| Match Pictures | Matches: 2001 – 2002 | 2001-02 Pictures | European Cup |
Trivia
- Celtic’s first ever Champions League Group match.
- Amoruso dived for the penalty that won them the game after Celtic had fought from two down! Cheat.
- Celtic had fought back from two down to the point of the penalty only to be cheated out of a result, but no VAR back in those days.
- Celtic were playing away to Juventus in Turin in Celtics first ever champions league game in the group stages. Our first game should have been against Rosenberg at home, but was postponed because of the Twin Towers/9-11 atrocity. RIP
Review
Many Celtic fans will think of this as a moral victory, even though Celtic lost (to a dive that resulted in a penalty).
Just to be there seemed magical after so many years of disappointment, and despite all of our club’s pedigree there can be no doubt that many of us thought we were likely to be punching above our weight. Yet the amazing thing was that we really were good enough to play at this level.
Even when we were 2 – 0 down you could still feel that we were good enough to get back into it, especially as Davids was flirting with a red card. After he was sent off we levelled the score and it was absolutely no more than we deserved. If that had stood there can surely be little doubt this game would be seen as one of Celtic’s greatest European nights.
The dive and the penalty were a cruel final twist. But then and now it didn’t matter as much as the fact that we were back where we belonged – playing with and as one of the best club teams in Europe.
Teams
Juventus:-
Buffon, Montero, Thuram, Pessotto (Birindelli 63), Iuliano, Zenoni, Tacchinardi, Davids, Salas (O’Neill 69), Trezeguet, Del Piero (Amoruso 87).
Substitutes:- Carini, Ferrara, Paramatti, Maresca.
Juventus scorers:- Trezeguet 43, 55, Amoruso 90 pen.
Sent Off:- Davids (75).
Booked:- Iuliano, Davids, Birindelli
Celtic:-
Douglas, Valgaeren, Balde, Thompson (Petta 58), Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Mjallby, Agathe, Sutton, Larsson.
Substitutes:- Kharine, Sylla, McNamara, Hartson, Tebily, Guppy.
Celtic scorers:- Petrov 67, Larsson 85 pen.
Booked:- Thompson, Valgaeren.
Referee:- H Krug (Germany)
Att:- 43,017
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Stats
| Juventus | Celtic | |
| 3 | Goals scored | 2 |
| 4 | Yellow card | 2 |
| 1 | Red card | 0 |
| 6 | Shots on goal | 8 |
| 8 | Shots wide | 1 |
| 29 | Fouls committed | 22 |
| 7 | Corners | 3 |
| 1 | Offsides | 4 |
| 25′ 1” | Ball. Poss. (time) | 24′ 41” |
| 50% | Ball. Poss. (%) | 50% |
Articles
Penalty denies brave Celtic
BBC
Juventus 3-2 Celtic Celtic were denied a stunning success by a controversial late penalty on their debut in the Champions League group stages.
Two goals from David Trezeguet appeared to have put Juventus on their way to victory in Turin.
But Celtic hit back through Stilian Petrov and Henrik Larsson after Edgar Davids had been sent off for the Italian league leaders.
But Joos Valgaeren was adjudged to have pulled down Nicola Amoruso two minutes from the end and the midfielder rose to slot the ball home from the spot.
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill was so upset he was sent to the stand.
He had gone into the game without the trickery of injured veteran Lubo Moravcik, but the strength of Petrov may have been preferred in any case.
Juve were without Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved through suspension, but had Davids back after his four-month drugs ban. Alessandro del Pierro flashed three efforts just wide as Juventus threatened early on.
Celtic almost broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute and would have but for the heroics of Gianluigi Buffon.
Chris Sutton’s header looked destined for the goal, but the Italian goalkeeper somehow saved the ball behind him.
Bobo Balde then had to kick clear almost on the Celtic goal line after a corner found the head of Montero after goalkeeper Robert Douglas missed the ball completely.
Juventus took the lead just two minutes before the break when Salas pulled the ball back from the byline for Trezeguet to tap into the empty net.
Celtic should have equalised five minutes after the break when Alan Thompson’s cross found Didier Agathe at the back post.
The Frenchman rode a defender’s challenge but blazed over with only Buffon to beat.
Juventus doubled their lead four minutes later.
Del Piero twisted and turned before sending in an inviting cross that Trezeguet headed past the despairing dive of Douglas. Celtic were back in the game after 67 minutes from a free- kick 22 yards out.
Larsson pushed the ball into the path of Petrov and the Bulgarian’s low drive took a deflection past Buffon.
Davids was lucky not to have been sent off by the time he eventually received his second yellow card after 74 minutes for a foul on Larsson.
Celtic applied the pressure and, when Sutton was pulled down in the box, Larsson stepped up to slot the ball into the corner.
It looked like Celtic might go on to record a historic win when Amoruso fell to the deck under a challenge from Valgaeren to win the crucial penalty.
