the danger was easing. However, they had not reckoned on the sub William de Amorim curling a superb strike beyond Craig Gordon. What a goal!

At the other end of the pitch, Charlie Mulgrew, in a central position, heaves a shot at the Astra goal where Silviu Lung dives to keep the score at 1-0.

Astra full-back Vasileios Pliatsikas, Cafu-like, sweeps down the right flank, hops past a few challenges and makes the most of the dipping ball by volleying a powerful shot with the outside of his boot at the Celtic goal. Craig Gordon is well placed and strong enough to parry it to safety.

Celtic boss Ronny Deila makes a change: Leigh Griffiths is on for the disappointing Stefan Scepovic, with 17 minutes to go.

In Romania, Celtic still have the lead. Yahaya's challenge on Scott Brown in the Celtic box is too strong for the Ukrainian referee Serhiy Boiko and the Scottish champions can ease the pressure on their defence.

The latest score in Croatia is Dinamo Zagreb 1-3 FC Salzburg. That's three goals in five minutes.

Angelo Henríquez Iturra has pulled one back for Dinamo Zagreb. They now trail the Austrians 2-1 with less than half an hour to play in their Group D match.

FC Salzburg lead Dinamo Zagreb 2-0 now in Croatia, which means Celtic and the Austrians would go through to the last 32 if the scores stay as they are.

Astra have made their second change of the match, with George Florescu replacing Constantin Budescu.

SNS

The Celtic players gather in their familiar huddle, though it could be a cluster of evergreen trees with orange flowers at the base of their trunks.

Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner

"It is the coldest night ever in Romania and some Celtic fans have got their tops off. I don't know where they're getting their heat from."

Vincent Laban's free-kick to the back post is cleared by Celtic. They win a throw-in and try to get their passing going once more.

Some lovely play by Celtic's Honduran full-back Emilio Izaguirre as he weaves his way past Vincent Laban down the left. You get the feeling Celtic have another goal in them but Astra cannot be written off yet.

Celtic goalie Craig Gordon uses his long limbs to step out from his goal-line and punch clear a threatening cross from the right.

SNS

The Celtic fans make themselves heard at the Stadionul Marin Anastasovici.

Astra come close to a leveller as Gabriel Enache finds space on the right to cross for Constantin Budescu who blasts over the bar.

BBC Scotland football pundit Pat Bonner

"You'd expect a player of his value [£2m] to be hitting the target."

Stefan Scepovic blows the chance to double Celtic's advantage as he blazes high over the bar in the first move of the second half.

KICK-OFF

And we're off...

Astra make a substitution just before the second half gets under way - William Amorim on for Joãozinho.

The players are back out on the pitch in Giurgiu. Kick-off approaches.

Away from the half-time break in Romania, Celtic issued a statement on their website earlier today about some goings-on at our parliament in Edinburgh.

"A motion in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood to scrap the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act was defeated on Wednesday following a vote by MSPs.

A Celtic spokesperson said: 'Celtic Football Club is disappointed at the outcome of yesterday's vote regarding the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act.

"'We have consistently opposed this legislation from the outset and reiterate our position that the Act should be repealed.

"'We encourage and promote positive behaviour within football at all times and welcome any attempt to do likewise.

"'However, this Act is inappropriate and unworkable, and once again we call for it to be reviewed urgently in the interests of football supporters and clubs.'"

Steven McInally on Facebook: "If someone gets a penalty tonight what are the odds it will be mist?" Thanks! Nice one!

SNS

Midfielder Stefan Johansen scores for Celtic and puts the Scots in control of the match.

Thanks very much for these contributions on Facebook.

Paul Kelly: "We need a prolific goalscorer and a class midfielder in the mould of Lubo [Moravcik]."

Vincent Duffin: "How valuable is Gordon? Another fantastic save and 3 minutes later Celtic take the lead, what a bargain and once again another in the line of great goalkeepers c'mon the bhoys."

James Taylor: "Perhaps the ref should blow a fog horn to signal his decisions."

HALF-TIME

It's been the ideal opening 45 minutes for Celtic as they move a step closer to emerging from group D, which, if they do so, will be manager Ronny Deila's "biggest achievement."

Sadat Bukari finds space and advances into the Celtic box but Virgil van Dijk takes advantage of a poor touch to get back to make a challenge. Indeed, the Dutchman wins a free-kick for Celtic. At the other end Astra keeper Lung palms a powerful Charlie Mulgrew effort away to keep it at 1-0 at half-time.

Three minutes until half-time. Things are going well in Romania for Celtic and they'll be delighted to hear at the break that Red Bull Salzburg are 1-0 up at Dinamo Zagreb. If things stay the same, Celtic are through to the last 32.

Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner

"Celtic are playing with a really high energy. Their closing down has been really encouraging tonight."

Ali Ross on BBC Sport Scotland Facebook: "Do you think the announcer will play 'Play Misty for me' at halftime?"

SNS

The Celtic team line up ahead of kick-off - before disappearing into the fog in the first half.

