| Match Pictures | Matches: 2008 – 2009 | 2008-2009 Pictures |
Trivia
- First dropped pts of the season.
Review
Another poor performance by the Celts, but this time we dropped pts and have allowed Rangers to take advantage and go above us in the league (albeit by two pts). Craig Levein ranted and had a right to claim that two penalties should have gone their way but didn't. TBH, surprised that the penalties weren't awarded. Poor 1st half, but we were more in it in the second and saved by a Hartley goal which was well worked by a few of the players. Skippy was atrocious and needs to burn off the calories quick time!
Teams
Dundee Utd:
Zaluska, Kovacevic, Kenneth, Wilkie, Grainger, Flood (Conway 78), Scott Robertson, Gomis, David Robertson (Buaben 64), Feeney (Sandaza 64), O'Donovan.
Subs Not Used: McGovern, Dillon, Daly, McCord.
Booked: O'Donovan.
Goals: Sandaza 79.
Celtic:
Boruc, Hinkel, McManus, Caldwell, Wilson, Nakamura (Robson 68), Hartley, Scott Brown, McGeady, McDonald (Samaras 88), Vennegoor of Hesselink.
Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Crosas, Donati, O'Dea, Caddis.
Booked: McGeady.
Goals: Hartley 51.
Att: 11,648
Ref: C Richmond
Articles
Pictures
KStreet
Stats
DUNDEE UTD – CELTIC
Possession
| 41% | 59% |
Shots on target
| 6 | 8 |
Shots off target
| 3 | 5 |
Corners
| 5 | 5 |
Fouls
| 18 | 14 |
Articles
Dundee United 1-1 Celtic
By Clive Lindsay
BBC
Francisco Sandaza was the Dundee United hero after the substitute scored the equaliser in a thrilling draw with reigning SPL champions Celtic.
United had earlier been angered when denied a penalty after Roy O'Donovan was challenged by Gary Caldwell.
That had come moments after Paul Hartley gave Celtic the lead with a low deflected drive just after the break.
United's Margaro Gomis came close to a winner, while Celtic's Scott McDonald missed from four yards out.
It means that Celtic, who beat St Mirren last weekend with a controversial penalty, have still not lost to United since 1999.
United had gone into the game still reeling from Monday's 3-1 mauling by Scottish Premier League newboys Hamilton Accies.
Angry manager Craig Levein dropped Darren Dods and Shaun Dillon and replaced them with Garry Kenneth and Mihael Kovacevic.
But the reconstructed defence would not have welcomed the news of the return of Shunsuke Nakamura, the Celtic midfielder being pressed into early action after his recovery from injury in place of virus-hit Barry Robson.
Nakamura was soon delivering some trademark crosses into the box, but United's tall defence coped well, rarely allowing the reigning champions a clear sight at goal.
And it was the home side, who failed to score against Celtic last season, that created the better chances of a hectic first half.
David Robertson, who had started in place of the off-form Prince Buaben in United's midfield, climbed to meet a Kovacevic cross, but Artur Boruc stretched to tip the ball over the bar for a corner.
The game threatened to boil over when United striker O'Donovan, their loan signing from Sunderland, was booked for recklessly hacking at Boruc as the goalkeeper shepherded the ball out for a goal kick.
And Celtic's Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink held down Lee Wilkie inside the visitors' box with what resembled a bear hug.
United left-back Danny Grainger drove a powerful volley over the crossbar from 16 yards before Celtic finally forced Lukasz Zaluska into a save after 39 minutes.
Aiden McGeady, already booked for a foul on Kovacevic, almost caught out the goalkeeper with a stinging long-range drive that the Pole palmed clear.
The visitors took the lead five minutes after the break when Mark Wilson, who had come into the side to replace the injured Lee Naylor at left-back, whipped in a cross to the back post.
Celtic celebrate Paul Hartley's goal
Hartley (second right) put Celtic ahead at Tannadice
Nakamura took his time to pick out Hartley, whose low drive from the edge of the box nestled into the far corner via a deflection off Kenneth.
United ought to have had a penalty four minutes later when O'Donovan appeared to be felled as he tricked his way past Caldwell in the penalty box.
The home side were furious not to be given the decision by referee Charlie Richmond, who moments later was booed off the park after picking up an injury following a collision with Nakamura.
While Richmond was replaced with Iain Brines, Nakamura picked himself up to fire a powerful 20-yard volley straight at Zaluska.
Warren Feeney had a chance to make his mark seconds before being replaced by Sandaza but shot into Boruc's arms from just inside the penalty box.
