FOOTBALL Live

Wednesday September 17, 2008 Finished

0 - 0

Celtic

Aalborg BK

Toothless Celtic frustrated

Celtic were left to rue Barry Robson's first-half penalty miss as they stuttered to a disappointing 0-0 draw with Champions League... More

Live Commentary
Time:90'
- Celtic
- Aalborg BK
- 90+2 THAT'S IT!! Aalborg have got a well-deserved point and Strachan will have to face the music.
- 88' Time is running out now for Celtic. It's been a seriously frustrating evening and their fans will go home bitterly disapointed with a solitary point.
- 85' Lasse Nielsen replaces Curth for Aalborg.
- 82' Nice work from SAGANOWSKI...but he stops short of pulling the trigger and wastes a decent chance for the 10-men of Aalborg.
- 80' NAKAMURA WITH THE FREE-KICK!!! WHAT A SAVE FROM ZAZA!! This game has suddenly exploded into life.
- 78' SAMARAS IS THROUGH AGAIN!! But this time Jakobsen bring him down and the referee issues a straight red card for a professinoal foul. BUT THE REF HAS SENT OFF THE WRONG MAN!!! He gives the card to Beauchamp by mistake. WHAT A HOWLER!!!
- 77' GOOOALLL!!! No, offside!! Samaras is offside.
- 76' SAMARAS IS IN!!! But he takes too many touches, tries to beat too many defenders and ultimately the ball is out for a goal-kick.
- 74' JVH immediately into the action, as Celtic drive forward and seek a breakthrough.
- 72' Another change for Celtic. Maloney is replaced by Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink - to be known going forward as JVH (for obvious reasons).
- 71' Samaras with a clinical foul to stunt an Aalborg break and he rightly receives a booking.
- 70' Nakamura cuts inside and plays a lovely ball towards Samaras at the far post, but the striker can't pull his shot back from a tight angle and finds the side netting.
- 68' NAKAMURA!!! Straight at Zaza, who gathers comfortably.
- 66' Aalborg have a corner, and Celtic scramble clear. Here comes Samaras, but he's forced to go backwards. A hush descends as the home side play the ball across the back four. Here's Hinkle, to Robson...and CELTIC HAVE A FREE-KICK IN A DANGEROUS AREA. Johansson gets a booking for his troubles.
- 64' Aalborg haven't offered much in the way of attacking threat thus far, but they'd be more than happy to leave with a point here.
- 62' Strachan makes the change. McDonald is removed and McGeady enters the fray to a huge roar from the home crowd.
- 60' Nakamura picks up possession in a good area just inside the Aalborg half, but he plays a hopeless ball through.
- 58' Aiden McCready is being warmed up on the sidelines, and the home crowd appear to approve. They want something to change here, Celtic just can't find the final pass.
- 57' Maloney up against Olfers, and he makes space for a cross...but it's too long and the crowd give a collective groan.
- 53' Samaras is really upping his game in the second half. He drives past Olfers and wins Celtic a corner on the left...Nakamura whips it in, but Olfers heads clear with authority.
- 50' Neat turn from Samaras, and he shoots low and JUST WIDE to Zaza's left. Lovely stuff from the Greek international!!
- 48' Nakamura takes a corner on the left and ZAZA PUNCHES CLEAR FROM JUST UNDER HIS CROSSBAR!!
- 46' Away we go with the second half, and the crowd are in fine voice - realising they need to get behind their team here!
- 45' That's it for the first half folks. A frustrating one for Celtic, who missed a glorious chance to lead from the spot. Aalborg came closest from open play and look very much worth their level footing at the interval. Back in 15.
- 43' Gordon Strachan has notepad in hand, there may be changes ahead.
- 40' Samaras makes space 25 yards out and lets fly, but his effort is off target and lacking power. Maloney now, with a free-kick wide on the left...in it comes, Zaza gathers.
- 38' First signs of frustration from the Celtic Park faithful, as their side struggle to find the final ball. Robson gives it away and Aalborg can break.
- 36' Lovely build-up from Celtic, Hinkel crosses, but it doesn't beat the first man. The ball drops to ROBSON...WHO BLASTS IT A MILE OVER THE BAR!!
- 33' That miss has knocked the stuffing out of Celtic somewhat and Aalborg and coming at them. The SPL champions need to regroup and be patient.
