| Match Pictures | Matches: 1971 – 1972 | 1971-72 Pictures |
Trivia
- Celtic legend Jimmy McGrory performs the official opening of the new main stand which has cost a sum of £350,000 to build.
- Estimated attendance 60,000. Stand was ticket only.
- Nacional are South American champions and the Uruguayan goverment have commisioned a stamp in their honour.
- They arrived in Scotland on the Tuesday having flown from Mexico where they had been playing , via New York.
- For Celtic, a squad of 15 prepared at Seamills as was usual before superior games. Bobby Murdoch was again fully fit.
- This was Nacional's only defeat of their European tour and their first defeat on tour so far after 10 games.
- Celtic would receive a severe censure from the SFL and warned about their future conduct for arranging this Friendly game against Nacional on the same night the last of the League Cup sectional games were due to be played. Celtic HAD recived permission from the SFA but the SFL's nose was out of joint that they had not been consulted and the League Cup was their tournament
![[Untitled]](https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/b3784e93f427df82564dd94697256c6e "[Untitled]")
Review
The match was played in a spirit of high sportsmanship that had not been seen before against South American clubs. And both teams clapped each other off the park at the end of the game.
Nacional officials praise Celtic's performance after the game. Nacional were an excellent side and skilled on the ball. Generally they always played their way out of defense to the credit of the team and the applause of the spectators.
Nacional officials praise Celtic's performance after the game. Nacional were an excellent side and skilled on the ball. Generally they always played their way out of defense to the credit of the team and the applause of the spectators.
Lennox shows great opportunism with two goals but Connelly again grabs the headlines with a classy display of passing and anticipation. Jinky had a great game and gave a performance erqual to his best. The defense of Hay, McNeill, Connelly and Gemmell played well and contained the Nacional forwards when they threatened to break loose.
Teams
Celtic:
Williams, Hay, Gemmell, Murdoch, McNeill, Connelly, Johnstone, Lennox, Dalglish, Callaghan, Macari
Goals: Lennox 2 (30, 85), Callaghan (32).
Williams, Hay, Gemmell, Murdoch, McNeill, Connelly, Johnstone, Lennox, Dalglish, Callaghan, Macari
Goals: Lennox 2 (30, 85), Callaghan (32).
Nacional:
Manga, Anchenta, Brunel, Blanco, Castillo, Mujicia, Prieto (Cubilla), Maniero, Esparrago, Artime, Morales (Mamelli).
Scorers:
Manga, Anchenta, Brunel, Blanco, Castillo, Mujicia, Prieto (Cubilla), Maniero, Esparrago, Artime, Morales (Mamelli).
Scorers:
Referee: W Mullen (Dalkeith)
Attendance: 60,000
Articles
- Match Report(see below)
"The result was a good one for Scottish football. What we could do with is a strong international side that would really put us on the map. A good international side reflects on the standard of a country's club football."
Jock Stein.
Jock Stein.
