Last-gasp Samaras fires Celtic through

Thu, 06 Aug 10:21:58 2009

Celtic made history as they overcame a first-leg deficit to battle past Dinamo Moscow 2-0 in their Champions League third qualifier.

The Hoops had never won a European tie after losing the first game at Parkhead but Scott McDonald's header a minute from the break in the Arena Khimki levelled the tie 1-1 on aggregate.

And a sensational last-minute strike by substitute Georgios Samaras, on for McDonald, sent Tony Mowbray's side into the next round.

Celtic started brightly, passing the ball well, but their first real attempt on goal did not arrive until the 26th minute when midfielder Shaun Maloney tried to power in a drive from 30 yards but watched it skip harmlessly through to Vladimir Gabulov in the Dinamo goal.

But there was drama in the 44th minute when McDonald was unmarked at the far post to head home from Andreas Hinkel's cross.

There was still time for Hinkel to clear an effort from Dinamo captain Dmitri Khokhlov off the line as the host responded.

Celtic emerged fired up after the break, but a moment of slackness in the visiting defence after 52 minutes, when they failed to deal with a Khokhlov cross, allowed Dmitry Kombarov space at the back post, only for the Dinamo man to fire wide.

As the tension mounted, the Hoops refused to sit on their lead and in the 62nd minute McDonald almost grabbed a second when he drove inches wide of the far past from 20 yards.

With substitute Scott Brown driving Celtic forward, the Hoops went for the second goal and Maloney should have scored when he was sent through by the Scotland midfielder but thwarted by Gabulov.

But the drama was not over and in the final minute Samaras took a long Hinkel pass inside the box, weaved past three Dinamo defenders and slotted in the most dramatic of goals.

 

Comment 1 - 16 of 16

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  1. HELLO

    From BUCKIEJAG, on Thu 6 Aug 3:30PM

  2. 13 & 14......

    Lmfao!!!!!!

    From GEORGE, on Thu 6 Aug 1:14PM

  3. wee haigy must choked on his buckie wen sammy scored­ haha GIRFUY

    hail hail

    From Ryan, on Thu 6 Aug 12:39PM

  4. Haig...you said that when Celtic were drawn against­ Dinamo....you really should keep it closed till the­ games over...and also you spend more time talking about­ Celtic than Rankers...I wonder why?

    From Stuart, on Thu 6 Aug 10:49AM

  5. It may be after one good game, but things are looking­­ better for the new season,
    some of the games last­­ season were a disaster, remember one of the Old firm­­ games last season, there wasn't one shot on goals­­ between the teams (not long ago). For Scottish­ football­ we need all the teams to play well in Europe.­
    Last­ nights result should give the Scotland team the­ much­ needed boost they require for the game in Norway­ next­ week.

    From BUCKIEJAG, on Thu 6 Aug 8:44AM

  6. #7&8 yur only the f*cking chumps
    EUROPE DONT WANT­ YOU SC*M & SCOTLAND DONT WANT YOU FILTHY CHEATING­ RIOTING SC*M
    NO MONEY & NO F*CKING­ TALENT

    SCOTLANDS BEST GLASGOW CELTIC ALWAYS HAIL HAIL­ THE BHOYS.

    willie waddel knew and 66 died

    From jim.todd79, on Thu 6 Aug 3:50AM

  7. like i said if samaras played from the start in the­ first game they would have cruised it watch out­ samaras top scorer this season

    From paul, on Thu 6 Aug 2:14AM

  8. like i said if samaras played from the start in the­ first game they would have cruised it watch out­ samaras top scorer this season

    From paul, on Thu 6 Aug 2:06AM

  9. PT 5 WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS GET USED TO IT LOSER AND U­ LOT BEAT A POOR RUSKIE SIDE AND THINK U ARE GONNA GET­ THROUGH AGAINST THE BIG BOYS NO CHANCE TIMMY NO CHANCE

    From n.haig123, on Thu 6 Aug 1:39AM

  10. PT 5 WHAT PLANET ARE U ON THE RANGERS ARE STRAIGHT INTO­ THE CHAMPS LEAGUE U WILL NOT GET THEOUGH THE NEXT ROUND­ ENJOY BEING A LOSER LIKE YOUR TEAM. ONE AWAY WIN IN 6­ YRS HOW EMBARASSING

    From n.haig123, on Thu 6 Aug 1:37AM

  11. Well done we can give credit where its due. The Gers­ are the real Scottish Champions unless you were on the­ moon last season No5.

    From css, on Thu 6 Aug 1:29AM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    SCOTLANDS BEST & CHAMPIONEESSSSS GLASGOW CELTIC­ GUBBED THE RUSKIES HAIL HAIL

    as for the dark side­ rankers rotten sc*m of the earth NO MONEY & NO­ F*CKING TALENT ha ha ha

    From jim.todd79, on Thu 6 Aug 12:57AM

  13. Con Gradtch cellic , the goal was worthy!!

    From aztectrooper35, on Thu 6 Aug 12:11AM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Mon the hoops.....whos next out of IPOX?

    From Stuart, on Wed 5 Aug 11:01PM

  15. Well done Samaras!
    What a player!

    From G G, on Wed 5 Aug 9:27PM

  16. Two million in the kitty for this tie. Four new players­ signed for just under 7 million. The european monkey­ off our back. Well done Tony Mobray.
    The Dark side of­ Glasgow. Nothing. Unless the raid the S.A.G.A­ transfer rejects again

    From THOMAS, on Wed 5 Aug 7:55PM
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