2007-11-28: Celtic 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk, Champions League

Match Pictures | Matches: 2007 – 2008 | 2007-2008 Pictures

Trivia

• Champions League 2007-2008
• Referee was genuinely inconsistent and atrocious
• Brandao of Shakhtar has scored 3 against Celtic in two games in this Champs League
• Donatti’s first Champs lge goal for Celtic, and what a goal to remember.
• Jarosik played a blinder
• One minute applause held in respect/memory of the 100 miners who died in Donetsk region in a mine blast a week or so before this match happened.

Review

One of those games which we will really truly look back on and wonder how we did it. European games seem to really create a roller coaster of emotions for us fans. We went behind after just 3mins due to a mistake by Kennedy who later was taken off with a bad bad injury, followed by Naylor. Somehow though we dug in with a wonderful performance by Hartley, McGeady and to all our amazement Jarosik!

We won, with a very very late goal, and so its onwards and upwards to the next game where we have to take 1pt v AC Milan away (or hope Benfica take a point away v Shaktar) to qualify for the next round for the second year in a row.

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Quotes

“But, for sheer guts, that’s as good as it gets. We achieved the win with heart and determination.”
WGS after the match

“The Shakhtar game was my best moment at Celtic. That night was like every European game at Celtic Park. The fans are the best in the world. I loved all of those games, but to be the man who is responsible for that noise is a wonderful thing.”
Jarosik years later reflecting back on the match

Teams

Celtic team:-
Boruc, Caldwell, Kennedy (Pressley 41), McManus, Naylor (Donati 16), McGeady, Scott Brown, Hartley, Jarosik, McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink (Killen 79).
Subs Not Used:- Mark Brown, Zurawski, Sno, Caddis.
Booked:- Jarosik, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Caldwell.
Goals:- Jarosik 45, Donati 90.

Shakhtar Donetsk team:-
Pyatov, Srna, Chigrinsky, Kucher, Rat, Ilsinho (Yezerskiy 83), Hubschman, Lewandowski, Jadson, Lucarelli (Gladkiy 88), Brandao.
Subs Not Used:- Shust, Duljaj, Vukic, Shevchuk, Beylyk.
Booked:- Brandao.
Goals:- Brandao 4.

Att: 59,146
Ref: Bertrand Layec (France)

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)
• Match Report
• UEFA Report
• Manager Interview

Pictures

• Match Pictures

KStreet

• Pre-match
• Match
• MoTM – Jarosik (Link to MOTM Winners)
• Post-match

Stats

Celtic		Shakhtar
2	Goals scored	1
3	Yellow card	1
0	Red card	0
2	Shots on goal	3
4	Shots wide	5
20	Fouls committed	18
2	Corners	4
3	Offsides	2
33′ 33”	Ball. Poss. (time)	22′ 19”
60%	Ball. Poss. (%)	40%

Articles

Uefa Champions League/Celtic 2 Shakhtar Donetsk 1: Massimo Donati’s stoppage-time goal, side-footed into the Shakhtar Donestk goal from 12 yards, ensures Celtic have one foot firmly in the last 16 of the Champions League after another incredible European night at Parkhead.

This was an insipid display from Gordon Strachan’s side, littered with errors, though Aiden McGeady again drove Celtic forward for much of the game and, yet again, their immense home form came to prominence.

A point against Milan in the San Siro next Tuesday will guarantee Celtic’s progression.

Pre-match conjecture surrounded Celtic’s aspirations of a three-goal victory that would all-but seal their passage to the knock-out phase.

However, such thoughts could not have been further from a capacity home crowd’s thoughts in the opening stages – the Scottish champions failing to come to grips in any area of the pitch.

Goalkeeper Artur Boruc and Paul Hartley had shaken off fitness concerns to return to the starting line-up but defensive shortcomings were not long in being punished.

Shakhtar’s impressive Brazilian forward Brandao capitalised within five minutes; coolly sliding the ball beyond Boruc after the Celtic defender John Kennedy had miscued a clearing header straight into his path.

The frustrations of Celtic’s support were understandable, but the throwing of objects towards Brandao and his team-mates as they celebrated after scoring their goal was reckless given that the hosts are already on a probationary period from Uefa.

It took 22 minutes for Scott McDonald to register Celtic’s first attempt at goal as the Ukrainians dominated in midfield and offered menace each time they broke forward.

Celtic, who had already lost Lee Naylor through injury, also had to withdraw Kennedy, four minutes before the interval; palpable concern for the defender centred on the fact that he had damaged his left knee, a serious ligament injury in the same area kept him out of soccer for three years until April.

Jiri Jarosik promptly lightened the mood, driving home an angled half-volley after the Shakhtar defence blundered in attempting to deal with a hopeful Gary Caldwell long ball.

Shakhtar’s 2-0 win over Celtic in the opening group game had given Mircea Lucescu’s side the edge in qualification had last night’s match stayed level – which it seemed destined to for most of a tight second half.

Nervousness was a key factor in the second period, McGeady illustrating as much when he inexplicably passed the ball straight to Shakhtar’s Jadson, 20 yards out from goal, with the latter blasting over Boruc’s crossbar.

The visitors were clearly content to play out a draw, their regular attempts at time-wasting causing anger in the stands and, occasionally, in the Celtic dug-out.

Caldwell was booked as a frustrated Celtic sensed their chances were slipping away, and Donetsk came close to a late winner when Brandao blazed over from eight yards after substitute Olexandr Gladkiy’s cut-back.

But salvation was at hand – Donati firing home McGeady’s cut-back in the last act of the game as the crestfallen Ukrainians contemplated what might have been.

CELTIC: Boruc, Caldwell, Kennedy (Pressley 41), McManus, Naylor (Donati 16), McGeady, Scott Brown, Hartley, Jarosik, McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink (Killen 79). Subs not used: Mark Brown, Zurawski, Sno, Caddis. Booked: Jarosik, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Caldwell.

SHAKHTAR DONETSK: Pyatov, Srna, Chigrinsky, Kucher, Rat, Ilsinho (Yezerskiy 83), Hubschman, Lewandowski, Jadson, Lucarelli (Gladkiy 88), Brandao. Subs not used: Shust, Duljaj, Vukic, Shevchuk, Beylyk. Booked: Brandao.

Referee: B Layec (France).

(c) 2007, The Irish Times.

Irish Times

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(official site)

Celtic Football Club is to pay respect to the 100 miners who were killed in the recent mine blast in the Donetsk region of Ukraine.

Before the start of this Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League match between Celtic and Shakhtar Donetsk there will be one minute’s applause to remember all the men who died in the tragedy.

The disaster, which happened last week, is the worst in the country’s recent history. After the tragedy, the Ukraine observed three official days of mourning. A government commission has since been set up to find out what happened.

Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell said: “Clearly we are aware that this tragedy has had a devastating effect on so many families, in the Donestk region and in Ukraine as a whole.

“We have very good relations with Shakhtar Donetsk, having met the club in two UEFA Champions League competitions and we felt it important and appropriate to make this gesture in support to the families who have been affected by this terrible tragedy.

“We have spoken to UEFA and Shakhtar Donetsk who are delighted that this tribute will be made on Wednesday evening.”

Ukraine’s ambassador to Britain, Ihor Kharchenko, will be in attendance at the match.