Wednesday August 1, 2012 Qualifying Round 3 Finished Celtic Park
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Lennon happy enough with Celtic win
Neil Lennon was far from downbeat despite Celtic's 2-1 home win over HJK Helsinki leaving their Champions League hopes in the balance. More
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Live Commentary
Time:90'- Celtic
- HJK
- 93' Full time in Celtic Park and Celtic will have to be content with a one goal cushion for the return leg in Helsinki. HJK for their part will be happy to have the away goal in the bag.
- 92' McCourt corner punched away by Wallen.
- 92' HJK have a throw high up the pitch for the first time in about 10 minutes, but they lose possession softly.
- 91' Each time Celtic try to attack they are pushed back by a very resilient Helsinki defence. They are playing out the clock now and Celtic will need something special to get through.
- 90' McCourt tries to break free but is flagged offside. A waste of time for Celtic at this stage in the game.
- 90' Three minutes to be added on
- 88' James Forrest drives forward for Celtic but HJK have everyone behind the ball protecting that away goal.
- 86' Gary Hooper replaced with McCourt, and Samaras is replaced by Lustig, as Celtic reorganise and try to get that third goal.
- 86' Chance for Celtic as Scott Brown sees hit shot go inches wide. Corner for Celtic.
- 84' Celtic now by far the stronger side as HJK tire and they are looking to get another goal to give themselves a two goal cushion to take to Helsinki.
- 82' HJK goal scorer Rasmus Schuller will make way for Joel Pohjanpalo when the ball goes dead again.
- 80' Free kick from Celtic sees Brown play in Mulgrew who tried to chip a ball across the penalty spot, but HJK clear. A training ground move, it had the Helsinki defence beaten, but came to nothing.
- 78' Mulgrew on his weaker right foot takes a shot from 20 yards out but fails to hit the target.
- 78' Izaguirre plays a high cross from the left on to the head of Charlie Mulgrew but there's nobody to collect the knock down.
- 76' As the clock ticks down HJK look tired and nervous and probably happy to settle for the 2-1 scoreline. Celtic have other ideas as the continue to use the space on the wings.
- 76' Brown lines up a shot on the edge of the D, but he never connected with it a it bobbles away to the goal keeper's left.
- 74' Change for HJK sees Mika Vayrynen called ashore.
- 74' Forrest raids down the right and pulls a ball back for Stokes. Free out for a high foot.
- 72' Forrest cross in the direction of Stokes and Samaras but the HJK 'keeper collects it.
- 70' Again HJK try the long ball, this time down the right hand side, but Celtic simply watch it run out of play.
70' Yellow card for Samaras for a messy tackle, but possibly for dissent afterwards.- 68' Brown plays in Stokes who in turn tries to play a ball into the danger area, but he has no support and the ball runs out over the line.
- 66' Matthews tries to play in Stokes who looked to have beaten the HJK defence, but the linesman flags for offside.
- 66' Long Free kick from Charlie Mulgrew looks for Samaras, but he is shepherded into the corner as HJK regain possession.
- 64' Celtic making a chance. Anthony Stokes coming in for Kris Commons.
- 63' Izaguirre plays a ball for Kris Commons who flashes a shot past the left hand post of Villie Wallen.
- 62' The Scottish Champions giving the Helsinki defence a torrid time now as they look to reassert control.
60' Charlie Mulgrew connects with a deflection from the HJK keeper to give Celtic the lead for the first time in the game.- 60' Berat Sadik comes on for Juho Makela.
- 60' As we reach the hour mark the sides are level, although HJK Helsinki hold the upper hand with an away goal.
- 58' Long ball right down the centre bounces between Mulgrew and Wanyama who hold off Makela. Forster collects and the build up begins all over again.
- 56' It's like a different game as the two sides attack and counter attack with little respite.
- 54' Samaras picks up the ball on the right wing and drives forward before pulling a low ball back across the box for Gary Hooper to slot home.
- 52' First yellow card of the game goes to Mika Vayrynen.
- 50' Commons through the middle plays it right to Forrest whose shot it palmed away by Wallen.
- 48' There's more energy to the game and Celtic came very close to a swift equaliser.
- 48' Commons hits the bar and the ball bounces off the keepers head and out.
- 47' HJK score after a run down the right from Mannstrom sees him play the ball in to Rasmus Schuller who beats Forster at the second attempt.
- 45' Second half is underway
- 20.40 Celtic would love to score tonight a bring a cushion to Helsinki where they will play HJK on their synthetic pitch next Wednesday night. As the first half progressed the Helsinki side became more comfortable and despite Celtic having plenty of chances, HJK looked to counter attack at every opportunity.
