Details
Title:5 Star Bhoys
Release Date:25 Feb 2002
Synopsis
After Celtic's victory in the 1997/98 Scottish Premiership, normal service seemed to have been resumed at the beginning of the next season: arch-enemies Rangers had taken an early lead in the title race, and Celtic were struggling to gel under new manager Josef Venglos. However, on November 21, 1998, against all predictions, The Bhoys slaughtered their Old Firm rivals 5-1 at Celtic Park. This release relives every second of the historic victory, which was Celtic's biggest win against Rangers for 32 years.
Review (by kevtic March 31st 2014)
A memorable day for any Celtic fan who witnessed the demolition of the Advocaat led huns. It may have turned out to be a false dawn but how we enjoyed this one. Starting the game already 10 pts behind in the league it was a must win game and the Bhoys did that in some style.
A stirring pre-match rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone rings round the stadium before the teams take to the pitch. The game marked Johan Mjallby’s debut and in goals we had Tony Warner on loan from Liverpool who only made 3 appearances for the hoops. It was also Lubo’s first huns game and what an impact he made. Eleven minutes on the clock and Larsson steps over Donnelly cross and Lubo nonchalantly swings his left boot at it and buries it past Niemi and then turns round as if it was just another goal while the Celtic support greeted a new hero.
Watching the game again Rod Wallace had claims for a penalty immediately before the goal but no replays were given so it was hard to see if there was anything in it. Halfway through Scott Wilson was correctly sent off after a desperate tackle on Lubo. You would have thought that would have seen the huns retreat into a defensive shell but in truth this was as open a derby game as you’ll see.
Fortunately the huns has Guivarc'h upfront who squandered a few great chances.
Near the end of the 2nd half commentator Rob Mclean utters the understatement of the season when talking about Lubo and said ‘He looks very comfortable with the ball at his feet’.
Incredibly the first 11 mins of the 2nd half saw 4 goals. In 49 mins Lubo rose unchallenged and buried a perfect Tom Boyd cross with a flick of the head. Two mins later Larsson, who had missed a few chances you would expect him to score, latched onto a Donnelly pass and despite a Hendry shove in the back coolly flicked the ball over Niemi on the ground. Van Bronckhorst then gave Scotland’s shame something to cheer with a beautifully struck free kick. He was a player I’d love to have seen in the hoops. A class act. A vintage Larsson header from an O'Donnell restored the 3 goal cushion a few mins later.
Throughout all this the Celtic support revelled in the misery of the hun and were not shy in giving the travelling support a roasting. It was also comforting to know another 30,000 were watching this on beamback at Ibrox.
Celtic were so far in front at this stage that they could even afford to bring on David Hannah
.
The humiliation was complete in the final minute as Larsson perfectly set up Burchill for the 5th. If there was any gripe about this game was it could have been many more. It was 4-1 after 57 mins but it was as enjoyable an afternoon as I’ve spent at celtic park and I’ll always remember leaving the ground to U2’s Sweetest Thing and every time I hear that song now it takes me back to that glorious afternoon.
The teams that day
Good guys – Warner, Boyd, Mahe, Stubbs, Mjallby, O'Donnell, Lambert, Moravcik (Burchill 82), Riseth, Donnelly (Hannah 79), Larsson
Bad guys – Niemi, Porrini, Numan, B. Ferguson (I. Ferguson 74), Kanchelskis (Vidmar 61), Van Bronckhorst, Albertz (Durie 61), Guivarc'h, Wallace, Wilson, Hendry
Product Details
Publisher:Fremantle
Language:English
Running Time: 100 mins
ISBN:Released as part of 5 disc Celtic Collection FHECELTIC1. Released on VHS in 1998
Extras:None
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