Larsson Sets up Hoops

CELTIC¡K¡K¡K.1 (Larsson 51)
CELTA VIGO¡K0

A 51st minute Henrik Larsson goal gave Celtic an invaluable 1-0 lead to take to Spain in a fortnight's time as Martin O'Neill's side triumphed over Celta Vigo.

It was a tense evening in which the theatrics of French referee Claude Colunbo encured the wrath of the Hoops support, no more so when O'Neill was sent to the stands with just three minutes remaining.

The whistler made a series of appalling decisions throughout the game, and although Celtic will be pleased to have a cushion to protect in Spain they ought to have taken a more emphatic lead from the match.

They enjoyed the better of the chances and the bulk of the play, particularly in the opening period when they created a couple of excellent chances that ought to have been converted, and bossed the Spaniards with some flowing football.

Stilian Petrov recovered to take his place in the starting line-up, and was instrumental in the middle of the park. O¡¦Neill stuck by the same starting eleven that performed so eloquently at Ewood Park a fortnight ago. John Hartson and Henrik Larsson led the front, while Chris Sutton was handed the task of marshalling the Hoops in midfield.

It was an ambitious line-up, yet it was Celta Vigo, however, who almost made the perfect start when Gustavo Lopez posted note of their attacking intentions after just 19seconds. Joos Valgaeren panicked and lost the ball to Russian playmaker Alexandre Mostovoi who crossed into the box for Lopez, but the shot was smothered by Rab Douglas. It was nevertheless an indication of just how potent the Spaniards could be when moving forward.

Celtic quickly recovered though and found their feet and fluency and Petrov ignited a period of sustained Hoops pressure when tried his luck with a fierce 30-yard drive that whizzed just wide of the post as Celtic found their own way forward.

Then, in the seventh minute Larsson was almost put through on goal after a delicate pass from Hartson, but the striker was adjudged to be offside and the opportunity was nullified.

Three minutes later Celta keeper Jose Pinto was at the centre of Celtic¡¦s wrath after Hartson had broken forward and the stopper appeared to use a hand outside the box to thwart the Welshman. It went unnoticed by French referee Claude Colubo, much to the angry chagrin of the Hoops.

It served to buoy Celtic who then came agonisingly close to an invaluable goal that would have granted them untold ease within minutes of the incident. A Didier Agathe cross was met by Larsson, whose shot was blocked by Pinto, but rebounded to Steve Guppy whose effort roared over the bar.

Guppy¡¦s delivery from the left continued to cause problems for Vigo, and on the brink of the 20 minute mark his cross was floundered by Pinto as Larsson challenged, falling to Agathe. With the keeper grounded, the winger rushed his shot and blasted it high over the bar.

The threat of the Spaniards couldn¡¦t be ignored, however. With eleven minutes of the opening period remaining Mostovoi played a clever one-two with Peter Luccin in the box, but the midfielder¡¦s attempt was inches wide of the target.

Henrique Catanha was the first name into the book after wrestling with Valgaeren for a high ball, but it was the linesman who incensed the Hoops fans immediately afterwards with a shocking decision in which he flagged offside against Petrov when there was clearly a Vigo defender in front of the Bulgarian.

Celtic opened the second half as they had finished the first, winning two corners in quick succession and although they proved fruitless it was a portent of what was to come.

Sergio was next into the book after scything Larsson to the deck 35 yards from goal with the Hoops winning another corner from Guppy¡¦s subsequent free-kick.

Guppy¡¦s next delivery was the one that finally bore the deserved reward as Larsson got the final touch to head the ball over the line, prompting an eruption inside Celtic Park.

The corner was headed on by Hartson, bounced inside the 6-yard box and as both Valgaeren and Larsson leaped to convert, the Swede connected to send the ball spiralling over the line.

The referee invited further controversy when he inexplicably awarded Celtic a free-kick after Larsson had been blatantly felled when heading goalwards as the Hoops continued to press forward.

Larsson almost doubled his tally midway through the second period when Hartson¡¦s knockdown fell to him, but his shot was blocked by the outstretched foot of Pinto.

Celtic introduced Alan Thompson for Steve Guppy with seven minutes remaining, while Lopez made way for Benni McCarthy for the Spaniards. Momo Sylla was next in for the injured Agathe.

The game ended in controversy when O¡¦Neill was then sent to the stands with just three minutes remaining after protesting too vociferously to the referee over a foul that Larsson was penalised for.

Within minutes Hartson and Sutton found themselves on the end of yellow cards as the incredulous decisions of the referee continued to disrupt the match.

Celtic, however, held out to take a one goal advantage to Spain in a fortnight¡¦s time.