- 45' Half time in Celtic Park and it remains scoreless.
- 45' James Forrest cuts in from the left and on his right foot hits a shot from outside the box. It comes off the defender and HJK clear.
- 45' There will be one minute added at the end of this half. A half which has seen Celtic in control but unable to find the breakthrough.
- 44' Izaguirre plays a through ball to Gary Hooper on the edge of the box, but Hooper takes a fresh air swing at the ball.
- 43' Ball over the top from Helsinki, but a failed back heel gives the ball back to Wanyama who clears.
- 42' James Forrest delivers but it's cleared by Lindstrom.
- 42' Celtic not as sharp as they would like, but they continue to attack. Joe Ledley wins a corner.
- 40' Commons gives away a loose pass to Juho Makela, but Mulgrew recoveres it.
- 38' Commons cross field pass to Izaguirre goes out on the far side of the pitch, is hoofed clear by HJK and ends up back in Celtic posession.
- 37' The crowd are in full voice as the game approaches half time. Still nothing to separate the sides.
- 35' Demba Savage plays a short pass in the middle of the field to Joel Perovuo who has a shot. His shot is tipped around the post by Forster. Lindstrom from the resulting cross heads it over the bar.
- 34' Long ball over the top from HJK but the linesman flags for offside. It's early to resort to the long ball, but Celtic aren't giving the Finns any other choice.
- 33' Sumusalo crossed from the right but Fraser Forster comes to claim.
- 30' Victor Wanyama controlling things at the back and looking to link up with Adam Matthews every time. No luck yet though.
- 28' Kris Commons delivers a free from the right. Samaras rises high but the ball is over his head and the linesman has flagged for offside.
- 27' Scott Browne on the ball in the HJK penalty box. He turns on the ball and goes down. The crowd roar for a penalty but again, the referee doesn't want to hear it.
- 27' HJK clear from the free kick and it's all getting a bit crowded around the centre.
- 26' Free to Celtic on the right hand side.
- 26' HJK get forward on the left through Sumusalo but the cross bounces through the box and out the other side.
- 24 Corner cleared. Savage tries to get the ball back in the box, but he ran it over the end line. Helsinki waking up to this challenge now.
- 23' Demba Savage finds himself with space in the box, but Celtic clear. Corner HJK.
- 22' Throw in to Helsinki on the Celtic right comes to nothing but the Finns hold possession in their own half.
- 21' Wanyama knocks the ball down for Joe Ledley but his shot is saved.
- 20' Scott Brown fouled in the middle of the pitch by Mika Vayrynen. Kris Commons takes but Celtic are pushed back again.
- 19' Helsinki move the ball down the Celtic right, but the Bhoy's defence are more than capable of dealing with the threat.
- 18' Corner results in a free to Helsinki after Joe Ledley raises his boot.
- 17' Samaras fancies his chances himself and runs into the box, before running out of steam. Corner Celtic.
- 16' Samaras tries a cross from the left, but Helsinki 'keeper Ville Wallen comes to claim.
- 15' Forrest again down the right pulls it back across the penalty spot. Joe Ledley mishits it and it goes left and wide.
- 14' Samaras cross from the left. James Forrest rises above the defender but heads it just wide of the right hand post. He protests with the referee about a hand on his back, but the man in black is not interested.
- 13' Makela has 7 goals in 12 starts for the Finnish side so could be a danger on the break.
- 11' Ball over the top for Helsinki striker Juho Makela, but he's stopped by Victor Wanyama. Goal kick is the result.
- 11' Commons floats it in, but it's cleared. Celtic still in possession and building again.
- 10' Celtic have a corner again on the right hand side.
- 9' Good start by Celtic. Most of the play coming down the right.
- 8' Helsinki looking a bit more lively but not able to get through the Celtic back four just yet.
- 6' Free kick to Celtic for foul on Commons. Played in towards Samaras but it comes to nothing.
- 5' Helsinki look to counter attack but Forster is awake and cleans up easily giving Celtic back the possession.
- 4' James Forrest runs inside but he's cut off by Helsinki.
- 3' Celtic have plenty of space on the right and Commons and Matthews are causing problems for the Helsinki defence,
- 2' Good delivery from Commons but it comes to nothing.
- 2' A corner from Celtic following a Forrest cross.
- 1' Staright from the off Hooper finds himself in space behind the defence and hits his shot into the side netting. A lively start.
- 19.40 HJK Helsinki arrive in Glasgow having played 19 games of their 33 game domestic season. Currently lying second in the league, their previous Champions League outings resulted in a 9-1 aggregate win over KR Reykjavic. Celtic don't begin their own league campaign until Saturday so this match is effectively the start of their competitive campaign.
