Match ends, FC Astana 1, Celtic 1.
Celtic emerged from a testing visit to Astana in which they were largely second best with a commendable draw.
Looking to reach the Champions League group stage for the first time since 2013, they found the Kazakhs tough opposition.
In Brendan Rodgers' third competitive game in charge, they fell behind to a Yuri Logvinenko header.
But after heavy Astana pressure, Leigh Griffiths struck a potentially crucial away goal on 78 minutes.
Griffiths had scarcely been involved in the match, his partnership with Moussa Dembele failing to gel.
But the striker, whose 40 goals last year earned him multiple awards and medals, showed his worth with a fantastic equaliser.
Patrick Roberts, Celtic's brightest player on the night, won possession near the byeline and picked out Griffiths inside the penalty area.
With barely a glance up, Griffiths rifled the ball past Nenad Eric to change the complexion of the tie.
Such an outcome had looked unlikely as a makeshift Celtic defence had to deal with a barrage of Astana chances.
With Erik Sviatchenko added to an already extensive list of injured defenders, Rodgers brought in 20-year-old Eoghan O'Connell for his European debut and Efe Ambrose was reintroduced to a three-man backline alongside Mikael Lustig.
Ambrose was fortunate not to see a lapse of concentration punished as he missed a Patrick Twumasi cross altogether, with Junior Kabananga inches away from connecting and Mikael Lustig nervously knocking the ball clear.
But from the 19th-minute corner, O'Connell was left for dead by Logvinenk, who headed unchallenged into the net.
Although there were several further scares for the small travelling support, the majority of Astana's opportunities came from distance, with Craig Gordon looking assured.
As they often have, Celtic had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping the deficit to just one goal until Griffiths' leveller.
The Scotland international again produced save after save to help ensure Celtic are in the driving seat going into next week's second leg.
He somehow clawed away an awkward Azat Nurgaliyev chip after another Ambrose error, parried a ferocious 40-yard Twumasi drive, touched a dipping Nurgaliyev shot on to the crossbar and kept out a Kabananga effort with his legs.
Those interventions could prove vital as Celtic aim for a win in Glasgow next week to reach the Champions League play-off stage.
Line-ups
FC Astana
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Eric
- 14Shitov
- 27Logvinenko
- 5Anicic
- 77Shomko
- 6Maksimovic
- 88Cañas
- 15BeysebekovSubstituted forIbraimiat 85'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 13NurgalievBooked at 28minsSubstituted forMuzhikovat 62'minutes
- 23Twumasi
- 30KabanangaSubstituted forDespotovicat 86'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Muzhikov
- 8Tagybergen
- 9Ibraimi
- 10Despotovic
- 12Najarian
- 25Maliy
- 35Mokin
Celtic
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Gordon
- 23Lustig
- 4Ambrose
- 34O'Connell
- 63Tierney
- 27Roberts
- 42McGregorSubstituted forRogicat 77'minutes
- 8BrownBooked at 90mins
- 14S ArmstrongSubstituted forForrestat 72'minutes
- 10DembeleSubstituted forBittonat 62'minutes
- 9GriffithsBooked at 76mins
Substitutes
- 3Izaguirre
- 6Bitton
- 7Ciftci
- 18Rogic
- 22Janko
- 38Fasan
- 49Forrest
- Referee:
- Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni
- Attendance:
- 29,000
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home1
- Away1
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away1
- Corners
- Home0
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home0
- Away0
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, FC Astana 1, Celtic 1.
Booking
Scott Brown (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Booking
Agim Ibraimi (FC Astana) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Substitution
Substitution, FC Astana. Djorde Despotovic replaces Junior Kabananga.
Substitution
Substitution, FC Astana. Agim Ibraimi replaces Abzal Beysebekov.
Goal!
Goal! FC Astana 1, Celtic 1. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Patrick Roberts.
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Tomas Rogic replaces Callum McGregor.
Booking
Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. James Forrest replaces Stuart Armstrong.
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Nir Bitton replaces Moussa Dembele.
Substitution
Substitution, FC Astana. Serikzhan Muzhikov replaces Azat Nurgaliev.
Second Half
Second Half begins FC Astana 1, Celtic 0.
Half Time
First Half ends, FC Astana 1, Celtic 0.
Booking
Azat Nurgaliev (FC Astana) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Goal!
Goal! FC Astana 1, Celtic 0. Yuri Logvinenko (FC Astana) header from very close range to the top right corner. Assisted by Patrick Twumasi following a corner.
Kick Off
First Half begins.
Post update
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
My Scotland starting XI
Who would you have in your Scotland starting XI for the game against Slovenia?