2005-05-22: Motherwell 2-1 Celtic, SPL

Match Pictures | Matches: 2004 – 2005 | 2004-2005 Pictures

Trivia

Review

A day that started so well, and ended in disaster for Celtic and their fans.

Celtic knew a win would wrap the title and began the match at a furious rate of knots. Play was scrappy on the muddy surface with Motherwell lacking composure and Celtic in too much of a hurry. The lively Bellamy was denied the opener after exchanging passes with Sutton before firing a low shot which former Marshall spilled on to the post and behind for a corner. John Hartson then sent in a powerful header but Marshall was right behind it.

The breakthrough came when Thompson dispossessed Richie Foran and charged forward to flash the ball across goal. Marshall got down to beat the ball away but, with the Motherwell defence slow to react, Sutton lunged in to shoot home from eight yards.

In the second half, Hartson squandered an opportunity to stretch Celtic’s lead, heading a Thompson cross over from close range. Bellamy broke free of the home defence but Marshall made a good one-handed save to stop the Welsh striker’s low shot. Marshall again did well to race from his goal and block at the feet of Hartson. And the veteran ex-Celtic keeper made a first class save to stop Hartson’s close range half-volley as Celtic poured forward.

Celtic’s fans’ worst fears were realised when McDonald controlled the ball on his chest and hooked the ball over his shoulder into the top corner of the net. Worse was to follow for Celtic when McDonald squirmed past a couple of challenges and his shot hit a defender and looped over Douglas.

Teams

Motherwell:-
Marshall, Corrigan, Craigan, Kinniburgh, Fagan, Foran, Kerr, Fitzpatrick (Clarkson 88), Paterson, Scott McDonald, Hamilton (Britton 85).
Subs not used:- Corr, Higgins, Connolly, Keogh, Smith.
Goals:- Scott McDonald 88, 90.
Booked:- Foran, Craigan.

Celtic:-
Douglas, Agathe, Balde, Varga, McNamara, Petrov, Lennon, Sutton, Thompson, Hartson (Beattie 75), Bellamy.
Subs not used:- Marshall, Valgaeren,Laursen, Lambert, Maloney, McGeady.
Goal:- Sutton 29.
Booked:- Bellamy.

Att:- 12,944
Ref:- H Dallas.

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

• Match Pictures

Articles

Motherwell 2-1 Celtic

BBC
Two goals in the final two minutes from Motherwell’s Scott McDonald destroyed Celtic’s championship hopes and handed the SPL title to Rangers.

The Australian striker hooked in a wonderful shot with his back to goal from 12 yards and his deflected effort looped in just sixty seconds later.

Celtic opened the scoring on 29 minutes when a loose ball fell to Chris Sutton and he slammed it home.

The visitors squandered a host of chances and were caught at the death.

Rangers started the day two points behind Celtic but made up the ground with a 1-0 win at Easter Road.

Celtic knew a win would wrap the title and began the match at a furious rate of knots.

Play was scrappy on the muddy surface with Motherwell lacking composure and the visitors in too much of a hurry.

The lively Bellamy was denied the opener after exchanging passes with Sutton before firing a low shot which former Marshall spilled on to the post and behind for a corner.

John Hartson then sent in a powerful header but Marshall was right behind it.

The breakthrough came when Thompson dispossessed Richie Foran and charged forward to flash the ball across goal.

Marshall got down to beat the ball away but, with the home defence slow to react, Sutton lunged in to shoot home from eight yards.

Celtic relaxed after going in front but failed to threaten again before the half-time whistle.

Motherwell almost snatched an equaliser early in the second half when Stephen Craigan’s header was blocked on the goal-line by Didier Agathe.

Hartson then squandered an opportunity to stretch Celtic’s lead, heading a Thompson cross over from close range.

Bellamy broke free of the home defence but Marshall made a good one-handed save to stop the Welsh striker’s low shot.

Marshall again did well to race from his goal and block at the feet of Hartson.

And the veteran ex-Celtic keeper made a first class save to stop Hartson’s close range half-volley as Celtic poured forward.

There was a scare for Celtic when ‘keeper Rab Douglas dropped a corner kick but Stanislav Varga was on hand to hook the ball to safety.

With Rangers in front at Hibs, Celtic supporters knew a goal for the home side would cost them dear and the tension inside the stadium was palpable in the final ten minutes.

And the travelling fans’ worst fears were realised when McDonald controlled the ball on his chest and hooked the ball over his shoulder into the top corner of the net.

Worse was to follow for Celtic when McDonald squirmed past a couple of challenges and his shot hit a defender and looped over Douglas.

Motherwell: Marshall, Corrigan, Craigan, Kinniburgh, Fagan, Foran, Kerr, Fitzpatrick (Clarkson 88), Paterson, Scott McDonald, Hamilton (Britton 85). Subs Not Used: Corr, Higgins, Connolly, Keogh, Smith.

Booked: Foran, Craigan. Goals: Scott McDonald 88, 90.

Celtic: Douglas, Agathe, Balde, Varga, McNamara, Petrov, Lennon, Sutton, Thompson, Hartson (Beattie 75), Bellamy. Subs Not Used: Valgaeren, Lambert, Laursen, Marshall, Maloney, McGeady.

Booked: Bellamy. Goal: Sutton 29.

Att: 12,944

Ref: H Dallas

Devastated O’Neill rues finishing

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill
Motherwell 2-1 Celtic
Celtic boss Martin O’Neill said his side’s wasteful finishing had cost them the SPL title after their heartbreaking last-gasp defeat to Motherwell.

The Bhoys were ahead with three minutes to go, but two Scott McDonald goals for Motherwell handed the title to Rangers.

“We had enough chances to win the game by six or seven goals and we always felt it would be difficult without the second goal,” said O’Neill.

“We had unbelievable chances to get the second goal and spurned them all.”

Celtic had to beat Motherwell to be sure of the title with Rangers winning their match against Hibs.

Chris Sutton’s first-half strike looked to have done enough as the seconds ticked away, before McDonald’s late intervention.

“It didn’t matter if Motherwell got beaten 2-0 so they started to come forward,” said O’Neill.

“We hadn’t killed the game off and you pay the consequences.

“It’s very painful and disappointing for the players. It’s been a terrific effort right through the whole season and we’ve just come up short in the final game.

“But we’ll come bouncing back, make no mistake about it. 2003 was a big disappointment and the team came roaring back.

“There’s nothing to say to the players. They are absolutely gutted and it’s a very disappointing day.”