Buffon saved on the line from Sutton in the dying seconds to break Celtic hearts.
SPORTING LIFE
By Chris Roberts, PA Sport, Turin
Celtic saw their stunning comeback end in tears as a controversial late penalty snatched a 3-2 victory for Juventus in Turin. Nicola Amoruso slotted home from the spot with only minutes remaining and Hoops manager Martin O’Neill was sent to the stand for remonstrating at the striker’s theatrical dive in the box after Joos Valgaeren’s challenge. A point in the Champions League Group E opener looked certain after Stilian Petrov and Henrik Larsson had cancelled out David Trezeguet’s double and they were even dreaming of victory after Edgar Davids saw red. But Celtic were robbed late on and despite the defeat they can still hold their heads high after a remarkable fightback. O’Neill’s men knew they had to produce a red-hot display to have any chance in the Stadio delle Alpi and after David Trezeguet’s double the task looked impossible. But after Petrov’s deflected lifeline, Edgar Davids saw red in his first match back after his drugs ban and the Italians had to hang on to win the Group E opener. Juventus looked like a side riding high at the top of Serie A and gave Celtic an early scare after just three minute thanks to some nervous defending from the visitors. Bobo Balde headed Marcelo Salas’ cross away with Trezeguet breathing down his neck, and Alessandro del Piero picked up the ball before flashing a right-foot effort into the side-netting. A foul on Henrik Larsson by Paolo Montero, a minute later, gave Celtic a chance to pressure the Italians and Alan Thompson let fly with an ambitious left-foot strike which Buffon saved. But Juventus went close again in the 11th minute after referee Hellmut Krug penalised Johan Mjallby for a foul on Salas, but the Chilean’s over-exaggerated fall perhaps won the decision. However, justice was done moments later when del Piero’s right-foot curler flew just over the bar. Davids appeared to be struggling to adjust to the pace of the game and he was fortunate not to get booked in the 14th minute when he clumsily floored Lennon well after the ball had gone. Balde stupidly put his side under more pressure in the 17th minute when he hacked down del Piero, but Robert Douglas comfortably collected the cross at the far post. Moments later Gianluca Pessotto dragged his shot well wide with Salas free on the edge of the box. O’Neill looked on anxiously in the 21st minute after Larsson was hurt by a tackle from Davids, but after gingerly getting to his feet the Swedish striker appeared to recover. But Davids again escaped a yellow card four minutes later following a reckless challenge on Petrov. Celtic almost found a way through in the 26th minute, but Thuram came to Juventus’ rescue with a timely interception from Agathe’s cross with Sutton lurking ominously behind him. Despite Davids’ mis-timed tackles, the referee was less than forgiving with Thompson and he became the first player booked following a late challenge on Alessio Tacchinardi. Celtic breathed another sign of relief moments later when del Piero again whistled a right-foot drive past the upright. Davids again flew in late on Agathe, but he was lucky not to catch the Frenchman, who skipped away from him. But Celtic almost broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute and would have but for the heroics of Buffon. Lennon swung in a cross to the back post and Sutton’s header looked destined for the goal, but the Italian keeper somehow saved the ball behind him and to his right. Del Piero was orchestrating everything that Juventus did and his right-foot effort in the 36th minute needed a slight touch from Joos Valgaeren to divert the ball wide. But two minutes later Celtic had Balde to thank for keeping them on level terms. Del Piero’s corner was headed goalward by Paolo Montero, but the Frenchman was on the line to kick clear. Davids did eventually get booked in the 41st minute when he brought down Lennon and the referee could no longer ignore the Dutch star. But nobody could do anything to prevent Juventus from taking the lead just two minutes before the break when Salas pulled the ball back from the byline for Trezeguet to tap into the empty net. But just five minutes after the restart the impressive Agathe should have put Celtic on level terms. A mix up between Mark Iuliano and Montero saw Thompson’s cross come straight through to the Frenchman unmarked in the box, but with just Buffon to beat he blazed over. That missed chance proved costly for Celtic as Juventus doubled their lead just four minutes later with Trezeguet notching his second of the night. Del Piero ran to the byline and again pulled the ball back invitingly for the Frenchman to nonchalantly head past the despairing dive of Douglas. Larsson tried to pull his side back into the game moments later, but Buffon made a good save low to his left. Celtic needed to his back sharply and although O’Neill was reluctant to play Bobby Petta after injury, he had no alternative but to bring him on for Thompson. Davids was riding his luck and he was fortunate not to see red in the 61st minute when he brought down Petrov. But he survived and just a minute later Juventus almost made it three when Salas teed the ball up nicely for del Piero in the area, but the brilliant Italian blazed over. Celtic, however, pulled themselves back into the match in the 67th minute when Henrik Larsson knocked the ball sideways to Petrov, whose shot took a wicked deflection off Alessandro Birindelli and flew into the corner past Buffon. Juventus found themselves up against it in the 75th minute when Davids finally got his marching orders for a foul on Larsson. Moments later and Valgaeren was inches away from heading Agathe’s cross home. But with just five minutes remaining Celtic did the unthinkable and equalised from the spot. Sutton was brought down by Birindelli in the box and Larsson kept his composure to send Buffon the wrong way and steer the ball into the right corner. But with the final whistle in sight, Juventus were awarded a penalty after Amoruso appeared to dive under the challenge of Valgaeren and he fired home from the spot. O’Neill and the Celtic players were clearly riled and the manager was sent to the stand by the referee. Sutton almost equalised again moments later, but Juventus cleared the danger and Amoruso shot just wide late on. But Celtic were clearly shell-shocked at the final whistle, while the Old Lady had every reason to smile.