GOAL

Charlie Mulgrew's free-kick batters into the white-shirted Astra wall and comes out for Stefan Johansen who smacks a half volley into the top left-corner of the net, with a slight deflection adding to its, um, unstoppability.

Syam Ben Youssef brings down Stefan Johansen and Celtic have a free-kick just outside the penalty area.

On BBC Sport Scotland Facebook, Vincent Duffin: "I feel sorry for the fans in these conditions if anyone scores they will only know with a few cheers from behind the goal."

GREAT SAVE!

Celtic goalie Craig Gordon is at full stretch to tip Seidu Yahaya's right-footed blast wide of the net. I've lost count of the important saves Craig Gordon has made for Celtic in Europe this season.

Malcolm Macdonald ‏@malcolm1983 "A nebulous encounter if ever I've seen one." Or peered at one, Malcolm.

BBC Scotland football pundit Pat Bonner

"The movement of the Celtic players off the ball is very encouraging."

Visiting skipper Scott Brown retains possession deep in the Astra half down the right as he protects the ball from Cristian Oros, who harries him out of the home box. Celtic are doing well, pretty much controlling the play.

A crisp pass from Celtic's Charlie Mulgrew is controlled nicely by Stefan Johansen but his pass into the penalty box is too hurried and is easily blocked.

Paul Tonner ‏@Paul_Tonner: "This is a bit ridiculous, I know it doesn't have the same pull as the CL, but come on, this is practically unplayable! #celtic"

Celtic midfielder Stefan Johansen smacks a shot at goal that works Silvio Lung, who palms the ball out for a Celtic corner. It's the first attempt on target in this Group D encounter.

SNS

Celtic have made a solid start to their Europa League encounter against Astra.

BBC Scotland football pundit Pat Bonner

"I think it's to Celtic's advantage if they can press them really high up the pitch. Celtic will be quite happy with the first 13 minutes. They haven't allowed the home team to create any chances."

Please bear with me - I'd love to describe more of the action but I'm relying on TV close-ups to see who is on the ball.

Celtic have begun well but Astra are beginning to find their feet. Joao Carlos Reis Graça curls in a lovely in-swinging cross from the left but there are no takers in the Celtic penalty box and the visitors have a goal kick.

SNS

The match has kicked off in Romania, despite the thick fog that has enveloped the stadium.

Celtic will be looking to Stefan Scepovic to provide the goal threat tonight, with Anthony Stokes back home with a bug and in-form Swede John Guidetti ineligible to play in these Group D matches.

Celtic are in their green tartan away strip and are wonderfully well camouflaged out there on the pitch. The home team are in white, helpfully.

KICK-OFF

Astra kick off the match in Romania.

#bbcscotfootball

Ross C Doyle ‏@rosscdoyle "Great opportunity for Celtic tonight. Gordon is invaluable as shown in the previous three games."

Our colleagues in Salford are working away on the live text commentary featuring Everton and Tottenham in the Europa League.

The teams are in the tunnel. Celtic skipper Scott Brown has his game face on. We have a match!

BBC Scotland football pundit Pat Bonner

"It looks like they are preparing for the game going ahead. Whether we'll get the 90 minutes out of it, I'm not 100% sure."

Kick-off is at 18:00 GMT, all going well.

BBC Scotland's Tom English

"I think Celtic, if the game goes ahead, will have their work cut out to break Astra down tonight."

Goodness me, it really is a good old-fashioned, pre-Clean Air Act pea-souper in Giurgiu. The fog makes it look as if 100 flares have been let off in the stadium. I don't know how the officials running the line will be able to make accurate offside decisions.

If you'd like to get in touch throughout the game, please text us on 80295, use the hashtag #bbcscotfootball on Twitter or say hello on Facebook.

Former Celtic goalkeeper and BBC co-commentator Pat Bonner

"This is like the fog in Donegal coming all the way from the sea. It's difficult for us up here to pick people out."

What a boost for Celtic and Ronny Deila that goalkeeper Craig Gordon is fit enough to play after missing out the team's last match with a knee injury.

BBC Scotland commentator Liam McLeod

(Situated in the stand, at the halfway line) "You can now see the goal frames and the corner flags as well so things are improving."

LINE-UPS

FC Astra Giurgiu: Lung Jr, Pliatsikas, Ben Youssef, Oros, Junior Morais, Laban, Yahaya, Enache, Budescu, Joaozinho, Bukari. Subs: Coman, Florescu, Seto, Chitu, Gaman, Rus, William Amorim.

Celtic: Gordon, Lustig, Denayer, van Dijk, Izaguirre, Brown, Mulgrew, McGregor, Johansen, Wakaso, Scepovic. Subs: Zaluska, Matthews, Ambrose, Biton, Tonev, Griffiths, Kayal.

Referee: Serhiy Boiko (Ukraine)

Now for a note of the teams...

There is an element of doubt over whether the match can go ahead, or be completed, because a thick fog has been drifting across the pitch in Giurgiu. As things stand, it's game on.

Good early evening, all. We have Europa League action coming up, fog permitting, as Celtic go in search of three points in Romania that would leave them in a very strong position in Europa League Group D.