Match Pictures | Champions League | Matches: 2008 – 2009 | 2008-2009 Pictures |
Trivia
- McGeady, Naka, Samaras & JVoH out injured!
- Muppet fan again ran onto the pitch (why the hell do they do these things?), which held up the game for a few mins.
Review
Heart breaking stuff. Pre-match omens were not good with McGeady, Naka, Samaras & JVoH out, a 3-0 defeat just behind us against Man U last time, poor weather, financial gulf between the clubs etc etc. Nevertheless, we started more spritely against Man U at home, and Skippy scored a cracking lobbed goal which if it was scored by Man U would have been salivated over by the commentators for weeks on end. First half was even enough, and we could hold our heads up high. Second half saw a more cavalier effort by Man U who bombarded our goals for the whole 45mins, but the Celtic defence was immense, but we couldn't hold out forever and an unfortunate parry down by THG saw Ryan Giggs snatch an equaliser, and at the death we were lucky when Berbatov scuffed a shot at goal. We could have ourselves earlier in the 2nd half scored a second with a header by Sheridan, but wasn't to be. Nevertheless, restores our pride back to an extent and onto Aalborg away next.
Also, Ronaldo is a wee nyaff, and should have been sent off for taking a kick-swipe at Wilson. Add in calling for a yellow card for a Celtic player, continual diving and whinging, he really is becoming amock-villianfigure for many in football (even Man U!).
Teams
Celtic:-
Boruc,
Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson,
Hartley, Scott Brown, Robson, Maloney (O'Dea 75),
McDonald (Hutchinson 81), Sheridan (Donati 63)
Subs Not Used:- Mark Brown, Naylor, Nakamura, Caddis.
Goal:- McDonald 13.
Manchester Utd:-
Foster, Rafael Da Silva (Evra 66), Ferdinand, Vidic, O'Shea, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Carrick, Nani (Berbatov 46), Tevez (Rooney 71), Giggs.
Subs Not Used:- Kuszczak, Anderson, Park, Evans.
Booked:- Nani.
Goal:- Giggs 84.
Attendance:- 58,903
Referee:- Tom Ovrebo (Norway)
Articles
- Match Report (BBC)
- UEFA
Quotes
"Technically they are a million miles away from us, but we showed tonight that we are men. I am happy at 1-1. I am happy we gave them a good game. I am happy that we are not 'boys', as some people said." "Whatever we are, we are men," said the Celtic boss. "You cannot play like that if you are not men. We should never be called 'boys', that's for sure, because boys don't fight like that."
WGS
Referring to the tremendous atmosphere created by the Celtic fans, Strachan said: "It was rocking. It is the best in Europe on a night like this."
WGS
Ferguson isnt scared to say it – at the post match press conference he said, talking about the CP atmosphere:
"We [Man Utd] would love to have an atmosphere like that, but…" and then doesn't say anything else. Says it all.
Alex Ferguson
Pictures
KStreet
- Pre-match
- Match
- MOTM
- Result – Caldwell (Link to MOTM Winners 2008/09)
- Post Match
Stats
Celtic | Man. United | |
1 | Goals scored | 1 |
3 | Shots on target | 8 |
3 | Shots wide | 10 |
0 | Shots blocked | 8 |
0 | Yellow card | 1 |
0 | Red card | 0 |
14 | Fouls committed | 6 |
4 | Corners | 12 |
1 | Offsides | 1 |
20' 21'' | Ball. Poss. (time) | 38' 28'' |
34% | Ball. Poss. (%) | 66% |
Strachan hails Celtic's spirit.
Provided by: Irish Times
|
EQUALISER SPARES THE BLUSHES OF FERGUSON; CELTIC 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 1
Provided by: Daily Mail
Celtic 1-1 Manchester United
By Keir Murray
BBC
A late header by Ryan Giggs gave United a deserved point in this thoroughly entertaining Champions League match.
The home crowd were ecstatic when Scott McDonald's delightful lob from 14 yards gave Celtic a 13th-minute lead.
United pinned Celtic back for much of the first half, but stout defending limited the Red Devils to half chances.
Giggs headed an 84th-minute equaliser when Artur Boruc could only parry a Cristiano Ronaldo shot, then Dimitar Berbatov missed a great late chance.
The result leaves United requiring a point for certain qualification, while for Celtic, with Villarreal six points ahead, they must win their last two matches and hope the Spaniards fail to take a further point.
