| Match Pictures | Matches: 1971 – 1972 | 1971-72 Pictures |
Trivia
- Macari who took a knock against Airdrie won a fitness battle and played. In came Jimmy Johnstone with Kenny Dalglish rested.
- The Danes flew in on the Tuesday and stayed out at the Airport Hotel.
- Celtic win 3-0 to go through 4-2 on aggregate.
- Celtic have a minutes silence for chairman Sir Robert Kelly who died on September 21st 1971.
- Stand was all ticket.
- Great night for Scottish football: Rangers beat Rennes, Dundee beat AB Copenhagen, Aberdeen beat Celta Vigo and St Johnstone beat Hamburg after a stunning 3-0 win which had everyone talking.
- This was John Hughes' last ever game for Celtic. He missed a penalty.
- Copenhagen player Paul Thyssen could not play as he could not be released from his job as a carpenter to travel to Scotland.
- Celtic received a censure from the SFL for arranging the Friendly game against Nacional on the same night the last of the League Cup sectional games was 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
Review
Celtic walked a tightrope at 2-0 knowing an away goal would knock them out. Wallace's late goal settled the nerves.
Celtic were given an early fright when Nielsen hit the bar with a long range shot but the Celtic forwards were on form and Wallace scored in 24 minutes with an opportunist effort.
Hughes was brought on at half time and went on a couple of bull dozing runs before he was brought down for a penalty in 68 minutes as the Danish players tired. However Jensen made a fine save from the spot kick.
Celtic fans were becoming frustrated before Callaghan eventually headed in a spectacular header from the edge of the area.
In the closing minutes Wallace scored again after Hughes had created the chance. Celtic were through but they had been far from impressive.
The Danes received many plaudits from Celtic and spectators, particularly their back defensive line and goalkeeper.
Teams
Celtic:
Williams, Craig, Brogan, Hay, McNeill, Connelly, Johnstone, Lennox (Hughes 45), Wallace, Callaghan, Macari.
Goals:- Wallace 24, 85 Callaghan 79
B1903 Copenhagen:
Jensen, E Nielsen, Andresen, Petersen, Schoberg, Westergaard, T Nielsen, Mathieson, Aabling, Forssing, Johansen.
Goals:
Referee: R Helies, (France)
Attendance:- 53,000.
Articles
- Match Report (See Below)
- Manager Interview – Manager Jock Stein
“I’m happy to get through, the players were told not to rush it, to keep it calm not to become over-anxious if the goals didn’t come. We got the result we wanted”
Pictures
Articles
Evening Times 30th September 1971
Report
From a Newspaper Report
Celtic fans died a thousand deaths here before a goal by Callaghan 11 minutes from time made sure of victory and the second round of the European Cup.
What an absorbing dramatic game it was – but a second leg tie the 53,000 crowd will have nightmares about for a long time to come.
And if there is a Danish equivalent of the VC the brave Vikings of 1903 earned it with a fantastic display.
Celtic started so furiously and competently that no-one would have dreamed that the match would end with the Scots biting their nails and wondering if these part-time Danes were going to cause the European Cup sensation of the century.
Their pride, hurt by the 2-1 defeat in Copenhagen, Celtic hurtled in relentlessly – and it seemed miraculous that the 1903 defence survived.
But survive they did – HEROICALLY.
And to their eternal credit, the Danes attacked now and again – once having the impudence to hit the bar with Williams wondering what was happening.
But the hammering at the other end was remorseless. This was Celtic at full power.
They tried move after move with Wallace leading the line splendidly… Johnstone showing his wonderful repertoire of tricks… and Callaghan striding majestically down the left.
But it took a cool goal by Wallace to ease the Celtic tension. In 24 minutes Hay – probably the greatest Celt on show – pushed a clearance from keeper Jensen to Wispy Wallace. The striker cleverly took the ball past a defender and slid it neatly into the net.
But if Celtic thought they were on the way to a massive score they were quickly disillusioned. They lost some of their poise and the Danes stayed in the game.
Hughes came on for Lennox in the second half and hope flared again. But to the consternation of the Scots, 1903 began to mount raids that looked ominous for Celtic.
And anxiety mounted when Hughes was pulled down in the box, took the penalty himself and saw his shot saved by splendid keeper Jensen.
Just when the fans were on the verge of a nervous breakdown cleared all the clouds. Eric Nielsen blocked a Johnstone shot on the line… the clearance went back to Jinky – and a fine cross was superbly headed into the net by Callaghan.
Five minutes from the end Wallace ended the Danish bid for glory by scoring a fine third. Celtic failed to cash in on their tremendous start – yet, to be fair, they played exceptionally well at times with Hay, Wallace, Johnstone and Macari outstanding. But the heroes were the bold Danish defenders.
Manager Jock Stein said afterwards “I’m happy to get through, the players were told not to rush it, to keep it calm not to become over-anxious if the goals didn’t come. We got the result we wanted”