Iheanacho comes on to spark Celtic into life as Maeda hooked at half-time

BALKANS hitman Kelechi Iheanacho threatened to take down Red Star at the Marakana.

But his second goal in just three games wasn’t enough to deliver a deadly blow.

Marko Arnautovic struck back not long after in the second half.

And so Brendan Rodgers had to settle for the same outcome and score-line as Jock Stein’s Lisbon Lions back in the Hoops’ only other visit here to play the Serbian giants in 1968.

Yet free transfer capture Iheanacho should’ve had a hat-trick.

But he at least still looks like having the potential to be a brilliant signing, albeit following a desperate post-window deal by a board under severe pressure.

HOW THEY RATED

KASPER SCHMEICHEL

Good saves in both halves but didn’t need to venture so far out of goal for the Red Star leveller. Couple of scares but a big influence. 7

COLBY DONOVAN

Huge test for the rookie right-back and cruised through it. Played with confidence and maturity and has a huge future ahead of him on this evidence. 8

CAMERON CARTER-VICKERS

Missed a good headed chance before break but made vital tackles before Marko Arnautovic stole in ahead of him to score. Strong showing overall. 7

LIAM SCALES

Irish defender continued his solid start to the season with another good display. Made some vital blocks in both halves and used the ball well enough. 7

KIERAN TIERNEY

Left-back’s brilliant cutback for Benjamin Nygren deserved a finish after a good burst. Tough shift defensively but stuck at it before being subbed on 81 minutes. 6

CALLUM MCGREGOR

Covered so much ground in the middle of the park and calmed the team down whenever possible. Made some vital interceptions on a slippery surface. 7

REO HATATE

Making his 150th Celtic appearance but was so slack on the ball in the first half. Improved a bit after the break before being subbed midway through half. 5

BENJAMIN NYGREN

Swede wasted a golden chance to put Celtic 1-0 up but made amends with a superb run and pass for the opener. Always busy in midfield.7

YANG HYUN-JUN

Winger got the nod on the right and worked tirelessly for the team. Didn’t really make an impact in final third and was replaced by James Forrest. 5

DAIZEN MAEDA

Starved of service but also strayed offside far too often in a blunt outing and failed to link the play. Subbed at the break for Iheanacho. 4

SEBASTIAN TOUNEKTI

Tunisia star didn’t get much space to work in as Red Star paid close attention to him. Did cause problems with flashes of skill and worked hard. 6

Subs: KELECHI IHEANACHO (7) denied from point-blank range before producing a composed finish for goal. ARNE ENGELS (4) asked to provide energy in midfield but little impact. JAMES FORREST (5) winger looked bright. MICHEL-ANGE BALIKWISHA (4) on for tiring Tounekti. MARCELO SARACCHI (4) late run and booked.

Teenage right-back Colby Donovan was given a huge show of faith by Rodgers by keeping his place despite Scotland international Tony Ralston being back from injury.

Rodgers talked at the weekend of the academy graduate having ‘the personality’ to play for Celtic.

And this was another massive opportunity for the Scotland under-21 ace to show his mettle again at one of the most intimidating venues in football.

He passed the test with honours.

The Hoops had two changes, with Kasper Schmeichel back in goal and Daizen Maeda restored as lone striker ahead of Iheanacho.

It was Reo Hatate’s 150th appearance for the club but it would be far from his best.

Red Star’s prime threat was veteran battering ram striker Arnautovic, signed on a free transfer in the summer, and with a Serbian father.

There was teeming rain for the teams finally emerging into the Rajko Mitic arena – it’s formal name – from their lengthy 240-metre walk from their dressing room and then through the iconic tunnel.

The 50,000-capacity bowl was far from full with thousands of stay-away Red Star fans still seething over their failure in the Champions League play-off and unhappy with their club hierarchy.

Sound familiar?

But it was still a very tasty atmosphere.

However, the stadium went quiet for a minute’s silence for late Red Star player Dejan Milovanovic who passed away earlier this month at just 41.

Celtic started well and seven minutes in Yang Hyun-jun won a free-kick in good position. Benjamin Nygren’s searching delivery to the far post saw Cameron Carter-Vickers put a teasing header across the six yard box – but, agonisingly, there were no takers.

Red Star hit back seconds later and it took brilliant defending from Liam Scales to deal with a superb Mirko Ivanic cross.

The Serbs – European Cup winners in 1991 – had won seven straight in the league, including the Eternal Derby against Partisan, but for all they had a few gifted technicians they were nothing special.

For much of the first half they fed off sloppy Celtic play.

Scales was magnificent with his defending – but mainly dire with his distribution.

Hatate gave the ball away cheaply in the Red Star half and they promptly broke upfield before Nemanja Radonjic fired over from 25-yards.

Celtic suffered a 16th minute scare when a corner was flicked on and a finishing touch was narrowly missed.

But by and large the Hoops were comfortable.

Casual play, however, once more left them under pressure in the 20th minute as a Seol cross found skipper Ivanic who headed just wide.

That was a big chance.

Donovan certainly wasn’t daunted and he fired in a stunning 23rd minute cross which led to desperate defending.

Kieran Tierney was a strong overlapper and a terrific ball across goal deserved better than a clearance.

Celtic’s final third play was deeply frustrating – too many times the crucial pass failing or a heavy first touch or ponderous build-up costing opportunities.

The quality had to be better…and it would be eventually.

There was a major scare for the visitors on the half hour as Bruno Duarte blasted a stunning angled volley into the side-net from 12-yards.

Several minutes later Yang again won another free-kick in decent position but Nygren’s direct effort from outside the box was straight down the throat of Red Star No1 Matheus.

Then Schmeichel was at his very best to get a vital finger tip to a Duarte left foot screamer, diverting it against the crossbar. It was a breathtaking stop.

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The action was thick and fast in the closing moments before the break.

Arnautovic unleashed a vicious right foot volley – with Scales caught under the ball at a piercing cross – but it came off the net pole behind Schmeichel’s goal.

Celtic, however, finished the stronger – a Nygren free-kick headed wide by Carter-Vickers who had ghosted in and should’ve done better.

The wantaway Maeda – a pale shadow this season – had been largely anonymous and it was no surprise he was hooked for Iheanacho.

Scales finally delivered a measured through ball in the 51st minute for Tierney to dart into the box and from his cut-back Nygren had a clear shot at point-blank range – but Matheus saved to his right.

It was such a gilt-edged opportunity – but an even better one just a minute later.

Donovan’s excellent pass sent in Nygren and he immediately slid a pass across for Iheanacho less than six yards out – but, staggeringly, Matheus produced a magnificent diving save.

Then the keeper saved at close range from a Donovan flicked effort.

It was remarkable quickfire goalmouth drama.

Just when you thought it was going to be one of those nights, Celtic finally netted.

This time Iheanacho clinically dispatched a 55th minute shot from a Nygren pass. Celtic deserved it.

But their lead would only last 10 minutes – Arnautovic tapping home from a cut-back.

Now it was end to end and Schmeichel saved brilliantly again from Ivanic.

Incredibly, Iheanacho once again had just Matheus to beat from six yards but was denied.

Celtic, though, would come under intense pressure in the closing stages and they survived a number of scares, including Schmeichel being caught in no-man’s land at a cross.