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Normal time had ended 1-1 after goals from Scott McDonald and Roman Pavluchenko had made the score 2-2 on aggregate. And with no further breakthrough made during extra time, the game had to be decided in that ever so cruel way - spot kicks.

Goalkeeper Artur Boruc proved to be the Celtic hero, saving Spartak's fifth and final kick of the shootout from Maksim Kalinichenko after Gary Caldwell, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Derek Riordan and Maciej Zurawski had found the back of the net. Only Shunsuke Nakamura was off target for the Hoops, although Hesselink had earlier missed a penalty during extra time.

With the two sides locked in stalemate with five minutes remaining, the Dutchman was presented with the perfect chance to snatch victory right at the death for Celtic when Radoslav Kovac was punished for hand ball. But he could only hit his spot kick against the cross bar, leading Celtic fans to fear the worst.

Fortunately for them, and for the striker, it was not to matter.

Spartak had missed a penalty of their own in the first half of normal time before being reduced to ten men as regulation time ran out.

The first half was a tale of two strikers who both wasted glorious chances to put their side up before redeeming themselves with goals.

Australian striker McDonald, who was close to quitting Europe and returning to his homeland not so long ago, missed a gilt-edged chance to put Celtic in the lead just after the quarter hour mark, dragging his shot wide after having been played in on goal by Hesselink.

He was to redeem himself 11 minutes later when he capitalised on a terrible defensive blunder from Roman Shishkin whose attempted clearance fell nicely into the Celtic man's path. McDonald stroked the ball past keeper Stipe Pletikosa with the outside of his boot.

Pavluchenko - the Russian league's top scorer last season - was also guilty of profligacy before finally getting his name of the scoresheet. The striker slammed his 26th minute penalty kick against an upright after Caldwell had been punished for hand ball in the box.

The decision itself was harsh, as Welliton's shot had rebounded off Boruc straight onto the Celtic defender's hand. He even tried to pull his arm out of the way but there was no sympathy from the Italian referee.

Justice was done when Pavluchenko's effort cannoned off the post, and Celtic took full advantage, McDonald's opener coming just a minute later.

But Pavluchenko was to even up his personal score in the last minute of the first half, controlling a deep corner on his chest before volleying into the back of the net.

The goal hit Celtic hard, not least Boruc and defender Lee Naylor, who became embroiled in an ugly spat as the half time whistle went. Memories of Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer's infamous scrap surfaced, although unlike the Newcastle pair, no punches were thrown this time.

Once the pair had calmed down and the second half started, Celtic composed themselves and went about the business in hand - winning a place in the group stage of this year's tournament.

And goalscorer McDonald could have sealed their progress with just ten minutes remaining, but he could only shoot tamely at the keeper when through on goal.

Nakamura also opportunities to restore Celtic's advantage with a hat-trick of chances in the space of just two minutes as the clock ran down. But the Japanese fired one effort wide, saw one saved and the last one flew over the bar.

Celtic pressed hard for a winner and were given further hope of making a late breakthrough when Martin Stranzl hauled down Hesselink after the Dutchman had been played in by a lovely Nakamura pass.

But the full time whistle came with the score locked at 2-2, and the game went into extra time. Inevitably, Celtic looked the more likely as Spartak's ten men tired, but a Hesselink diving header and his missed penalty apart, the hosts did not threaten Pletikosa's goal.

Eurosport