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Joined: 23 Jul 2006 Posts: 523 Location: South Mpls
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Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 6:04 pm Post subject: Glasgow Celtic 1-0 Manchester Who?nited - UEFA |
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Celtic 1-0 Man Utd
Celtic edged through to the knockout phase of the Champions League thanks to a wonderful Shunsuke Nakamura free kick and a penalty save from Artur Boruc.
The Japanese star curled a sweet 25-yard strike into the top corner after 80 minutes to brighten what had been a cagey affair.
United striker Louis Saha was guilty of a terrible miss in front of goal when he appeared to assume he was offside.
And Saha's night got worse when Boruc saved his late penalty kick.
The visitors settled into a neat passing rhythm early on, taking the sting out of a keenly anticipated contest with sustained periods of possession.
Celtic were uncharacteristically timid in their approach, playing with two solid blocks of four and providing nothing for their strikers.
Neither goalkeeper had been threatened until an ambitious 20-yard volley from Wayne Rooney skidded narrowly wide on 29 minutes.
A mistake from Balde then allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to race in on goal but the defender's recovering lunge took the pace off the Portuguese star's shot and Artur Boruc got down smartly to save.
Celtic made a rare break forward late in the first half but Thomas Gravesen's header from a Zurawski cross flashed harmlessly across the goal.
Celtic introduced Jiri Jarosik and Shaun Maloney after the interval but the switch did little to enliven a drab affair.
United striker Louis Saha headed wide from a corner and Rio Ferdinand hooked a shot high over the crossbar from a similar situation.
Gravesen and Shunsuke Nakamura delivered shots on target but United keeper Edwin Van der Sar gathered with ease.
Ronaldo brought the game to life with a strong run after 77 minutes only to see his angled strike take a slight deflection and fizz wide.
And Nakamura brought the previously subdued home support to their feet with his sensational free kick.
Saha was then guilty of dithering in front of goal and allowing Boruc to block his shot.
United were handed a penalty when Gravesen handled a Ronaldo free kick but Boruc flew to his right to push away Saha's attempt.
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Celtic: Boruc, Telfer, Balde, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Gravesen, Lennon, Sno, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Zurawski. Subs: Marshall, Miller, Wilson, Jarosik, Maloney, McGeady, O'Dea.
Manchester United: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze, Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Saha, Rooney. Subs: Kuszczak, Evra, Brown, O'Shea, Richardson, Fletcher, Silvestre.
Referee: Manuel Gonzalez (Spain)
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