SCOTT McDONALD converted the winning penalty as Celtic edged a marathon shoot-out 11-10 over Dundee United to book a March 15 Co-operative Insurance Cup League Cup Final date with Rangers.

The two teams couldn’t be separated over the course of the 90 minutes, with few real opportunities being created as normal time finished at 0-0. Celtic hit the bar twice in extra-time but the winner remained elusive.

In the shoot-out, Scott McDonald, Gary Caldwell, Shunsuke Nakamura, Barry Robson and Georgios Samaras all converted for Celtic. Willo Flood, Jon Daly, Warren Feeney, Craig Conway and Paul Dixon were successful for United.

Sudden-death ensued and Morgaro Gomis potted United’s sixth penalty, before Lee Naylor did likewise for Celtic. Garry Kenneth made it 7-6 to United but Marc Crosas levelled the shoot-out again.

David Robertson put United in front once but Scott Brown casually rolled his penalty home to make it 8-8. Lee Wilkie was then denied by Boruc and but Glenn Loovens also missed.

Mihael Kovacevic put United 9-8 in the lead but Andy Hinkel levelled again. That meant it was down to the goalkeepers and Lukasz Zaluska made it 10-9 before Boruc slammed his spot-kick into the top corner.

It was then back to the original kickers and Flood hit the top of the bar to give McDonald the chance to win it for Celtic. The Australian made no mistake.

Both sides deserve immense credit for trying to play the game the right way on an appalling playing surface that deteriorated as the night wore on and was in no way conducive to good football.

Gordon Strachan made just one enforced change from the side that beat Hibernian on Saturday. Captain Stephen McManus missed out through injury, with Loovens taking his place. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink skippered the side.

The big Dutchman was involved from the start and almost fired Celtic ahead inside 60 seconds. Nakamura’s cross was punched out by Zaluska and Vennegoor of Hesselink’s follow-up effort was saved by the Pole.

Zaluska’s compatriot Boruc also saw some early action. Flood embarked on a mazy run that finished with a toe-poke towards the bottom corner. Boruc saved well.

Nakamura was next to have a go in five minutes. He skipped past a Kenneth challenge and sent a right-foot shot past Zaluska, but Kovacevic cleared at the back post.

United striker Feeney, meeting Kenneth’s cross, glanced a header wide of target before Nakamura threatened again. His netbound volley was deflected wide by Kenneth.

Vennegoor of Hesselink came within a whisker of converting a Nakamura corner in18 minutes but United were always dangerous as well – with Francisco Sandaza testing Boruc from eight yards.

Celtic came close again just after the half-hour mark. Naylor’s curling cross was knocked away by Wilkie, just as McDonald waited to pounce.

Back United came again. Conway won a free-kick on the left wing and then sent a cross on to the head of Sandaza, whose flick flew inches wide.

Loovens sent a header over the bar as Celtic continued to chase the opener. Brown, outstanding again for the Hoops, also tested Zaluska with a left-foot piledriver before the break.

Nakamura’s deep free-kick almost caught out Zaluska at the start of the second half. Loovens was then harshly booked when he tangled with Feeney on a United break.

Vennegoor of Hesselink headed over in 57 minutes but there were precious few clear-cut chances being created. Sandaza did get a yard of space in the box but his volley flew over the bar.

United midfielder Buaben flashed a low drive past the post in 71 minutes. Samaras and Robson were then introduced for Vennegoor of Hesselink and Aiden McGeady.

Hoops substitute Robson was involved in a moment of controversy with eight minutes remaining when he fell under a Buaben challenge in the box. Referee Calum Murray was unmoved.

Samaras then went on a marauding run into the box but United stood firm. The Greek also came close to converting a McDonald cross –only to take a heavy touch. In added time, Wilkie also threatened before the end.

Into extra-time and Crosas blazed over the bar from the edge of the box. Samaras headed over before Wilkie produced a heroic clearance to deny McDonald a certain goal. Nakamura’s low drive was then saved by Zaluska.

It was all Celtic at this point. Nakamura teed up McDonald and his shot was blocked. Samaras found the side-netting with the rebound. Nakamura’s low shot suffered the same fate.

United began the second period of extra-time on top and Flood almost found the bottom corner after a mazy run into the box. Feeney was then inches away from connecting with a Conway centre.

However, Celtic finished stronger. McDonald and Hinkel were denied by blocks and Crosas and Samaras both hit the bar in an amazing finale before the dramatics of the shoot-out.

The 21-year-old Derry City winger will sign a three-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee, which it is understood should top £200,000 after add-ons.

Swansea were thought to be favourites to land McGinn, who was recently named young player of the year by the Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland, days before he made his debut for Northern Ireland against Hungary.

However, the Parkhead club beat off the competition from the Welsh club as well as Birmingham, Ipswich and Derby, who had also showed interest in the former Dungannon Swifts player.

McGinn, would not be able to play for Celtic until January 1, will become the second player to arrive from the Brandywell club following the summer signing of Paddy McCourt who has so far struggled to pin down a first-team spot.

Celtic have been fined £42,430 by Uefa after a fan ran on to the pitch during last week's Champions League clash with Manchester United at Parkhead.

Part of the fine was imposed for the late start to the game, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Uefa confirmed that "an appeal may be lodged within three days of receipt of the grounds for the decision" but Celtic have revealed they will not be making any appeal.

A Celtic spokesman said: "We accept the judgement and there will be no appeal."

Celtic 4 Hibs 2

Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc today escaped with a £500 fine and a severe reprimand over gestures he made to Rangers fans during the last Old Firm derby.

