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Trivia
- League Cup Semi-Final Hampden Park (AET)
- Celtic were chasing six successive wins against Rangers.
- Martin O'Neill was left praising his Celtic players and insisting they should have won.
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Review
Numan started nervously and his awful passback across the penalty box was intercepted by John Hartson. The Welsh striker took the ball round Stefan Klos, but Lorenzo Amoruso recovered to divert the eventual shot wide of the post at full stretch.
Celtic should have taken the lead when Henrik Larsson had only Klos to beat but struck the ball against the goalkeeper's leg.
Larsson bent a free kick round the defensive wall but against the outside of the upright and Hartson glanced a header wide from just two yards
Rangers took the lead following a free kick on the edge of the Celtic box. Peter Lovenkrands with an opportunist goal just before the break.
O'Neill put on Sutton for Hartson, but it was the introduction of Lubo Moravcik for Paul Lambert after 72 minutes that produced instant success.
The Slovakian sent a free kick into the Rangers box and the ball was scrambled over the line by Balde while on the seat of his pants.
Rangers had the chance to restore the lead four minutes later, when Lovenkrands was bundled to the ground inside the box by Celtic's goalscorer.
Arveladze drove the penalty kick against the top of the bar.
The much-maligned Bert Konterman ended Celtic's dream of back-to-back trebles as he scored Rangers' winning goal in a pulsating CIS Insurance Cup semi-final.
Teams
Rangers:-
Klos, Moore (Vidmar 65), Konterman, Amoruso, Ricksen, de Boer (Flo 51), Ferguson, Numan, Caniggia, Arveladze (Hughes 117), Lovenkrands.
Subs not used:- McGregor, McCann.
Goals:- Lovenkrands 45, Konterman 105.
Celtic:-
Douglas, Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren, Agathe, Lambert (Moravcik 72), Lennon, Petrov (Petta ??), Thompson, Hartson (Sutton 63), Larsson.
Subs not used:- Gould, Crainey.
Goal:- Balde 73.
Booked:- Lennon, Sutton, Larsson, Balde.
Att:- 43,457
Ref:- K Clarke.
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
- Match Report (BBC)
- O'Neill: 'Celtic were better side' (BBC)
Pictures
Articles
Konterman kills Celtic's dream
BBC
Rangers 2-1 Celtic
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Much-maligned Bert Konterman ended Celtic's dream of back-to-back trebles as he scored Rangers' winning goal in a pulsating CIS Insurance Cup semi-final.
Peter Lovenkrands had put Rangers ahead with an opportunist goal just before the break, but Bobo Balde equalised with 20 minutes remaining to send the tie into extra time.
It looked like the Scottish champions' power and resilience might again win the day until Konterman struck a blistering drive from 25 yards to win the game at Hampden.
Celtic were chasing six successive wins against their greatest rivals – the first time that would have happened since 1972.
Tore Andre Flo was dropped to the Rangers bench along with young midfielder Stephen Hughes and Tony Vidmar as in came Ronald de Boer, Bert Konterman and Arthur Numan.
Celtic boss Martin O'Neill gambled on Didier Agathe, the winger given his first outing after a long spell out injured, while Alan Thompson, Stilian Petrov and Joos Valgaeren also returned.
Numan started nervously and his awful passback across the penalty box was intercepted by John Hartson.
The Welsh striker took the ball round Stefan Klos, but Lorenzo Amoruso recovered to divert the eventual shot wide of the post at full stretch.
Celtic should have taken the lead when Henrik Larsson had only Klos to beat but struck the ball against the goalkeeper's leg.
Rangers had plenty of pressure of their own, but Celtic came closest to scoring.
Larsson bent a free kick round the defensive wall but against the outside of the upright and Hartson glanced a header wide from just two yards
Rangers took the lead following a free kick on the edge of the Celtic box that appeared to be a victim of its own intricacy.
But Shota Arveladze rose to flick the ball into the box and Lovenkrands beat Johan Mjallby for pace to drive the ball low into the far corner of the net.
