| Match Pictures | Champions League | Matches: 2004 – 2005 | 2004-2005 Pictures |
Trivia
- Alan Thompson's solitary goal was enough to clinch victory.
Review
Celtic made an encouraging start with a neat bit of football which gave Henri Camara a chance after just 40 seconds. Aiden McGeady, Alan Thompson and John Hartson combined to give the Senegal international a sight of goal but he screwed his left-foot shot past the post. Shakhtar survived a goalmouth scramble in the 22nd minute but Didier Agathe could not reach the loose ball.
Celtic went ahead in the 25th minute after the referee penalized Lastuvka for holding the ball in his hands for longer than the permitted six seconds. Petrov rolled the indirect free-kick, just inside the Shakhtar penalty box, to Thompson who crashed it through the wall and into the back of the net.
And Celtic's task was made even easier three minutes before half-time when Shakhtar's captain Anatolyi Tymoschuk was sent-off for tripping Camara.
As the second half got underway Lastuvka was a busy man in the Shakhtar goal and had to save from Hartson and Petrov before his team were reduced to nine men. Cosmin Barcauan received his second yellow card for tripping Petrov.
Goalkeeper Lastuvka was keeping the Ukrainians in the game and he made another great stop to deny Hartson's stinging right-foot drive.
Teams
Celtic:-
Marshall, Agathe, Varga, Valgaeren, McNamara, McGeady (Wallace 79), Lennon, Petrov, Thompson, Hartson, Camara (Beattie 81).
Subs Not Used:- Hedman, Sylla, Juninho Paulista, Pearson, Petta.
Goal:- Thompson 25.
Booked:- Valgaeren.
Shakhtar Donetsk:-
Lastuvka, Stoican, Barcauan, Lewandowski, Srna, Duljaj, Tymoschuk, Matuzalem, Vukic (Hubschman 60), Aghahowa (Marica 67), Vorobey (Batista 71).
Subs Not Used:- Shutkov, Bielik, Lalatovic, Pukanych.
Sent Off:- Tymoschuk (43), Barcauan (59).
Booked:- Barcauan.
Att:- 58,347.
Ref:- Eric Poulat (France).
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
Celtic 1-0 Shakhtar Donetsk
BBC
Alan Thompson's solitary goal was enough to clinch victory for Celtic and keep their European dreams alive.
The midfielder scored from an indirect free-kick on 25 minutes after Shakhtar's goalkeeper was penalised for time wasting.
The Ukrainian side were reduced to nine men after two red cards.
But despite plenty of possession Celtic failed to press home their numerical advantage and had to settle for a nervy first three Champions League points.
Celtic made an encouraging start with a neat bit of football which gave Henri Camara a chance after just 40 seconds.
Aiden McGeady, Alan Thompson and John Hartson combined to give the Senegal international a sight of goal but he screwed his left-foot shot past the post.
Shakhtar looked nervous at the back and Joos Valgaeren should have done better in the fifth minute.
Stilian Petrov flicked the ball onto him but the Belgian international headed straight at Jan Lastuvka from just seven yards.
But the best early chance fell to Shakhtar and Celtic had young goalkeeper David Marshall to thank for keeping them on level terms.
Julius Aghahowa chested the ball into the path of Francelino Matuzalem and he let fly with a fierce right-foot volley from 20 yards which Marshall did well to dive to his left and push away.
Shakhtar survived a goalmouth scramble in the 22nd minute but Didier Agathe could not reach the loose ball.
The Scottish champions went ahead in the 25th minute after the referee penalized Lastuvka for holding the ball in his hands for longer than the permitted six seconds.
Shakhtar's Anatolyi Tymoschuk pulls down Henri Camara on the edge of the box
Petrov rolled the indirect free-kick, just inside the Shakhtar penalty box, to Thompson who crashed it through the wall and into the back of the net.
And Celtic's task was made even easier three minutes before half-time when Shakhtar's captain Anatolyi Tymoschuk was sent-off for tripping Camara.
As the second half got underway Lastuvka was a busy man in the Shakhtar goal and had to save from Hartson and Petrov before his team were reduced to nine men.
Cosmin Barcauan received his second yellow card for tripping Petrov.
Andriy Vorobyey tried to resuscitate his flagging side with a long-range effort which flew just wide.
Goalkeeper Lastuvka was keeping the Ukrainians in the game and he made another great stop to deny Hartson's stinging right-foot drive.
But the visitors refused to lie down and even enjoyed some decent possession despite being outnumbered.
Shakhtar went close to leveling five minutes from the end when midfielder Mariusz Lewandowski met a left wing free kick with a close range header but it was straight at Celtic keeper Marshall.
Celtic: Marshall, Agathe, Varga, Valgaeren, McNamara, McGeady (Wallace 79), Lennon, Petrov, Thompson, Hartson, Camara (Beattie 81). Subs Not Used: Hedman, Sylla, Juninho Paulista, Pearson, Petta.
Booked: Valgaeren.
Goals: Thompson 25.