When United took to the field on a crisp Glasgow evening wearing their all-blue strip, you suspected former Rangers striker Sir Alex Ferguson was enjoying a joke.
With a noticeable difference in quality between the squads, Celtic were hoping that the noise and passion created by their fans could unsettle the visitors and embolden their own starting 11, which was minus the talents of the injured Aiden McGeady.
Having played McDonald as a lone striker at Old Trafford, Celtic manager Gordon Strachan gave 19-year-old Cillian Sheridan his Champions League debut, believing the Irishman's physical presence could test Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.
The match started at a frantic pace, with Giggs, partnering Carlos Tevez up front, looking in the mood to inflict damage on Celtic's European hopes.
PHIL McNULTY BLOG
For once it was a week when the English super-powers in Europe's elite trophy did not get things all their own way
A brutal challenge by Barry Robson on his international team-mate Darren Fletcher allowed Ronaldo to have a crack at goal, though his free-kick sailed a few yards over Boruc's bar.
Celtic caught their breath and began to venture forward with runs by Maloney.
If the opening exchanges were characterised by passing and shooting that lacked precision, the opening goal was an example of perfect finishing.
A speculative header found Gary Caldwell at the edge of the United box and his cushioned header set up McDonald, in the inside left position, who remained composed to lob Ben Foster, in only his second start, from 14 yards.
Media conference: Strachan happy at draw but frustrated with injuries
It was Celtic's first goal in the Champions League this season and the first conceded by the cup holders.
United responded by increasing the pace of their play. Michael Carrick, Tevez, Fletcher and Ronaldo had Strachan's men pinned back.
Ferdinand volleyed an awkward ball over from three yards, a Vidic header was cleared off the line by Celtic captain Stephen McManus and the same player went close from one of many United corners.
Former Villa striker Maloney offered the home defence occasional relief. On the half-hour mark he cut inside from the left wing and rifled a dipping shot directly at Foster, who gathered well.
Celtic's Scott McDonald is congratulated on his first-half goal
Celtic's Scott McDonald is congratulated on his first-half goal
United looked most menacing when they played the ball quickly through midfield. In one such spurt, Giggs seized on an error by Paul Hartley, ran at the Celtic rearguard and ought to have tested Boruc.
Instead he slid the ball wide of Nani and the chance to equalise was gone.
For all the Red Devils' superior technique and movement, in open play Celtic were able to frustrate the visitors on their raids.
On numerous occasions, Caldwell and McManus and a retreating midfield got in the way of United's efforts at goal.
Strachan will have been satisfied at the workrate and intelligence of his players. Scott Brown, Barry Robson and Paul Hartley hounded Carrick and Fletcher incessantly and for the greater part, held on to the ball when they could.
Ferguson's half-time talk encouraged United to up their game at the re-start, but not before Maloney curled a long-range shot in at Foster.
In a raucous atmosphere, the Celtic fans cheered their team on as they stymied successive waves of United attacks.
Caldwell cleared a dangerous low cross by Tevez, then a low left-footed shot by Ronaldo found the grateful gloves of Celtic's Polish keeper Boruc.
Substitute Berbatov came close when his flick-on from five yards was cleared off the line by Maloney.
Rooney came on for Tevez for the last 20 minutes and his first involvement in the game was a long-range shot which Boruc turned round the post.
News conference – Ryan Giggs
With just six minutes remaining, United levelled the match.
Boruc was unable to hold a thunderous swerving shot by Ronaldo from 25 yards and in rushed the veteran Giggs to head home as Boruc lay helpless.
United could have snatched a victory in the final seconds when the ball was played into Berbatov.
His shot on the turn whipped past Boruc's right-hand post and Celtic's slim chances of reaching the knockout stages remained intact.
A fan came onto the pitch during the game, causing the match to be stopped for a few moments.
Strathclyde Police said a 19-year-old man was detained in connection with the incident, and would appear before Glasgow Sheriff Court on Thursday.
Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson, Hartley, Scott Brown, Robson, Maloney (O'Dea 75), McDonald (Hutchinson 81), Sheridan (Donati 63).
Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Naylor, Nakamura, Caddis.
Goals: McDonald 13.
Manchester Utd: Foster, Rafael Da Silva (Evra 66), Ferdinand, Vidic, O'Shea, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Carrick, Nani (Berbatov 46), Tevez (Rooney 71), Giggs.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Anderson, Park, Evans.
Booked: Nani.
Goals: Giggs 84.
Attendance: 58,903
Referee: Tom Ovrebo (Norway)