The remember when series continues with a look at the epic Celtic-Spartak Moscow encounter in the Champions League qualifiers in 2007.
Who remembers August 2007? Neil Lennon was at Nottingham Forest, Rangers were in the Champions League and Tony Watt was 13 years old. And on the 29th of that month Celtic and Spartak Moscow fought out an epic encounter that ended with Celtic qualifying for the Champions League Group Stages and eventually making the last 16.
When the draw was made there was general despondency, as Spartak were the team most people wanted to avoid in the draw, as they were already playing in the Russian league and also played on a plastic pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium. However, these fears were somewhat proved wrong as Celtic managed to get a creditable 1-1 draw in Moscow, with Paul Hartley getting the vital away goal. Mark Brown – who deputised for the injured Artur Boruc – made a string of fine saves. But come the return leg two weeks later, Boruc was back in goal.
The game began with Spartak on the offensive, as they had to score, Boruc doing well to stop Welliton in particular. The match’s first twist game in the 24th minute, when Spartak were awarded a very soft penalty when Gary Caldwell was adjudged to have handled, but justice was done when Pavluchenko’s effort hit the post. Celtic took the lead in the 27th minute, Scott McDonald taking advantage of some poor defending to hammer the ball home.
But another twist came just a minute before half-time, when sloppy defending allowed Pavluchenko to equalize, which sparked a furious argument between Boruc and Naylor. Not surprisingly, the fans backed Boruc. The second-half was played under unbearable tension, with both sides knowing that one mistake could prove fatal. Surprisingly, Shunsuke Nakamura – often a talisman in those times – had a very poor game, guilty of missing three great chances. The game took yet another twist when Spartak’s Martin Stranzl was sent-off for a foul on Vennegoor of Hesselink. Celtic were unable to take advantage, and the game went to extra time when Celtic were handed a golden opportunity to win the game from the penalty spot. Veennegoor’s effort hit the bar and we were headed to penalties.
The penalty shoot-out will go down as one of the most exciting occasions at Celtic Park in recent years, and Artur Boruc was the hero as he made two saves to spark wild scenes of celebration. Boruc was undeniably one of the best goalkeepers in Europe at that point, and it’s a pity that his career has somewhat floundered after he left Celtic for Fiorentina. But performances like the one that night against Spartak mean that he will go down as one of Celtic’s best players in recent years.
As we look forward to tomorrow’s game against Spartak, let’s hope that we see similar scenes of celebration as Celtic book their rightful place in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Can we qualify?
It’s a thought that has been rattling around my brain for a few days. It’s easy for it to rattle around as their is no grey matter to stop it. It’s funny because as I consider this I seek solace in other ‘sure things’ that ended up in disaster. I take great heart that mighty fuck ups are in our DNA so if we fail – though, I reckon we have already succeeded! – tomorrow it should come as no surprise.
2004/05. We are in a group with AC Milan, Shakter and Barca. We were taking on an already qualified AC Milan at CP and Barca – also already qualified – went to Shakter. We were a point in front of Shakter.
Milan defended like Italians at CP. All artistry, determination, organisation and skill – what gave them the right to defend like Italians? You would have thought they invented the art! – while we huff and puffed and created nothing. McGeady had a decent game.
Over in the Ukraine a weakened Barca were soundly beaten 2-0. This sent us out of Europe completely.
Remember Aalborg? Aye, go there and at least get a score draw and we qualify. We drew 0-0 with them at CP in the opening game of the 08/09 campaign. That game was a barrel of laughs. We travel to Denmark dominate the game and lose 2-1 (after leading 1-0, a goal from Barry Robson – our first goal away in Europe for 2 years!) with Heid scoring a great OG after some picturesq Loovens defending.
Depressed yet?
Let me mention that in recent seasons Fortress Parkheid has seen wins fae Dynamo Moscow, Arsenal, Athletico Madrid and Hamburg (that one really hurt). We haven’t beaten St Johnstone, Kilmarnock and Arbroath in the last few weeks. We beat Barca though.
And that’s what has put us in this position. The fact that we fluked a win against the greatest club side we will – probably (I’m still holding out hope that we will one day be the greatest club side the world will ever see. Ok, we are the greatest club side the world has ever seen from the east end of glasgow but i want more).
UEFA have us and FC Cluj fighting it out as the worst team in the competition but we are the only side who seeming canny keep the ball (55% completion rate) and have shitey possession stats (38%) that are in with a sniff of qualifying. Scoring over half our goals from set plays has seen to that!
But, they goals were against Barca and the eagles of lisboa, who – lets admit this – are better sides than us. The only goals we have scored in open play – Tony Watt apart- were against Moscow…who are the visitors and who are out of europe and in disarray!
What can go wrong then?
We fail to adjust to having to force the game. The team has been set up fantastically since Sion last year. We have a system and the players suit it. That system has attacking intent but against the better sides we get pinned back mainly because we don’t use the ball well. We dont set out to defend. It happens because we are poor in possession.
Change that tomorrow and it will be fine. Shedding the skin we have grown into is the key tomorrow night. Seize the occasion and dont have regrets.
I predict it will be tight and not pretty. A single goal victory and a few pairs of pants will be needed.
Three and easy for the hoops tomorrow. Barca will wallop benfica and we’ll get schalke in the next round.
A few pairs of pants? I was thinking of vests and socks! At the stage of hoping for the best! 🙂
This writing is akin to a 12 year old writing a match report. I’m just waiting for… ‘and it was all a dream’
anything constructive to say Timalloy ? nice of you to attack our own from behind a keyboard.