Post by Taxigirl on Mar 12, 2004 10:20:40 GMT
www.sportinglife.com/football/live/reports/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=soccer/04/03/11/SOCCER_Celtic.html
By Chris Roberts, PA Sport
Three players were red-carded as 10-man Celtic punished the wasteful and indisciplined Barcelona in one of the most dramatic and glorious nights Parkhead has ever seen.
After the Catalan giants had squandered three glorious first-half chances, Robert Douglas and Thiago Motta were dismissed following an ugly clash in the tunnel.
The drama continued to unfold as Javier Saviola was also sent off for a nasty lunge - before Celtic snatched the first leg win through Alan Thompson's great strike.
The sensational events followed a frantic day as Barcelona's request to have the game postponed in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Madrid was refused by UEFA.
Celtic, without Chris Sutton, Joos Valgaeren, John Hartson, Johan Mjallby and Liam Miller, gave Craig Beattie his first senior start at Parkhead but Stephen Pearson, who enjoyed his best game in a Hoops shirt, had Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes desperately throwing himself to his right early on after whistling a 24-yard shot past the upright.
The youngster was again involved with another flowing Celtic move in the 16th minute, bursting forward before off-loading to Henrik Larsson, who laid it on to Stilian Petrov but he screwed his shot wide from the edge of the area.
Douglas also flung himself towards the post in the 23rd minute but Philip Cocu's left-foot shot, from the edge of the area, bounced wide much to the relief of Thompson who had been caught in possession after his side had won the ball back.
The Englishman again lost the ball in the 26th minute and it should have been punished by a Barcelona goal as Frank Rijkaard's side ruthlessly swept past Celtic's defence, culminating in Thiago Motta playing Saviola clean through only for the Argentinian to screw his shot wide.
Celtic were let off the hook again in the 36th minute when the visitors squandered an even better chance.
Saviola played Ronaldinho in and with just Douglas to beat he curled an unconvincing left-foot effort wide of the post.
The Brazilian turned provider soon after but Saviola somehow missed the target from just under the crossbar.
Barcelona almost paid the price for those missed chances when Celtic went close in the 42nd minute when Petrov found the overlapping Thompson and his first-time strike was well stopped by Valdes.
Douglas and Motta failed to emerge from the tunnel for the second half after being sent-off following a bust-up as both sets of players made their way to the dressing room.
As a result O'Neill was forced to draft in another youngster with David Marshall - on for Beattie - going into goal after only recently turning 19.
Just a minute into his appearance Marshall was beaten by Saviola only for the ball to roll outside the post.
The drama did not relent there as Barcelona were reduced to nine men in the 48th minute when Saviola was given a straight red card for kicking Thompson.
Celtic sensed victory and Valdes was glad to see the ball spin off Presas Oleguer and into his hands from Thompson's cross.
Both players had clearly lost their cool as Michael Reiziger and Balde were shown yellow cards for reckless challenges on Pearson and Cocu respectively.
But Celtic made their numerical advantage count in the 59th minute when they snatched the lead in superb fashion.
Larsson headed Petrov's long ball across goal and Thompson made up for his early carelessness by volleying in from close range.
German referee Wolfgang Stark then decided against sending off Reiziger who, having already been booked, lunged at Pearson - prompting manager Frank Rijkaard to replace his fellow Dutchman with Gerard Lopez in the 63rd minute.
The home side continued to go in search of goals to take to the Nou Camp in a fortnight's time as Larsson fired just wide from Pearson's pass in the 75th minute.
More goals did not come but after the injury problems and the events of the last 24 hours, O'Neill would be more than delighted with the result and a 74th match unbeaten at Parkhead.
Teams
Celtic Douglas, Varga, Balde, McNamara, Agathe, Lennon, Petrov, Pearson, Thompson (Sylla 83), Larsson, Beattie (Marshall 45).
Subs Not Used: Lambert, Wallace, Smith, Kennedy.
Sent Off: Douglas (45).
Booked: Varga, Balde.
Goals: Thompson 59.
Barcelona Valdes, Reiziger (Gerard 64), Puyol, Oleguer, Gabri, Cocu, Xavi, Motta, Ronaldinho (Overmars 88), Luis Garcia (Quaresma 72), Saviola.
Subs Not Used: Rustu, Marquez, Iniesta, Oscar Lopez.
Sent Off: Motta (45), Saviola (49).