Almost two months after the incident on August 31, Boruc had his case for improper conduct heard by a Scottish Football Association disciplinary committee today.

He was found guilty, fined, severely censured and warned about his future conduct. He has seven working days to appeal the decision.

Boruc's case was held over from September 16 in order to allow him to prepare for the following night's Champions League opener against Aalborg.

Posted Thursday, 23 October 2008 - 16:24:44

celtic fans are praised by manchester police

Newsroom Staff
CELTIC fans have been praised for their behaviour by Manchester police as they provided another positive example to everyone on how to support their team regardless of the result.

Despite the disappointment of losing 3-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford in the UEFA Champions League, the Celtic support further enhanced their excellent reputation and that of the Club during the visit to Manchester.

Match Commander Superintendent John Graves of Greater Manchester Police said: “I have no doubt that, for those Celtic fans who made the trip to Old Trafford for the Champions League fixture against Manchester United, it was a long and eventful day.

“Whilst I know the result of the game wasn't what Celtic fans would have wanted, the result of the overall event surely was. Any major sporting event is a challenge to police, and a sell-out crowd at one of the nation's largest stadiums for a game between two of Britain's greatest clubs, has to rank amongst the biggest.

“Making such events a success is not just down to the police and the clubs, it’s a responsibility of everyone involved, especially the supporters.

“As the Police Match Commander at Old Trafford, I would like to pass on my thanks to those Celtic fans who came to support their club in the finest traditions of genuine football fans, and ambassadors of Glasgow.

“From a policing and safety perspective, the game was a great success. There were very few incidents and arrests, and nothing that should detract from a great footballing occasion.

“I have to say that Celtic Football Club has every right to be proud of its fans. Those who braved the night in a windy and wet Manchester were a credit to the club.

“I would also like to compliment the Celtic stewards who helped tremendously throughout the game and added great value to the safety operation.

“We have a cliche in Manchester about the eyes of Europe being upon Old Trafford during these massive football games, and this was no exception.

“I believe that Celtic fans did a great deal to enhance not only the club's reputation across Europe, but also their own - well done.”

Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell said: "I would like to thank our supporters for their magnificent behaviour in travelling to Manchester and supporting the team at Old Trafford.

"Once again, Celtic fans have shown themselves to be tremendous ambassadors for our club and our city and they have further enhanced the good name of Celtic Football Club in European football.

"Despite the disappointing result, they gave total backing to the team, recognising that the players had given everything in the game against the reigning European champions."

Czech ace Pavel Zavadil has reacted with shock after it emerged that Celtic have been watching him.

The midfielder is currently plying his trade for Orgryte, on loan from fellow Swedish side Oster.

The 30-year-old former Sparta Prague and Banik Ostrava man has enjoyed stints in Israel and Greece before he arrived in Sweden in 2006.

Zavadil has impressed with Orgryte, helping them win promotion to the top-flight, and Celtic used the last game of the season to dispatch a scout to check on him.

"What? They were here to look at me?" a shocked Zavdil told the Gothenburg Post.

"Celtic? I really can't believe it."

Former Aston Villa striker Marcus Allback, who scored twice against Vasby United at the weekend to help Orgryte seal their promotion, is also rumoured to be a target for The Bhoys.

The Swedish ace is highly unlikely to be keen on a permanent move away from his homeland, but could be lured away on a tempoary basis.

TRAGIC Celtic goalkeeper John Thomson is set to be inducted into The Scottish Football Hall of Fame.

In a break with tradition, the Hall of Fame trustees have announced his inclusion ahead of what will be the fifth induction to be held at a gala dinner in the Glasgow Hilton in November.

Thomson had seemed set for a glittering career after having already established himself as Celtic and Scotland No.1 But he died at the age of 22 after diving at the feet of Rangers' striker Sam English in the Old Firm derby on September 5, 1931. The accidental clash left him fatally injured with a compressed fracture of the skull.

The induction of the Scotland international, famed for his bravery and agility, comes after a two-year campaign which has had the backing of Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

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Alex Burns, president of the John Thomson Memorial Committee and a founder member of the John Thomson Action Group, which led the Hall of Fame campaign was delighted.

He said: "This has been a long time coming. We have been campaigning for since the first intake into the Hall of Fame four years ago. It is wonderful news."

Thomson was born in the Fife mining village of Cardenden in 1909 and played for Bowhill Juniors and Wellesley Juniors where he was spotted by Celts.

He was signed for Celtic in 1926 on a tram ride by the famous Parkhead scout Steve Callaghan, who was so keen to claim Thomson's signature that he made him sign by the side of a road leaning on a fuse box.

Thomson made his debut as an 18-year-old against Dundee in 1927 in the first of what was to be 211 appearances that included 70 clean sheets.

He went on to win four caps for Scotland, made four appearances with the Scottish League select and was a Scottish Cup winner in 1927 and 1931 and a Scottish Cup finalist in 1928 with his beloved Celtic.

An estimated 30,000 travelled to Cardenden in Fife to pay their respects at his funeral as the Old Firm divide was transcended in the most poignant fashion.

English never came to terms with the incident and retired in 1938. He said: "To choose (to continue playing) was possibly not sensible. To have done anything else would have seemed like running away.

"I was not to know that the news vendor's cry John Thomson dead' would become almost as much my epitaph as his."

The Hall of Fame is a permanent feature in the Scottish Football Museum at Hampden Park. Tables for the dinner can be secured by calling 0141 309 1438.

Publication date 24/09/08