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Trivia
- Celtic named the same team that hammered Dunfermline 8-1 two weeks ago.
Celtic extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League to 16 points over Hearts.
Review
Celtic threatened early and Petrov sent Zurawski through on goal, but the Pole's left-footed drive from 16 yards was saved by Langfield at the second attempt.
Maloney's clever pass gave Roy Keane an opportunity from close range, but Langfield was again up to the task.
Celtic had claims for a penalty waved away by referee Mike McCurry, (how often have we heard that phrase?), believing that a Maloney cross struck Zander Diamond's hand 10 yards from goal.
Aberdeen were more positive after the break and forced a couple of early corners. Stuart Lovell lofted the ball over Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc and into the net but was pulled up for a foul.
A poor clearance from Langfield gave Shunsuke Nakamura a sight at goal, but the midfielder found the side-netting.
Celtic took heart from the defensive uncertainty and Zurawski cut the ball back for Petrov to drive the ball home from 12 yards.
A Keane cross from the right was cleared by Aberdeen defender Chris Clark, but it hit team-mate Diamond and into the path of Maloney, who quickly whipped it into the net from close range.
The points were already safe when Petrov set up Zurawaski in the dying seconds for a fine finish.
Teams
Celtic:-
Boruc, Telfer, Balde, McManus, Wilson, Petrov, Lennon, Keane, Maloney, Zurawski, Hartson (Nakamura 63).
Subs not used:- Marshall, Varga, Pearson, Wallace, Dublin, Lawson.
Goals:- Petrov 66, Maloney 75, Zurawski 89.
Booked:- Balde.
Aberdeen:-
Langfield, MacFarlane, Anderson, Diamond, McNaughton, Nicholson (Foster 31), Severin, Griffin (Crawford 73), Clark, Lovell, Snoyl (Mackie 38).
Subs not used:- Kelly, Dempsey, Stewart, Macauley.
Booked:- MacFarlane.
Att:- 60,018
Ref:- M McCurry.
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
- Match Report (BBC)
- Strachan basking in comfort zone. (BBC)
Pictures
Articles
Celtic 3-0 Aberdeen
BBC
Celtic extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League to 16 points over inactive Hearts after a clinical victory against Aberdeen.
Dons goalkeeper Jamie Langfield had held Celtic at bay with a string of saves during the first half.
But Maciej Zurawski cut the ball into the path of Stilian Petrov to blast home from 12 yards after 66 minutes.
Shaun Maloney fired home the second after a poor clearance and Zurawski side-footed home the third.
Celtic boss Gordon Strachan had named the same team that hammered Dunfermline 8-1 two weeks ago.
Neil MacFarlane started for Aberdeen in place of injured former Celtic midfielder Jamie Smith.
Strachan basking in comfort zone
Celtic threatened early and Petrov sent Zurawski through on goal, but the Pole's left-footed drive from 16 yards was saved by Langfield at the second attempt.
Maloney's clever pass gave Roy Keane an opportunity from close range, but Langfield was again up to the task.
The Dons goalkeeper pulled off yet another good block, this time from Petrov's close-range volley following Paul Telfer's cross into the six-yard box.
Celtic had claims for a penalty waved away by referee Mike McCurry, the home side believing that a Maloney cross struck Zander Diamond's hand 10 yards from goal.
Barry Nicholson challenges Celtic's Mark Wilson
Barry Nicholson (left) was stretchered off at Celtic Park
And Langfield stopped another Keane shot and made an even better block from the unmarked John Hartson's drive from eight yards out.
Aberdeen midfielder Barry Nicholson was stretchered off, to be replaced with Richard Foster, on the half hour after a robust challenge by Keane.
And Ferne Snoyl was also forced out of the action through injury, being replaced with Darren Mackie.
But Aberdeen were more positive after the break and forced a couple of early corners.
Stuart Lovell lofted the ball over Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc and into the net but was pulled up for a foul.
Dons suffer Nicholson blow
Foster broke clear and looked to have a good shooting opportunity when he passed for Severin and Boruc saved the Scotland international's shot.
A poor clearance from Langfield gave Shunsuke Nakamura a sight at goal, but the substitute midfielder found the side-netting.
But Celtic took heart from the defensive uncertainty and Zurawski cut the ball back for Petrov to drive the ball home from 12 yards.
A Keane's cross from the right was then cleared by Aberdeen defender Chris Clark, but it hit team-mate Diamond and into the path of Maloney, who quickly whipped it into the net from close range.
The points were already safe and added the icing to the cake when Petrov set up Zurawaski in the dying seconds for a fine finish.
Celtic: Boruc, Telfer, Balde, McManus, Wilson, Petrov, Lennon, Keane, Maloney, Zurawski, Hartson (Nakamura 63).
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Varga, Pearson, Wallace, Dublin, Lawson.
Booked: Balde.
Goals: Petrov 66, Maloney 75, Zurawski 89.
Aberdeen: Langfield, MacFarlane, Anderson, Diamond, McNaughton, Nicholson (Foster 31), Severin, Griffin (Crawford 73), Clark, Lovell, Snoyl (Mackie 38).
Subs Not Used: Kelly, Dempsey, Stewart, Macauley.
Booked: MacFarlane.
Att: 60,018
Ref: M McCurry
Strachan basking in comfort zone
BBC
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan was delighted with his team's first-half, even though it took 66 minutes to make the breakthrough against Aberdeen.
"We played excellent football in the first 45 minutes and their goalkeeper made some great saves," he said after the 3-0 victory at Celtic Park.
"It was the most comfortable we've been in the first half for some time.
"Aberdeen had worked incredibly hard, but they were visably disappointed by the second goal and gave us more room."