Rangers suffered a blow after 63 minutes, when defender Craig Moore had to go off with an injured hamstring after colliding with his own goalkeeper.
O'Neill immediately put on Sutton for Hartson, but it was the introduction of Lubo Moravcik for Paul Lambert after 72 minutes that produced instant success.
The Slovakian sent a free kick into the Rangers box and the ball was scrambled over the line by Balde while on the seat of his pants.
Rangers had the chance to restore the lead four minutes later, when Lovenkrands was bundled to the ground inside the box by Celtic's goalscorer.
Arveladze drove the penalty kick against the top of the bar and there was more Rangers heartache moments later when Balde cleared a Flo toe poke off the line.
But Barry Ferguson took control of midfield for Rangers in extra time and Konterman provided the finishing touch after 105 minutes.
Rangers: Klos, Moore, Konterman, Amoruso, Ricksen, de Boer, Ferguson, Numan, Caniggia, Arveladze, Lovenkrands. Subs: McGregor, Flo, McCann, Vidmar, Hughes.
Celtic: Douglas, Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren, Agathe, Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Thompson, Hartson, Larsson. Subs: Gould, Sutton, Petta, Moravcik, Crainey.
Referee: Kenny Clarke.
O'Neill: 'Celtic were better side'
BBC
Alex McLeish looked forward to proudly leading Rangers out in a cup final as Martin O'Neill was left praising his Celtic players and insisting they should have won.
Rangers emerged victorious after a thrilling CIS Insurance Cup semi-final at Hampden Park, their 2-1 win in extra time ending Celtic's hopes of winning back-to-back Trebles.
But there was no gloating by McLeish or devastation from O'Neill – publicly at least – after Tuesday's match won by a 25-yard thunderbolt from Bert Konterman.
O'Neill said defeat would simply make Celtic more determined to retain the league title and the Scottish Cup.
"I was not talking about the Treble and, despite what the papers were saying, neither were my players," he said.
"I thought they were excellent tonight and should have been two or three up early on.
"We dominated for large parts of the first half and all of the second half, but it just wasn't to be and well played to Rangers."
O'Neill had special words of praise for French winger Didier Agathe, who put in an impressive display on his return to action after weeks out through injury.
McLeish was just delighted to have opened his Old Firm account with a victory and to contemplate a final against his former club, Hibernian.
The Edinburgh side must first overcome Ayr United on Wednesday, but McLeish said: "I left Hibs a bit low in confidence but in the semi-finals.
"Hopefully, we will see my old team in the final.
"It will be a very proud moment for me to lead this team out in the final.
"They were brilliant tonight. I asked for 11 giants before the game and the subs played their part too.
"And what a goal to win it for us by big Bert."
Konterman has been much criticised, but McLeish said: "He is a decent player.
"He had some difficult games and that affects confidence, but he did well against John Hartson tonight."
McLeish was not yet suggesting that the balance of power had changed in Scotland.
"We will keep our feet on the ground as Celtic are a formidable side," he said.
Midfielder Barry Ferguson added: "It means the world to me to reach my first final as captain of Rangers.
"That's 18 months without any silverware and we are desperate to bring something back to Ibrox."
Rangers v Celtic
5th February 2002
CIS Cup Semi-final
http://www.100megsfree3.com/celticcrazy/rep2/5feb2002.html
In a bruising encounter Celtic were left counting the cost of missed chances as they were edged out of the CIS cup in extra time by Rangers.
In the first minute of the game Numan made a nervous looking passback which was intercepted by Hartson who went round the keeper and sent an angled drive goalward. Amoruso saved Rangers as he slid in and knocked the ball out for a corner.
Balde did well to block a shot from Arveladze as he moved in down the right. From the resulting corner Caniggia had a free header and it was easily held by Douglas.
A minute later Thomson picked out Larsson leaving him one on one with the keeper. His shot was not good enough, Klos saved and the best chance of the match went abegging.