It was Celtic's turn to squander a chance when McGeady and McDonald combined to send Vennegoor of Hesselink clear, but the Dutch striker's low drive struck the legs of goalkeeper Zaluska and bounced clear.
McDonald sent a shot on the turn over the bar, while O'Donovan should have done better than fire against Boruc when he stole clear behind the Celtic defence.
But United, who also had two claims for handball in the penalty box turned down, finally got the breakthrough when Craig Conway's low cross to the far post was turned home by fellow substitute Sandaza.
Gomis sent a powerful drive just over the crossbar, while McDonald headed wide from close range as both sides came close to a winner.
Dundee Utd: Zaluska, Kovacevic, Kenneth, Wilkie, Grainger, Flood (Conway 78), Scott Robertson, Gomis, David Robertson (Buaben 64), Feeney (Sandaza 64), O'Donovan.
Subs Not Used: McGovern, Dillon, Daly, McCord.
Booked: O'Donovan.
Goals: Sandaza 79.
Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, McManus, Caldwell, Wilson, Nakamura (Robson 68), Hartley, Scott Brown, McGeady, McDonald (Samaras 88), Vennegoor of Hesselink.
Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Crosas, Donati, O'Dea, Caddis.
Booked: McGeady.
Goals: Hartley 51.
Att: 11,648
Ref: C Richmond
Celtic denied as Sandaza saves spirited United
18 August 2008 Provided by: The Independent Sport | *SCOTLAND DUNDEE UNITED 1 CELTIC 1 A LATE strike by substitute Francisco Sandaza gave Dundee United a deserved share of the spoils against Celtic in yesterday's Premier League meeting at Tannadice. Paul Hartley's deflected goal six minutes after the break – and a controversial decision by referee Charlie Richmond to deny United a penalty when Roy O'Donovan clashed with Gary Caldwell – looked likely to give the champions all three points. But in the 79th minute the Spaniard, on as a second-half substitute for Warren Feeney, nipped in at the near post to flick a Craig Conway cross past Hoops goalkeeper Artur Boruc. Celtic manager Gordon Strachan felt it was a "cracking game" and thought the debate over the penalty claim should have been negated by what he thought was a foul by O'Donovan on Stephen McManus. "Seconds before that the number 10 jumped into Mick [McManus], so it was a foul before that," Strachan said. "I thought we should have had that decision so we wouldn't be talking about the penalty." United were well worth their point and might have grabbed all three in the closing stages as they went all out for the winner. However, they will point to the game's most controversial incident in which Richmond refused to award a spot-kick when O'Donovan appeared to be tripped by Celtic defender Caldwell inside the penalty area. Richmond ignored the claims, then almost immediately injured himself by running into Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura – and minutes later was substituted by fourth official Iain Brines with a suspected broken ankle. The referee may have been spared by United's equaliser, which came in a second half in stark contrast to a dull first one. United were first to threaten in the 10th minute when midfielder David Robertson climbed to head a Michael Kovacevic cross goalwards, Boruc stretching to tip the ball over for a corner – which the visitors survived. Eight minutes later, O'Donovan was booked for barging Boruc as the Poland international shepherded the ball out of play. Tannadice left-back Danny Grainger then drove a volley from 16 yards just over the bar as the Taysiders had a spell on top. In the 51st minute Hartley drove the visitors into the lead – albeit with the help of a deflection.Nakamura had time on the ball inside the United box to lay the ball off to the former Hearts midfielder, whose side-footed shot came off Garry Kenneth before nestling in the corner of the net. United built up a head of steam and finally got the equaliser when Sandaza nipped in at the near post to direct a cross from Conway, himself on just seconds earlier for Willo Flood, past the helpless Boruc and into the net. Goals: Hartley (51) 0-1; Sandaza (79) 1-1. Dundee United (4-4-2): Zaluska; Kovacevic, Kenneth, Wilkie, Grainger;Flood (Conway 78), Scott Robertson, Gomis, David Robertson (Buaben 64); Feeney (Sandaza 64), O'Donovan. Substitutes not used: McGovern (gk), Dillon, Daly, McCord. Celtic (4-4-2): Boruc; Hinkel, McManus, Caldwell, Wilson; Nakamura (Robson 68), Hartley, Scott Brown, McGeady; McDonald (Samaras 88), Vennegoor of Hesselink. Substitutes not used: Mark Brown (gk), Crosas, Donati, O'Dea, Caddis. Referee: C Richmond (Scotland). Booked: Dundee O'Donovan. Celtic McGeady. Man of the match: Sandaza. Attendance: 11,648. (c) 2008 Independent & Media PLC The Independent