- 19.35 Celtic line out 4-4-1-1 as follows Forster; Matthews, Wanyama, Mulgrew, Izaguirre; Forrest, Brown, Ledley, Samaras; Commons; Hooper, with Zaluska, Stokes, McCourt, Kayal, Lustig, Rogne and Twardzik on the bench.
- 19.30 Celtic will host HJK Helsinki in this third qualifying round tie of the Champions League, boosted by the news that Kris Commons has overcome an ankle injury which he picked up during Saturday's draw with Italian giants Inter Milan.
- - Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Celtic's Champions League fixture.
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Summary
- 60' Charlie Mulgrew connects with a deflection from the HJK keeper to give Celtic the lead for the first time in the game.
- 54' Samaras picks up the ball on the right wing and drives forward before pulling a low ball back across the box for Gary Hooper to slot home.
- 47' HJK score after a run down the right from Mannstrom sees him play the ball in to Rasmus Schuller who beats Forster at the second attempt.
Team Line-up & Ratings
CelticManager: Neil Lennon
HJKManager: Antti Muurinen
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Line-up
Live Team Line-Up
Starting line-up
- F. Forster
- A. Matthews
- V. Wanyama
- C. Mulgrew
- E. Izaguirre
- J. Ledley
- S. Brown
- K. Commons
- G. Samaras
- G. Hooper
- J. Forrest
Subs
- P. McCourt
87′ - B. Kayal
- A. Stokes 65′
- M. Lustig 87′
- L. Zaluska
- T. Rogne
- F. Twardzik
Starting line-up
- V. Wallén
- M. Lindström
- T. Lahti
- R. Schüller
- J. Perovuo
- S. Mannström
- D. Savage
- S. Sorsa
- M. Sumusalo
- M. Väyrynen
- J. Mäkelä
Subs
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Rate Players
well done Scotlands representatives, keep the Saltire flying, a Saltire defaced with a rangers badge is no Saltire at all.
geo murphy. do you really think that performance was good enough for a celtic team in the champions league qualifier? being a celtic supporter doesn't mean that i cant criticise if theyre playing shyte and tonight they played shyte. no excuses. celtic should have enough quality to bury teams like this and they were very very lucky tonight. they were tactically miles off. this was not good enough by any measure. first rule of european football is don't concede a goal at home. celtic were poor tonight Geo and if you think that was a good performance, better get to specsavers before the return match.
BIG JOCK KNEW ............. HOW TO WIN THE EUROPEAN CUP!!!
Hail Hail .... a win for the Mighty Glasgow Celtic!!! Hoops he did it again Hooper! a good performance overall from Neil Lennon's men!! Hail Hail Lenny, considering the lack of games,with the season not kicked off yet the Team looked fairly solid :-0) Wanyama is a fab player!! .... can't wait for the return fixture! a win for the Mighty Glasgow Celtic looks on the cards in Finland! For the mankies who looked in ................... watching a REAL football team playing!! let us show you how it is done!! Hail Hail
Well-done BHOYS..............Glasgow's Green and White
well done from Rab the new bear
#115 You n' Bruce don't support Celtic . . aye right. Why are ye on this site then. Pair o' #$%$ !
My My the HUNS are hurting tonight, ha ha ha ha, well done the BHOYS of the PREMIER LEAGUE.
Tommy, better them (who have won two FIFA awards for the conduct of their fans) than the Huns (who have won the hatred of various cities they've smashed up when visiting) TBH...
I wish all the Huns would get a life and stop worring about Celtic's games, you are in Division 3 and are not in Europe this season so just get over it. And before anyone asks no I do not support Celtic.
Steven ya fool Barca qualify automatically unlike the great unwashed :))
Fail Fail... Liewells on your tail.... Gies yer cash... Cause we are trash... Champions League by Default... Over and oot timmy Bhoys.... No doubt the Refs fault again :))))
jealousy is a horrible thing,they really have sunk to new depths oh dear oh dear, you lot really are the worst
#111 Tony . . . 'Get off' is spelled with two F's No potatoes and no education . . . TIT !
Over and out for Septic :))))
good to be playing top teams.Brechin wish the same..
@108 you would know if you supported an SPL side.
Well done Celtic.
2-1 at home isn't ideal but at this stage in the season isn't a disaster. Can I just urge true Celtic supporters to not even reply to comments made on this site as the 'Mankey Mob' are 3 divisions down from us and European football is a long way off for them. Hail Hail!
