| Match Pictures | Matches: 1963 – 1964 | Pictures: 1963-64 Pictures |
Trivia
- Celtic had an 11 day gap between this game and their previous against St Johnstone away in the League on 4th April. That time was used for training and practise matches on the field at Celtic Park. However Billy McNeill and Jim Kennedy played for Scotland in a 1-0 win over England at Hampden on 11th .
- This was Celtic’s first appearance in a European semi final.
- MTK were a club as old as Celtic and were founded in 1888. They had also won 9 Hungarian league championships in a row between 1917 and 1925. MTK had reached the semi final with wins over Slavia Sofia, Motor Zwickau and needed a replay to overcome Fenerbahce
- Celtic had a full scale training session at Parkhead at 3pm in an effort to find peak form that night.
- Celtic’s pre match meal was fillet steak, toast and tea.
- MTK arrived in Glasgow late on the Monday afternoon. They were given two hours in Glasgow for souvenier hunting on the afternoon before the game.
- MTK were without three of their stars – outside right Sandor, wing half Kovacs, and Laczke – all were out injured. This still left three internationals in their team – Keszel, Vasas and Nagy.
- For Celtic Gemmell was back fit at left back; and though Divers was missing, Gallacher stepped in and John Hughes came back in at outside left.
Review
Contemporary reports stated that Celtic relied on ‘determination, relentless aggression and pace’ rather than skill against the Hungarians.
After a dull first half Celtic led 1-0 after Johnstone scrambled the ball home after keeper Kovalic fumbled a Clark shot.
In the second half Johnstone and Chalmers went up a gear and Johnstone was the subject of tough tackling from the MTK defenders.In 65 minutes Chalmers scored with a low shot and eleven minutes leader he headed a Murdoch cross in off the far post.
Murdoch, Gallagher and Chalmers all missed further chances and Celtic were indebted to Fallon who made two fine saves near the end.
Celtic were now clear favourites to win through to the final in Brussels in May.
Teams
Celtic:
Fallon; Young, Gemmell ; Clark, McNeill, Kennedy; Johnstone, Murdoch, Chalmers, Gallacher, Hughes.
Scorers: Johnstone (41), Chalmers 2 (65, 76)
MTK Budapest:
Kovalik; Keszel, Jenei; Nagy, Danszi, Vasas; Torok, Takacs, Bodor, Kuti, Dinyes.
Scorers:
Referee: G Campanatti (Italy)
Attendance: 51,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
Evening Times 16th April 1964
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bN9AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BKcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6340%2C5744793
