| Match Pictures | Matches: 1968 – 1969 | 1968-69 Pictures |
Trivia
- Ronnie Simpson's shoulder dislocation sustained in the previous Cup game against Clyde – he had actually had the joint put back in place on the side of the pitch, gone back on to continue and then dislocated the joint again – was confirmed. He would be out for at least 4 weeks.
- Celtic were due to play Morton on the 15th but all games in Scotland were ruled out that weekend with snow.
- Jock Stein travelled with an 18 man squad from Prestwick on the Monday. Bobby Wraith joined as the travelling backup goalkeeper
- 500 Celtic fans travel on chartered planes.
- 81,000 tickets were sold which give Milan world record gate receipts of 204 million lire (£136,000)
- BBC and STV show highlights.
- Game is played in a snow storm and ticket touts lose a fortune as some fans stay home in bad weather
- 8 inches of snow fall overnight in a 5 hour period. The San Siro was covered in plastic sheets and an army of 200 men clear the snow.
- Celtic complain that the lines on the field were obliterated by snow.
- Milan fans throw fireworks and fire crackers before and during the game.
- Celtic are reunited with German referee Kurt Tschenscher who was the official in Lisbon 1967.
Review
The match should never have started and conditions were described as atrocious.
In the first minute Fallon had to save after a bad pass back by Brogan. Fallon then saved a Lodetti header but as the half wore on Celtic settled in to the game.
In 24 minutes McNeill sent in a header which Cudicini had to leap to punch clear. In the second half Cudicini was the hero again with saves from Hughes and Murdoch.
In 56 minutes Celtic had a scare when Sormani headed against a post.
Bertie Auld subbed Jim Brogan after 57 minutes when Brogan went over on his ankle.
As time ran out Celtic were comfortable and AC were slow and ponderous and the injured Brogan was replaced by Auld.
Jock Stein said afterwards – 'we were magnificent' however Sir Robert Kelly stopped short of a protest to UEFA after periods of the match were played with the lines obliterated by snow.
Teams
AC Milan:
Cudicini, Anquilletti, Schnellinger, Rosato, Trapattoni, Malatrasi, Hamrin (Rognani), Lodetti, Prati, Rivera, Sormani.
Scorers:
Celtic:
Fallon, Craig, Gemmell, Clark, McNeill, Brogan (Auld), Johnstone, Murdoch, Wallace, Lennox, Hughes. Substitute: Wraith, O'Neill, Connelly
Scorers:
Referee: Kurt Tschenscher (West Germany)
Attendance: 72,402
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
Evening Times 20th February 1969
(From Ted Corbett, Daily Mirror)
AC Milan 0 – 0 Celtic
Celtic, who made their reputation for attacking football when winning the European Cup in Lisbon two years ago, won a new title by defensive football here tonight.
They gave a fantastic rearguard display at the snowbound San Siro stadium to halt the hopes of AC Milan and become odds-on favourites for a semi-finals place after the second leg in Glasgow on March 12. And after tonight's fighting show they must have a wonderful chance of regaining the trophy.
Both managers had said that the winners of this tie would take the cup and Celtic manager Jock Stein commented after tonight's game: "This is highly satisfactory. But i would have liked to have won."
Celtic, in fact, almost did win. After an hour's defensive play, on a ground made slippery by the snowstorm, the Scots found they could hold Milan and began to put the accent on attack.
True, they never moved forward in the hectic way which Milan must expect in Glasgow, but they showed they can breach the Milan defence with continuous pressure.
But twice they also came very close to defeat.
In the 47th minute Milan centre forward Angelo Sormani found himself with only keeper John Fallon to beat. Somehow he managed to nod the ball against the post and Celtic scrambled it clear.
The second chance went to Milan skipper Rivera, whose brilliant passing had bothered Celtic so much. Two minutes from time he had a golden chance for victory just ten yards from goal, but he paused too long and Celtic were saved.
Tonight's result was a massive blow to Milan's pride-not less their cup chances – and manager Nereo Rocco praised Celtic's brilliant defensive work. But he added: "I am hoping for the same result in Glasgow."
The Italians have a reputation for the best defensive Soccer in the world and Celtic will not take this tie without a struggle if Rocco has his way.