O’Neill off in storm over late penalty
Michael Walker in the Stadio delle Alpi
The Guardian, Wednesday 19 September 2001 10.45 BST
In the literature handed out by Uefa here last night this match was described as Celtic’s first “proper” European Cup tie since 1988. Celtic may feel with some justification this morning that it was in fact their first “improper” match since then.
Certainly Martin O’Neill did. The Celtic manager was ordered from the dugout after expressing his anger at the award of a most dubious penalty to Juventus in the 89th minute.
Having staged a comeback from 2-0 down that was invigorating to observe, Celtic appeared to have secured their first-ever Champions League point until that moment via Henrik Larsson’s 86th-minute equalising penalty. Some 20 minutes earlier Stilian Petrov had sent Celtic on their way with a deflected free-kick.
But in the closing minutes the Juventus substitute Nicola Amoruso went to ground under no apparent challenge from Joos Valgaeren. Hellmut Krug pointed to the spot nonetheless. Amoruso got up to convert the penalty himself.
In a chaotic three minutes of injury-time O’Neill then watched from the sodden athletic track as Celtic went upfield again in search of another equaliser. They came within inches of getting it, too, Chris Sutton having a header knocked off the line by one of his own team-mates.
That would have made it 3-3 and, as the Juventus manager Marcello Lippi was to say later: “It might have been a draw. But that’s the way it goes.” The fairness or otherwise did not bother him. O’Neill will hardly take solace from that. Looking utterly dejected, he professed himself “disgusted” and “robbed”.
“I would put up with it if there had even been a bit of wrestling,” he said of the Amoruso penalty. “But the guy was at least a foot away. I’d actually turned away, I thought it was a goal-kick. The referee has seen something no one else in the ground had seen. The players are astounded by it.
“What happened to me was not important. We haven’t even taken one point here tonight from a performance that was extraordinary. We may live to regret that but we have shown that we can live at this level.”
That was not in dispute. Though Juventus held a two- goal lead by the 56th minute through two David Trezeguet strikes, Celtic had not deserved to be two behind. The 75th-minute dismissal of Edgar Davids, on his return from a four-month ban for drugs, may appear significant but Celtic were midway through their fightback then anyway.
It was an imposing header from Sutton in the 32nd minute that really began the night’s excitement. Gianluigi Buffon was forced to scramble across his line to block.
Robert Douglas, Buffon’s opposite number, had not made a save but his comfort was eroded, first by a Paolo Montero effort booted off the Celtic line and then by Trezeguet’s 43rd-minute opener. At full speed Marcelo Salas twisted and turned Valgaeren before sending in a cross from the byline that Trezeguet poked in from three yards.
Ten minutes after the interval further fleet footwork from Alessandro del Piero left Trezeguet unmarked 10 yards out and the young Frenchman rose to direct a magnificent header into the corner. Douglas had no chance.
Celtic fought back and soon got their reward when Petrov’s 25-yard free-kick was deflected past Buffon following a short touch from Larsson. Davids, booked in the first half for a foul on Neil Lennon, now up-ended Larsson. Another yellow card was followed by a red.
Celtic sniffed again and, when Didier Agathe supplied Larsson, the Swede’s centre saw Sutton speeding into the six-yard box. Sutton tried to turn Montero. Montero pulled him down. Larsson accepted the penalty with assurance.
Even at 2-2 both sides continued to attack. Amoruso, on for Del Piero only two minutes earlier, then fell while “challenging” for a long ball into the Celtic area. As O’Neill said, he turned away. Most people did. Referee Krug did not. Amoruso made it 3-2. But proper it was not.
• Porto’s two Brazilians Jesus Pena and Deco Dousa scored in a 2-1 Group E win over Rosenborg Trondheim on a slippery surface at the Lerkendal stadium in Norway.
Juventus (3-4-3): Buffon; Thuram, Montero, Iluiano; Zenoni, David, Tacchinardi, Pessotto (Birindelli, 63min); Salas (O’Neill, 69), Trezeguet, Del Piero (Amoruso, 87).
Celtic (3-5-2): Douglas; Mjallby, Valgaeren, Balde; Agathe, Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Thompson (Petta, 58); Larsson, Sutton.
Referee: H Krug (Germany).