Booked: Reiziger.
Att: 59,539
Ref: Wolfgang Stark (Germany).
By Chris Roberts, PA Sport
Three players were red-carded as 10-man Celtic punished the wasteful and indisciplined Barcelona in one of the most dramatic and glorious nights Parkhead has ever seen.
After the Catalan giants had squandered three glorious first-half chances, Robert Douglas and Thiago Motta were dismissed following an ugly clash in the tunnel.
The drama continued to unfold as Javier Saviola was also sent off for a nasty lunge - before Celtic snatched the first leg win through Alan Thompson's great strike.
The sensational events followed a frantic day as Barcelona's request to have the game postponed in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Madrid was refused by UEFA.
Celtic, without Chris Sutton, Joos Valgaeren, John Hartson, Johan Mjallby and Liam Miller, gave Craig Beattie his first senior start at Parkhead but Stephen Pearson, who enjoyed his best game in a Hoops shirt, had Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes desperately throwing himself to his right early on after whistling a 24-yard shot past the upright.
The youngster was again involved with another flowing Celtic move in the 16th minute, bursting forward before off-loading to Henrik Larsson, who laid it on to Stilian Petrov but he screwed his shot wide from the edge of the area.
Douglas also flung himself towards the post in the 23rd minute but Philip Cocu's left-foot shot, from the edge of the area, bounced wide much to the relief of Thompson who had been caught in possession after his side had won the ball back.
The Englishman again lost the ball in the 26th minute and it should have been punished by a Barcelona goal as Frank Rijkaard's side ruthlessly swept past Celtic's defence, culminating in Thiago Motta playing Saviola clean through only for the Argentinian to screw his shot wide.
Celtic were let off the hook again in the 36th minute when the visitors squandered an even better chance.
Saviola played Ronaldinho in and with just Douglas to beat he curled an unconvincing left-foot effort wide of the post.
The Brazilian turned provider soon after but Saviola somehow missed the target from just under the crossbar.
Barcelona almost paid the price for those missed chances when Celtic went close in the 42nd minute when Petrov found the overlapping Thompson and his first-time strike was well stopped by Valdes.
Douglas and Motta failed to emerge from the tunnel for the second half after being sent-off following a bust-up as both sets of players made their way to the dressing room.
As a result O'Neill was forced to draft in another youngster with David Marshall - on for Beattie - going into goal after only recently turning 19.
Just a minute into his appearance Marshall was beaten by Saviola only for the ball to roll outside the post.
The drama did not relent there as Barcelona were reduced to nine men in the 48th minute when Saviola was given a straight red card for kicking Thompson.
Celtic sensed victory and Valdes was glad to see the ball spin off Presas Oleguer and into his hands from Thompson's cross.
Both players had clearly lost their cool as Michael Reiziger and Balde were shown yellow cards for reckless challenges on Pearson and Cocu respectively.
But Celtic made their numerical advantage count in the 59th minute when they snatched the lead in superb fashion.
Larsson headed Petrov's long ball across goal and Thompson made up for his early carelessness by volleying in from close range.
German referee Wolfgang Stark then decided against sending off Reiziger who, having already been booked, lunged at Pearson - prompting manager Frank Rijkaard to replace his fellow Dutchman with Gerard Lopez in the 63rd minute.
The home side continued to go in search of goals to take to the Nou Camp in a fortnight's time as Larsson fired just wide from Pearson's pass in the 75th minute.
More goals did not come but after the injury problems and the events of the last 24 hours, O'Neill would be more than delighted with the result and a 74th match unbeaten at Parkhead.
Teams
Celtic Douglas, Varga, Balde, McNamara, Agathe, Lennon, Petrov, Pearson, Thompson (Sylla 83), Larsson, Beattie (Marshall 45).
Subs Not Used: Lambert, Wallace, Smith, Kennedy.
Sent Off: Douglas (45).
Booked: Varga, Balde.
Goals: Thompson 59.
Barcelona Valdes, Reiziger (Gerard 64), Puyol, Oleguer, Gabri, Cocu, Xavi, Motta, Ronaldinho (Overmars 88), Luis Garcia (Quaresma 72), Saviola.
Subs Not Used: Rustu, Marquez, Iniesta, Oscar Lopez.
Sent Off: Motta (45), Saviola (49).
Booked: Reiziger.
Att: 59,539
Ref: Wolfgang Stark (Germany).