| Match Pictures | Matches: 2000 – 2001 | 2000-2001 Pictures |
Trivia
- Following the game against Motherwell where Dallas chalked off a perfectly good goal, the bold Hugh stated that he should have given the goal. Thanks Hugh.
- Tosh McKinlay quit his short term contract with Kilmarnock. Also Gerry Creaney who had been on a short term deal with Raith Rovers was left without a club when the Kirkcaldy side decided they could not afford to extend his deal.
- Hearts were going through tough times and their ‘wonderful’ fans had embarked on a series of protests against the club, the last being a red card protest at their previous SPL game
Review
A much tighter game than the scoreline suggests. Martin O'Neill elected to rest a number of players and brought in some of the reserve squad that were on the edge of the team. Two needlessly given away penalties took the game into extra time, where a great goal from Healy gave the Bhoys the edge followed by two late goals from McNamara and Moravcik.
Teams
Hearts:
Niemi, Pressley, Murray, Locke (Neilson 16), Flogel (Juanjo 16), Petric, Kirk, Fulton (Milne 101), Severin, Cameron, Tomaschek.
Subs Not Used: O'Neil, McKenzie.
Goals: Cameron 36 pen, 70 pen.
Booked: Severin (Hearts)
Celtic
Gould, Johnson (Boyd 118), Healy, McNamara, Valgaeren, Stubbs, Moravcik, Thompson, Riseth, Crainey (Petta 91), Smith (Petrov 99).
Subs Not Used: Mjallby, Kerr.
Goals: Crainey 41, Smith 60, Healy 99, Moravcik 116, McNamara 117. After Extra Time
Booked: Stubbs, Thompson, McNamara, Healy, Riseth, Smith (Celtic)
Referee: K Clark (Scotland).
Attendance: 13,076
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Stats
| Hearts | Celtic | |
| Bookings | 1 | 6 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Fouls | 16 | 21 |
| Shots on Target | 7 | 14 |
| Corners | 8 | 3 |
| Offside | 2 | 4 |
Celtic have that bit extra
The Scotsman 02/11/2000
Tom Lappin at Tynecastle
Hearts 2 Cameron (36 pen, 70 pen)
Celtic 5 Crainey (41), Smith (59) Healy (99), Moravcik (116) McNamara (117)
After extra time
THERE may be only a devalued trophy at stake, but at least one match in the CIS Insurance Cup was well worth the sponsors' money. A compelling and dramatic tie at Tynecastle went to extra-time before Celtic prevailed. The match though, strangely enough, might turn out to have been a positive turning point for the losers.
Hearts showed the sort of fight that has been missing from their league displays, in a performance that should go a long way to restoring confidence at Tynecastle. Celtic showed the sort of uncertainty that should give heart to their opponents in the SPL, looking distinctly vulnerable until Colin Healy's extra-time goal finally secured the victory. Additional strikes from Lubomir Moravcik and Jackie McNamara put a fake gloss on the result.
The cruel truth was that Hearts needed some success in the competition as a respite from their league miseries, while another distraction from the SPL and Europe was hardly likely to be welcomed by Martin O'Neill. It was also cruel to witness Celtic resting Henrik Larsson and Paul Lambert, while Hearts had Darren Jackson eager and ready on the sidelines, but, for the usual fiscal reasons, couldn't afford to blood him in a game that would trigger another year's contract.
Parts of O'Neill's team were verging on the anonymous, even to the extent of including a mysterious J Smith (Jamie) on the left wing, with Moravcik partnered in attack by Tommy Johnson. Stephen Crainey and Healy were also given rare starts. Hearts are hardly sufficiently blessed with talent to lose two key players before a quarter-hour of the game had elapsed. That is what occurred in a singularly unlucky 13th minute when Thomas Flogel and Gary Locke went up for the same high ball. The resulting collision was damaging enough to enforce a double substitution, Juanjo and Robbie Neilson coming on.
It was apparent that the game meant rather more to the Hearts players, Colin Cameron in particular battling for every scrap in midfield. It was appropriate that he opened the scoring, giving Hearts a deserved lead from the penalty spot in the 36th minute. Alan Stubbs committed the first foul, catching Andy Kirk out by the right wing, as Kirk put in a cross. Fortunately for Hearts, the referee Kenny Clark delayed whistling until Juanjo was fouled, rather less obviously, by Vidar Riseth inside the penalty area. Alan Thompson picked up a booking for protesting, Riseth for the foul. Cameron struck the kick low to Gould's right.
