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Trivia
Celtic came from two behind to draw with Dundee United and end 2006 unbeaten on their home soil in the Scottish Premier League. (although shouldn't mask the fact that we have been getting results even whilst we have been playing pish!)
Nakamura drove the ball inches past the far post as Celtic carved out the first good chance. But the visitors took the lead when Lee Mair's cross to the back post was met by Robertson, who planted his close-range header past goalkeeper Artur Boruc.
Review
Nakamura drove the ball inches past the far post as Celtic carved out the first good chance.
But United took the lead when Lee Mair's cross to the back post was met by Robertson, who planted his close-range header past goalkeeper Artur Boruc.
Mair came to United's rescue when his perfectly-timed block tackle on Maciej Zurawski denied the Poland striker a certain equaliser.
Robson almost added to growing frustration inside Celtic Park when his curling shot from the edge of the penalty area went just a foot over the crossbar.
More woe visited the champions in the 37th minute when defender Balde injured his leg over-stretching to clear at the edge of his own box and had to be stretchered off.
Boruc did well to block an effort from Grant Smith before United went two ahead. Samuel was first to react after a Robson free-kick was headed on by Garry Kenneth and Conway stabbed the ball into the six-yard box for the Trinidad & Tobago international.
Riordan was denied by an outstanding Stillie save, the United keeper diving low to his left to turn the Celtic midfielder's right-footed drive from 12 yards past the post.
But a dramatic two-minute spell brought the home side back into the game.
O'Dea knocked home a Nakamura free-kick from six yards after 78 minutes. And Celtic were level when the Japanese midfielder took a Riordan pass and floated a delightful chip from 20 yards over the despairing Stillie.
Celtic pressed hard for the winner and, in injury time, Riordan's effort from outside the box hit the post before rolling to safety with Stillie well out of his goal.
Teams
Celtic (4-4-2):-
Boruc, Telfer, Balde (O'Dea 39), McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Sno, Gravesen, McGeady (Riordan 61), Zurawski, Jarosik (Miller 56).
Subs Not Used:- Marshall, Conroy, Beattie, Pearson.
Goals:- O'Dea 78, Nakamura 80.
Dundee Utd:-
Stillie, Conway, Kenneth, Mair (Proctor 85), Duff, McCracken, Kerr, Smith (Cameron 84), Robertson, Robson, Samuel.
Subs Not Used:- McLean, Archibald, Easton, Goodwillie, Watson.
Goals:- Robertson 17, Samuel 58.
Booked:- Robertson, Kerr, Robson.
Att:- 57,343
Ref:- B Winter.
KStreet
Articles
Pictures
CELTIC – DUNDEE UTD
Possession
| 60% | 40% |
Shots on target
| 4 | 2 |
Shots off target
| 5 | 6 |
Corners
| 10 | 1 |
Fouls
| 10 | 16 |
Celtic 2-2 Dundee Utd
Celtic came from two behind to draw with Dundee United and end 2006 unbeaten on their home soil in the Scottish Premier League. David Robertson headed United into a surprise lead from close range after 17 minutes against the league leaders.
Collin Samuel fired home following a Barry Robson free-kick.
But Darren O'Dea headed home after a free-kick from Shunsuke Nakamura, who then chipped in a beautiful equaliser to deny United victory.
Interview: Dundee United manager Craig Levein Interview: Celtic manager Gordon Strachan
Evander Sno had replaced the suspended Neil Lennon in Celtic's midfielder after the captain's sending off against Falkirk on Saturday.
United were without the injured Steven Robb, while David Goodwillie dropped to the bench as David McCracken and Grant Smith came into the starting line-up.
Nakamura drove the ball inches past the far post as Celtic carved out the first good chance.
But the visitors took the lead when Lee Mair's cross to the back post was met by Robertson, who planted his close-range header past goalkeeper Artur Boruc.
Mair came to United's rescue when his perfectly-timed block tackle on Maciej Zurawski denied the Poland striker a certain equaliser.
More woe visited the champions in the 37th minute when defender Balde injured his leg over-stretching to clear at the edge of his own box and had to be stretchered off.
The loss of the Guinean appeared to dampen the home side's enthusiasm and United started the second half with confidence.
Boruc did well to block an effort from Grant Smith before United went two ahead.
Samuel was first to react after a Robson free-kick was headed on by Garry Kenneth and Conway stabbed the ball into the six-yard box for the Trinidad & Tobago international.
Riordan was denied by an outstanding Stillie save, the United keeper diving low to his left to turn the Celtic midfielder's right-footed drive from 12 yards past the post.
But a dramatic two-minute spell brought the home side back into the game.
O'Dea knocked home a Nakamura free-kick from six yards after 78 minutes.
And the home side were level when the Japanese midfielder took a Riordan pass and floated a delightful chip from 20 yards over the despairing Stillie.
Celtic pressed hard for the winner and, in injury time, Riordan's effort from outside the box hit the post before rolling to safety with Stillie well out of his goal.
Celtic : Boruc, Telfer, Balde (O'Dea 39), McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Sno, Gravesen, McGeady (Riordan 61), Zurawski, Jarosik (Miller 56).
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Conroy, Beattie, Pearson.
Goals : O'Dea 78, Nakamura 80.
Dundee Utd : Stillie, Conway, Kenneth, Mair (Proctor 85), Duff, McCracken, Kerr, Smith (Cameron 84), Robertson, Robson, Samuel.
Subs Not Used: McLean, Archibald, Easton, Goodwillie, Watson.
Booked : Robertson, Kerr, Robson.
Goals : Robertson 17, Samuel 58.
Att : 57,343
Ref : B Winter
Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/6207775.stm
Published: 2006/12/26 16:52:18 GMT
© BBC 2011
Strachan hails Nakamura display
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan was full of praise for Shunsuke Nakamura after the Japanese star's wonderful late equaliser against Dundee United.
"We didn't play well but Nakamura came to the fore," he said. "He is a genius.
"I don't know what more he can do apart from carrying the players on his shoulders and playing at the same time.
"His personality decided that we weren't going to get beat. Some of the other players were maybe thinking that it might not be our day."
Strachan saw defender Bobo Balde carried off in the first half during the 2-2 draw and he is already without injury-victims Gary Caldwell and Mark Wilson.
"Bobo is feeling real pain on the outside of his shin. His leg seemed to crumble under him," added Strachan.
"We are running short of defenders and we will need to think about that in the next 24 hours.
"In saying that I thought Darren O'Dea was excellent when he came on."
Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/6210113.stm
Published: 2006/12/26 19:07:00 GMT
© BBC 2011