Shakhtar Donetsk: Lastuvka, Stoican, Barcauan, Lewandowski, Srna, Duljaj, Tymoschuk, Matuzalem, Vukic (Hubschman 60), Aghahowa (Marica 67), Vorobey (Batista 71). Subs Not Used: Shutkov, Bielik, Lalatovic, Pukanych.
Sent Off: Tymoschuk (43), Barcauan (59).
Booked: Barcauan.
Att: 58,347
Ref: Eric Poulat (France).
Celtic boss hopeful of progress
MARTIN O'NEILL'S VIEW
Martin O'Neill
Celtic 1-0 Shakhtar Donetsk
Celtic boss Martin O'Neill believes they still have a fighting chance in Europe after their 1-0 win over nine-man Shakhtar Donetsk.
Alan Thompson's 25th minute goal gave the Scottish side their first Champions League victory of the season.
The win gives them a chance of third spot in Group F, which brings the consolation of a Uefa Cup place.
The Bhoys manager said: "We're back in it and we're going to do our utmost to go through."
O'Neill added: "Regardless of the aggregate score tonight, we've given ourselves a chance.
"We have nothing to lose."
Donetsk's 3-0 defeat of Celtic in the Ukraine had left O'Neill's side bottom of Group F with no points.
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But the Irishman feels that the narrow victory at Parkhead has given his side a chance of extending their stay in Europe beyond Christmas.
The anxious 1-0 win leaves the Scottish champions on three points, alongside Shakhtar but still six points adrift of group leaders Barcelona and AC Milan.
Celtic's final two games are against the Spanish and Italian giants.
Celtic 1-0 Shakhtar Donetsk
O'Neill continued: "It was our fourth game in nine days and I thought it took its toll against a very good Shakhtar Donetsk team.
"With Barcelona scoring a late goal against Milan that puts them both on nine points so they only need one more."
But despite this O'Neill is refusing to give up on the Champions League knockout stages – even though he admits the Uefa Cup remains his team's most realistic hope.
"We've opened our account and my own view would be why not?
"I do believe we are still in the Champions League.
"We go to Barcelona with absolutely nothing to lose and if we don't do it there then we have one more shot at it against AC Milan.
He added: "You would think that six points would give you a fighting chance of being in the Uefa Cup."
Celtic thrown flimsy lifeline by Thompson
Graham Clark at Parkhead
The Guardian, Wednesday 3 November 2004 00.19 GMT
Celtic breathed new hope into their hitherto unproductive campaign last night when they managed a thoroughly deserved win to earn their first points in Group F.
Yet with only two matches remaining, at Barcelona and then here against Milan, reaching the next stage may still be beyond them. "We have nothing to lose when we go to the Nou Camp for our next game and we'll give it a go," said Martin O'Neill, the Celtic manager. "Barcelona and Milan probably only need one point more each but we are conceding nothing. Realistically, though, six points would also give us a fighting chance of the Uefa Cup spot."
This was a much-improved performance from the Scottish champions, although they were helped by an indisciplined Ukrainian team who had their captain Anatoly Tymoshchuk sent off in the first half, to be joined by his team-mate Cosmin Barcauan in the second.
O'Neill had raised a few eyebrows with the selection of Aiden McGeady, only 18 and handed a start in place of Juninho. The young midfielder produced an impressive touch to help set up a move inside 45 seconds, however, and it should have led to the opening goal. He found Alan Thompson, who found John Hartson, and his quick ball sent Henri Camara scampering away but his shot was skewed well wide.
Celtic, predictably, forced the pace and after 25 minutes went ahead in bizarre circumstances. The goalkeeper Lastuvka, who had already been warned about wasting time, was penalised for holding the ball for 13 seconds, seven more than the regulations allow, and presented the Bhoys with a wonderfully positioned free-kick 16 yards out. Stilian Petrov touched the ball to Thompson, and his low drive beat the keeper easily.
Shakhtar's furious coach Mircea Lucescu spoke just half a dozen terse sentences afterwards. "This is my protest," he said. "We are working for nothing and the same thing happened to us with [our defeats at] Milan and Barcelona. We didn't come here to lose and we dominated the game. It's incredible. What's this about the six-second rule?
And with that he turned on his heland was gone.
Celtic were grateful for it, however, and things got better after 40 minutes when Barcauan was booked for dissent. Two minutes later Camara, moving swiftly on to a pass from McGeady, was chopped down by the last man Tymoshchuk, and he was sent off.
With the comfort of a goal and an extra man, the Parkhead club remained in control after the interval. Indeed they should have doubled their lead after 56 minutes, when Hartson was left unattended but his shot was blocked by Lastuvka and the goalkeeper did well to save the rebound from Petrov.
Celtic benefited further two minutes later when Barcauan was shown a second yellow for a foul on Petrov. Yet for all that the hosts struggled to impose themselves. "We played some delightful stuff in the first half especially and I think we still have a chance in the Champions League," said O'Neill, perhaps a shade optimistically.
Stats
| Celtic | Shakhtar Donetsk | |
| 12 | Shots | 7 |
| 6 | Shots on Target | 2 |
| 23 | Fouls | 18 |
| 5 | Corners | 4 |
| 3 | Offside | 3 |
| 43% | Possession | 57% |