It took Celtic only five minutes to reply, Hearts' characteristic defensive flaws providing substantial assistance. Johnson's cross from the right somehow found its way through a cluster of players in the Hearts penalty area. Crainey met it with a low left-foot shot that left Antti Niemi unsighted and crept in at his far post.
Hearts remained positive, beginning the second-half in aggressive mood. Kirk could count himself unfortunate in the 50th minute, running across the face of the Celtic penalty area before hitting a shot that Gould tipped on to the crossbar and away for a corner.
It was a superb save, but Niemi went one better a minute later. Moravcik's cross from the right was met first time by the unmarked Smith six yards out. Somehow Niemi made an instinctive block and Smith's seemingly certain goal was prevented.
The visiting fans attempted to will their team into the sort of form that has been the story of their season. They also took pains to sing that 6-2 scoreline that has painful connotations for Hearts' players, and pleasurable ones for Celtic's. It seemed to work. In the 59th minute, McNamara played the ball into Smith, who was now playing as a striker. The young forward found himself space inside the area and showed close control and admirable coolness, placing the ball beyond Niemi and inside the post.
Another unnecessary penalty restored parity. Kirk attempted to drift past Joos Valgaeren on the right of the area. The Belgian stuck out an arm to deflect the ball, and Mr Clark pointed at the spot. Cameron treated the kick with the same efficiency as he had the first.
Moravcik squandered a chance to restore Celtic's lead, after a fine run and cross from Thompson. Johnson was even more culpable when put clear by McNamara, getting over-excited and blasting a wild shot high and wide.
Cup-tie frenzy took over, with all the requisite last-ditch tackles, panicky clearances, desperate interceptions. Celtic fans screamed for a penalty as Johnson sprawled over Steven Pressley, but extra-time was unavoidable.
Eight minutes into the first period Healy made his decisive strike, seizing on a loose ball after Niemi had pushed Johnson's header on to the post and driving the ball back into the net.
Kirk, offside, had the ball in the Celtic net, sparking brief hopes of a reprieve, but they were flagged down. This time, all roads back were closed. Moravcik and McNamara made sure of that with late goals that were unfair reflections on a brave Hearts display.
- Manager Interview
''The scoreline does not reflect the game at all. Hearts were in it until the very end of extra time, when we scored our last two goals. It was very, very tight up until these goals."
"I knew it was a big game for Hearts, and they would be up for it after a couple of bad performances.
"We made a few changes, but we still wanted to win the competition. Jamie Smith missed a good chance and his head could have gone down at that point, but instead he stuck at it and took his goal brilliantly.
"I thought it was a fantastic game and I felt that the three young players all took their goals well. Indeed, I thought that Colin Healy was outstanding. He scored a great goal in extra time but he was playing with great confidence. We can take a lot from the way the young lads played tonight.
"But I was happy with everybody. It was not an easy game for us. Hearts played their part in making it a thrilling match. We actually made chances galore but we kissed them."
Hearts 2 Celtic 5 (aet) By Chris Roberts, PA Sport
Celtic illustrated tonight that they have the strength in depth to handle the most gruelling of campaigns after coming through a titanic struggle at Tynecastle to book their place in the semi-final of the CIS Insurance Cup.
The thrilling extra-time victory came minus the likes of Henrik Larsson and Paul Lambert.
And promising youngsters Stephen Crainey and Jamie Smith produced two great strikes in normal time before Colin Healy hit the winner.
Late goals from Lubo Moravcik and Jackie McNamara flattered Celtic but it will be their name that goes into Friday's draw.
Hearts certainly gave manager Jim Jefferies everything he asked for and more as befitting a team in crisis.
Colin Cameron gave his side the lead and again scored from the spot to force the extra period.
Jefferies made four changes from the side which lost at home to St Johnstone and it seemed to have the desired effect.
Striker Andy Kirk was looking lively and he got away down the left flank in the 11th minute before picking out Scott Severin in the centre, who could only blaze over the bar.