- 30' Robson strikes low and central with his left foot...SAVED BY ZAZA!!! A poor penalty, and Zaza did his job by waiting as long as he could and spreading himself.
- 29' PENALTY TO CELTIC!!! Maloney with a lovely piece of skill and Steve Olfers trips him just inside the box.
- 27' Corner for Aalborg, their second. Great clearance header from Hinkel.
- 25' Aalborg manager Bruce Rioch looks fairly content by the dugout and well he might. His side have coped well so far.
- 23' Lovely stuff from Maloney, who turns and bends off a delightful cross from the left. Aalborg clear.
- 19' Aalborg are really coming into this now. Augutinussen is caught by Robson and the visitors have a free-kick in a very dangerous position, 25 yards out and central. Kasper Risgrad steps up and floats it well over the bar.
- 17' Not a great couple of minutes for McManus, who picks up a booking for clumsy challenge.
- 15' WHAT A CHANCE FOR AALBORG!! Thomas Augustinussen with a wonderful ball towards Jeppe Curth, who catches McManus on the wrong side, but can't quite direct his shot goalwards.
- 14' Brown fouls Andreas Johansson and Aalborg have a free-kick fully 30 yards out...Michael Jakobsen lines it up...OOOOOHHHH!!! WHAT A STRIKE!!! Just wide.
- 12' Neat drag-back from Samaras, who shoots hopefully from 30 yards. High and wide.
- 11' Samaras lays off to Nakamura, to Hinkle, to Brown. Nice stuff from Celtic. That must be 15 passes, but it ends with a poor cross from Maloney. Aalborg fail to clear their lines, however, and back come the home side again.
- 8' Aalborg are taking time to settle, and it's all Celtic so far. Naylor plays a searching ball forward to McDonald, but it's too long.
- 6' Celtic win another corner following good work from Samaras. Maloney sends it over, but Karim Zaza punches clear for the Danes.
- 4' Celtic win a free-kick on the right, which Nakamura whips in dangerously. Aalborg clear and a corner follows, but it's wasted short and low.
- 2' Robson with an early challenge to invigorate the crowd. Samaras is put through, and wrongly adjudged offside. Positive start from Celtic.
- 1' And we're away!! Celtic of course in their famous green and white hoops, with Aalborg in dark grey.
- - Danish champions Aalborg include on-loan Southampton striker Marek Saganowski in their line-up.
- - TEAM NEWS: Celtic have brought in Shunsuke Nakamura for Mark Crosas, and Andreas Hinkel replaces Mark Wilson. The two who miss out are on the bench. LINE-UP: Artur Boruc, Hinkel, Lee Naylor, Stephen McManus, Gary Caldwell, Scott McDonald, Scott Brown, Georgios Samaras, Shaun Maloney, Barry Robson, Nakamura.
- - Good evening and welcome to our LIVE!! coverage of Celtic v Aalborg in Group E of the Champions League.
Summary
- 78' SAMARAS IS THROUGH AGAIN!! But this time Jakobsen bring him down and the referee issues a straight red card for a professinoal foul. BUT THE REF HAS SENT OFF THE WRONG MAN!!! He gives the card to Beauchamp by mistake. WHAT A HOWLER!!!
- 77' GOOOALLL!!! No, offside!! Samaras is offside.
- 48' Nakamura takes a corner on the left and ZAZA PUNCHES CLEAR FROM JUST UNDER HIS CROSSBAR!!
- 15' WHAT A CHANCE FOR AALBORG!! Thomas Augustinussen with a wonderful ball towards Jeppe Curth, who catches McManus on the wrong side, but can't quite direct his shot goalwards.
- - Good evening and welcome to our LIVE!! coverage of Celtic v Aalborg in Group E of the Champions League.

Live Team Line-Up

Referee: Matteo Trefoloni
Celtic

Manager: Gordon Strachan

Captain: Stephen McManus

Starting line-up
- A. Boruc
- A. Hinkel
- G. Caldwell
- S. McManus
- L. Naylor
- S. Nakamura
- B. Robson
- S. Brown
- S. Maloney
- S. McDonald
- G. Samaras
Subs
- M. Brown
- J. Vennegoor of Hesselink 72′
- A. McGeady 62′
- P. Hartley
- M. Wilson
- M. Crosas
- G. Loovens
Injured

None

Suspended

None
Aalborg BK

Manager: Bruce Rioch

Captain: Michael Jakobsen

Starting line-up
- K. Zaza
- M. Jakobsen
- M. Beauchamp
- S. Olfers
- M. Pedersen
- K. Risgaard
- A. ene
- T. Augustinussen
- J. Curth
- A. Johansson
- M. Saganowski
Subs
- .. Due
- P. Kristensen
- L. Caca
- R. Schwartz
- L. Nielsen 85′
- S. Braemer
- K. Stenild
Injured

None

Suspended

None