Match Pictures | Matches: 1971 - 1972 | 1971-1972 Pictures

Trivia

• Celtic win 3-2 on aggregate.
• Johnstone's appearance as sub is the turning point of the match.
• Match is 75,000 sell out with thousands unable to get tickets.

Review

Stein fielded five of his younger stars and was rewarded by Macari's magnificent opportunist lob over the Ujpest keeper.

Ujpest came at Celtic from the start and scored in 5 minutes. In the first half they were a constant threat as Celtic fought to hold them at bay. The normally unflappable Connelly looked ill at ease at the back.

After half time Celtic found their feet and only a magnificent save from the Ujpest keeper prevented Murdoch scoring from an excellent free kick.


Johnstone's appearance brought the biggest roar of the night on the hour when he replaced Brogan. Macari's goal came shortly after when a glorious long pass from Connelly sent him clear on goal. Macari deserved teh goal as he had ran his heart out and worked tirelessly up front.

Ujpest pressed until the final minute and it was a nervous night for Jock Stein, the Celtic players and their fans.

Teams

Celtic: Williams McGrain and Brogan (Johnstone 54); Murdoch, McNeill and Connelly; Hood, Hay, Dalglish, Macari and Lennox Subs: Connaghan Davidson Callaghan Deans

Goal: Macari (64)

UJPEST DOSZA: Szenthihalvi; Kaposzia and Maurer; Johasz, C. Dunai, Horvath, Fazekas, Bene. A. Dunai, Zambo and Toth.

Goal: A Dunai (5)

Referee: R. Schaut (Belgium)

Attendance: 75,000

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)
  

Pictures

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Match report from:

The Scotsman, Thursday 9th March 1972

Macari gives Ujpest the Runaround

By John Rafferty

CELTIC 1, UJPEST DOZSA 1 (agg: 3-2)

In the end, Celtic swept majestically into the semi-final of the European Champions Cup for the third time in six years, but they had to survive a troubled first half in which they could develop no rhythm at all. Eventually, they did find the beat, and all was well in the end; and latterly, this Ujpest Dozsa, a competent and well-ordered team, were rushed and tormented to destruction by dashing Celtic football.

In that first half, Celtic lost a goal in the fifth minute; but before the game started, an unusually jittery Connelly seemed to have lost his touch on the ball and it took him a long time to settle. Only then was there a steady Celtic defence against the machinations of that great chancemaker Bene, and the three racing forwards he provided for.

Perhaps, however, the turn­ing-point in the game was an injury to Brogan in the fifty-fifth minute. He had to go off and was substituted, to tremendous enthusiasm, by Jimmy Johnstone. The import­ance of the move, however, was that Celtic's midfield section was rearranged.

Hay moved to left back, and Dalglish dropped back to the midfield, and immediately the play was better co-ordinated. Lennox produced great running on the left; Johnstone jinked typically on the right; and Macari caused endless trouble to these sturdy Hungarian defenders and eventually he scored the goal than ended the contest.

Celtic's sensible intention to consolidate at the start was shattered in the fifth minute when a jittery defence lost a goal. Connelly in these opening minutes had no touch at all on the ball and when Murdoch lost it 40 yards out neither he nor McNeill could get to it and that great chance maker Bene was quickly on to it and opening the goal with a superb cross. Ankal Donai scored with a neat shot which save Williams no chance.

A sign of the pressure on them was that the fiery left back Johasz had his name taken and then was sternly warned for another foul on Macari.

Near half-time the Hungarians were defending heroically and desperately but still managing to break into sophisticated attack. The game then was delicately poised.

The Hungarians substituted Grocs for the dangerous left-winger, Toth at half-time, but Murdoch immediately stirred up the action with a typical shot which carried just wide.

There was a tremendous shot by Hood which seemed a certain goal, but somehow the goal­keeper got to it. When the ball was cleared, Brogan was seen to be lying on the ground, nursing a leg injury.

He played on, but in the tenth minute of the half had to go off; and to a wild shriek of anticipa­tion Johnstone came on for him and went to the right wing. Hay moved to left back, with Dalglish dropping back a pace or two to the midfield.

In the 19th minute of the half, Celtic scored the goal which by that time seemed inevitable.

Maurer was going for a ball on the edge of the penalty area when he was harassed by Dalglish. He tried to head the ball back to his goalkeeper, but Macari shrewdly anticipated the move, and ran round him. He beat the goalkeeper to it and cleverly lobbed the ball over his head. It was such a goal as those two were always liable to concoct.

Celtic went after another, and with dashing, exciting football had the Hungarians crushed into subjection. When Johnstone began to find his touch this harassed team were really in trouble.

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Match report from The (London) Times