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Celtic 3-0 Aberdeen

Discussion in 'TalkCeltic News' started by Murphy7, Mar 6, 2006.

By Murphy7 on Mar 6, 2006 at 12:53 AM
  1. Murphy7

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    Celtic retained their lead at the top of the SPL table with a good win over an in-form Aberdeen side at Celtic Park. The two teams entered the field of the play to a stunning flag and streamer display from both sets of fans respectively and this set the tone for an exhilarating game. Strachan kept the same side that had won at Ibrox and and thrashed Dunfermline a few weeks earlier, while Jimmy Calderwood was forced to play Neil MacFarlane for the injured Jamie Smith and this was a major worry for the travelling Dons fans.

    Celtic started the match in a confident manner and threatened early when Petrov sent Zurawski through on goal, but the Polish International's left-footed drive from the edge of the box was saved by Langfield at the second attempt. Celtic were pressing and Maloney's clever pass gave Roy Keane an opportunity to add to his Celtic account from close range, but Langfield was again up to the task. The Aberdeen keeper was in inspired form and he again 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 big claims for a penalty waved away by referee Mike McCurry soon after, to the dismay of the majority of people inside Celtic Park. A Shaun Maloney cross appeared to strike Zander Diamond's hand 10 yards from goal but McCurry thought otherwise.

    Langfield again came to Aberdeen's rescue as he stopped another Keane shot and he made an even better block from the unmarked John Hartson's drive from eight yards out. As the half-time whistle blew it hard to believe that Celtic were not ahead.

    Aberdeen were much more positive after the break and forced a couple of early corners. They even had the ball in the back of the net when Stuart Lovell lofted the ball over Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc but the striker was pulled up for a foul. Aberdeen had their best chance of the game soon after when Foster broke clear and looked to have a good shooting opportunity. However, he chose the wrong option when he passed for Severin and Boruc expertly closed down the Scotland international's shot. This was an excellent piece of goalkeeping and proved that Strachan's decision to keep the Pole in goals was the right choice.

    A pivotal moment in the game came when Strachan brought on Nakamura for the disapointing Hartson. And a poor clearance from Langfield gave Shunsuke Nakamura his sight at goal almost immediately, but the Japanese International could only find the side-netting.

    After 65 minutes Celtic took the lead they deserved when Zurawski took advantage of some defensive uncertainty to cut the ball back for Petrov to brilliantly drive the ball home from 12 yards. Celtic doubled their lead soon after rather fortutiously when a Roy Keane cross from the right wasn't properly cleared. Defender Chris Clark's attempted clearance struck team-mate Diamond and went straight into the path of Maloney, who quickly whipped it into the net from close range.

    The icing on the cake was added late on by a stunning goal that emphaised why Celtic deserve to be Champions. Following a beautiful move, Celtic split the Aberdeen defence wide open before Petrov unselfeshly set up Zurawaski for a fine finish. It was 'total football' and a joy to watch. Sadly many fans missed the goal as despite there being 60,018 fans at the game when the game kicked off, only a few thousand remained when the final whistle blew as the stands began to empty with still ten minutes remaining. The mass exodus was embarrassing, but the few that remained were awarded by a goal of the highest quality and Celtic now look untouchable at the top of the table. Celtic finished the game playing like Champions and it is almost unthinkable that the league title will not returning to Paradise this Summer.


    Celtic (4-4-2):

    Boruc

    Telfer Balde McManus Wilson

    Petrov Lennon Keane Maloney

    Zurawski Hartson(Nakamura 63)

    Subs Not Used: Marshall, Varga, Pearson, Wallace, Dublin, Lawson.


    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.


    Att: 60,018

    Ref: M McCurry
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 6, 2006