Petrov had a great strike from a corner which was saved by the legs of Klos and the rebound was returned but eventually cleared by the Rangers defence. A minute later a Larsson free kick hit the outside of the post.
Lovenkrands had a half chance for Rangers but swung wildly at the ball with his right foot to no effect.
On the 20 minute mark Agathe was fouled wide on the right near the corner flag. Hartson got his head to the cross under pressure from defenders but headed wide.
The next serious attempt at goal was by Ricksen who shot across goal but saw the ball go just wide.
Celtic were still the busier team going forward and a nice flick by Larsson to Thomson led to a dangerous cross ball that hit off Balde then was cleared. On 39 minutes Didier Agathe made a superb run past 4 Rangers players and delivered a perfect ball for the head of Larsson who unfortunately headed wide.
Rangers threatened with Arveladze getting in beyond the defence but Douglas did well to save at his feet.
Man in the news Bobo Balde, rashly conceded a free-kick by barging into de Boer. It looked as though the free kick had been wasted but it spun up in the air and forward into the box. Mjallby attempted to muscle in in front of Lovenkrands when the better option looked to be sticking a leg out to knock the ball into touch. Lovenkrands got there first and his angled shot beat Douglas to give Rangers the lead.
Tempers began to fray in the second half and Lennon and Ferguson were booked after a spat. Arveladze soon followed after he lunged at Agathe. Agathe made another great run and played Larsson in, but Ricksen was quickly on the scene to prevent the Swede from shooting on target.
A collision between Larsson, Moore and Klos led to the big Australian being stretchered off and replaced by Vidmar. At the same time Celtic introduced Sutton to replace Hartson.
Sutton quickly made an impact, heading on a free kick into a dangerous area but Vidmar was alert to the danger and dived to head the ball for a corner.
Another booking followed in 71 minutes as Konterman fouled Agathe. Celtic brought on Moravcik for Lambert.
On 73 minutes Celtic won a corner on the right. The ball bobbled about, was touched by Balde then Mjallby and Balde managed to get his foot to the ball to knock it home from a prone position. Klos was booked for protesting that he had been fouled.
Rangers had the chance to wrap it up when Balde conceded a penalty by bringing down Lovenkrands, but Arveladze skied the penalty and it glanced the bar on its way over. 4 minutes of injury time were played and extra time followed.
Rangers were much the livelier team in the first period of extra time. The loss of Lambert in midfield meant that Rangers had a lot of the ball and Caniggia's dangerous ball was luckily missed by everyone. Balde was then booked for a dangerous tackle on Flo where he went in head first and struck the man. In 10 minutes Balde deflected a Ferguson shot for a corner. A minute later Numan hit the side net. The goal seemed to be coming and when a loose ball fell to Konterman in the 14th minute he cracked a screamer into the net giving Douglas no chance.
In the second period Celtic came into it again with a Thomson effort from an assist by Sutton being saved by Klos. Rangers reply was a great chance for Arveladze who made it easy for Douglas to save.
Moravcik had the best chance for an equaliser when he moved into the box and shot but Klos palmed it away. Sutton tried his best with a run and shot but time was against Celtic and it was Rangers night.
Agathe was superb especially considering his recent injury and is my man of the match.
Just a word about Balde. He was involved in many of the important incidents of the game. He conceded the foul that led to Rangers first goal and gave away a penalty as well as scoring for Celtic. He also made some crucial saving blocks. However his reckless challenges are going to prove costly for us and if he cannot correct this part of his game he should be moved on.
CELTIC (3-5-2): Douglas; Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren; Agathe, Lennon, Lambert (Moravcik 72), Petrov (Petta 105), Thompson; Hartson (Sutton 65), Larsson.
Subs: Gould, Crainey.
RANGERS (3-5-2): Klos; Moore (Vidmar 65), Amoruso, Numan; Ricksen, Konterman, Ferguson, De Boer (Flo 51), Lovenkrands; Cannigia, Arveladze (Hughes 117).
Subs: McGregor, McCann.