But Hearts' hopes were dealt a massive blow in the 16th minute as the game was held up for nearly five minutes when Thomas Flogel and Gary Locke went up for a header with Crainey and the two Hearts players came off worse following a clash of heads.
The pair were both stretchered off as everyone looked on anxiously and substitutes Juanjo and Robbie Nielson both got their chance to make amends for their weekend show.
Jonathan Gould's mistake in the Celtic goal almost brought the first goal on the half hour when he failed to hold Cameron's shot and he made amends to save Nielson's rebound.
Hearts were giving everything for under-pressure Jefferies and for the injured duo and in the 36th minute they took the lead from the penalty spot after Riseth had tripped Juanjo in the box.
Alan Stubbs was then booked for an earlier foul on Kirk and Thompson was shown the yellow card for dissent and to make matters worse Cameron stepped up to fire home into the bottom corner.
Thompson needed to watch himself and just three minutes later he was lucky not to be shown the red card following a late challenge on Severin, but the referee took a lenient view.
But Hearts' joy was short-lived as Celtic got back on level terms as Tommy Johnson cut the ball back from the by-line and Moravcik stepped over the ball leaving Crainey to fire a low shot into the bottom corner.
McNamara became the next man in the book in the final moments of the mark for a challenge on Severin as the sides went in at the break all-square.
After the restart the home side gave Celtic a warning when Juanjo blazed just wide from just outside the box.
But the game come to life again in the 52nd minute and Celtic goalkeeper Gould had to make a brilliant stop to deny Kirk, who hit a fierce shot that the Scotland star pushed on to the bar and over.
The game was flowing from end to end and moments later Moravcik crossed for Smith, but Niemi made a superb save from point-blank range.
The visitors were furious in the 53rd minute when they should have had a penalty as Johnson got to the by-line and crossed for Smith, but the youngster got bundled over by Steven Pressley.
Niemi then had to get down well to save a testing free-kick from Thompson – with the game on knife's edge.
But Celtic were in front for the first time on the hour when McNamara played the ball between Petric and Pressley and Smith took it in his stride before ramming the ball past Niemi's out-stretched hand.
Healy was booked for persistent fouling soon after but Hearts were back on level terms again in the 70th minute and it came courtesy of another Cameron penalty.
Joos Valgaeren was adjudged to have handled Kirk's cross in the area and referee Kenny Clark had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and up stepped Cameron to send Gould the wrong way again.
Riseth was the next player to be shown the yellow card following an unnecessary tug on Juanjo's shirt.
Celtic should have gone ahead again in the 77th minute as Thompson's cross found its way to Moravcik, but not realising the time he had, he hit it first time and the ball ended up in the crowd.
Johnson was then handed a glorious chance 10 minutes from time as Thompson seized on Tomaschek's mistake and played the striker clean through, but he blazed over the bar with Niemi beaten.
Smith then wasted the chance of his second when Nielson was dispossessed by Crainey, but they youngster fired straight at Niemi.
Smith was booked for a challenge on Fulton as the game went into extra time.
Gould was tested in the 98th minute and he responded with a brilliant stop to deny Kirk's goal-bound effort.
But Celtic responded and were back in front moments later Petta's cross was headed against the post by Johnson and Healy was on hand to slot the ball home into the bottom corner.
Petrov, Johnson and Valgaeren all went close to sealing the victory before Moravcik (116) and McNamara (117), secured Celtic's place in the last four of the competition.
Teams
Hearts: Niemi, Pressley, Murray, Locke (Neilson 16), Flogel (Juanjo 16), Petric, Kirk, Fulton (Milne 101), Severin, Cameron, Tomaschek.
Subs Not Used: O'Neil, McKenzie.
Booked: Severin.
Goals: Cameron 36 pen, 70 pen.
Celtic Gould, Johnson (Boyd 118), Healy, McNamara, Valgaeren, Stubbs, Moravcik, Thompson, Riseth, Crainey (Petta 91), Smith (Petrov 99).
Subs Not Used: Mjallby, Kerr.
Booked: Stubbs, Thompson, McNamara, Healy, Riseth, Smith.
Goals: Crainey 41, Smith 60, Healy 99, Moravcik 116, McNamara 117. After Extra Time
Att: 13,076
Ref: K Clark (Scotland).