martes, 12 de mayo de 2009

CELTICS 2 -1 DUNDEE UNITED

Celtic staved off a Dundee United fight-back to claim victory and top spot in the Scottish Premier League with Rangers inactive until Wednesday.
After a bright start by the visitors Glenn Loovens headed Celtic into the lead on 21 minutes.
Georgios Samaras doubled their lead early in the second half with a deflected shot off Lee Wilkie.
United applied heavy pressure after David Robertson's close range strike on 57 minutes but Celtic held out.
Celtic had not beaten Dundee United over 90 minutes on four previous meetings this season in league and cup action, and United boss Craig Levein had said pre-match that his team felt they could win in Glasgow.
And it was the Terrors who made the more confident and composed start with Craig Conway coming within a yard of opening the scoring with a low shot from 20 yards inside three minutes.
Conversely, Celtic struggled to find fluency, partly due to a high count of stray passes, but also in part due the harrying of United duo Morgaro Gomis and Prince Buaben in midfield.
But the home side jolted into action on 13 minutes when Scott Brown, back in the Celtic line-up after a two-match suspension, drove forward energetically to release Scott McDonald, who crossed for Samaras to volley against the upright.
Minutes later Celtic had Artur Boruc to thank for a fantastic save from the head of Sandaza, who was left unchallenged by the home defence.

The favour was repaid by United in the 21st minute, when Loovens rose free to glance Shunsuke Nakamura's front-post corner past Lukasz Zaluska to put Celtic 1-0 ahead.
The goal gave the home side a boost, with Aiden McGeady and McDonald striking shots at goal.
But the Australian can think himself fortunate that he did not receive at least a yellow card for a high challenge below the knee of United captain Lee Wilkie.
United started the second half as they did the first, with Sandaza forcing Boruc to make another good stop with his foot from an acute angle.
Yet, it was Celtic who doubled their lead on 52 minutes through Samaras, whose sweeping shot nicked off Wilkie on it's way past Zaluska from 20 yards.
Brown was the architect, and the Scotland midfielder almost scored himself with header, but for a smart stop by United's Celtic-bound keeper on the line.
However, with the prize of European football at stake, far from giving up the ghost United took hold of the game by the scruff of the neck.
Robertson pegged one back, slamming in a wonderful deep Paul Dixon cross at the far post with Lee Naylor struggling to track back to cover.
With their next foray up the field, substitute Andis Shala passed up a glorious chance with a free header from a few yards out, and Buaben was just off-target with two efforts.
As United opened up to press for an equaliser their keeper Zaluska had to be sharp off his line to deny Nakamura.
And despite some nervy moments for the home fans Celtic held firm to maintain the pressure on Rangers, who can restore their two-point lead in the table against Hibernian on Wednesday evening.
Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, Loovens, Naylor, Nakamura (Flood 85), Scott Brown, Crosas (Hartley 61), McGeady, McDonald, Samaras (Vennegoor of Hesselink 76).Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, O'Dea, Conroy, Maloney.
Booked: Loovens, Hartley.
Goals: Loovens 22, Samaras 52.
Dundee Utd: Zaluska, Kovacevic (Dillon 88), Kenneth, Wilkie, Dixon, Swanson (Shala 58), David Robertson, Buaben, Gomis, Conway, Sandaza (Goodwillie 81).Subs Not Used: McGovern, Scott Robertson, Grainger, Dods.
Booked: Wilkie, Conway.
Goals: David Robertson 57.
Att: 57,407
Ref: S Dougal

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