Tuesday October 2, 2012 Group Stage: Group G Finished Luzhniki

Spartak Moscow 2 - 3 Celtic

  • Emenike 41’, 48’
  • Hooper 12’
  • Kombarov 71’ (o.g.)
  • Samaras 90’

125 comments | Write your comment

  1. Last-minute Samaras ends Celtic's European misery

    Last-minute Samaras ends Celtic's European misery

    Georgios Samaras headed home a dramatic winner as Celtic's 3-2 win at Spartak Moscow ended a 26-year wait for a Champions League away win. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Spartak Moscow
    • Celtic
    • - Thanks for joining me for this dramatic early Champions League kick-off - want to discuss the result outside of my office hours? Hit me up on
    • 90+5' It's over! Celtic have found a remedy for their travel sickness and once again in Moscow they've pulled off a big result! The Bhoys win 3-2 against Spartak in their first away win in the competition since 1986.
    • 90+4' Forrest has zipped in past two red shirts and may be able to put this beyond doubt! He cuts the ball back from the byline near the far post but Makeyev beats Hooper to it and clears.
    • 90+3' Samaras concedes a free-kick on the halfway line to slow the game down and the hosts waste possession straight away from the desperate set-piece.
    • 90+2' Spartak send a ball into the Celtic box and Emenike is there! Terrific last-ditch defending to outnumber the striker and deny a hat-trick!
    • 90+1' We will have five minutes of stoppage time. Can Celtic hang on?
    • 90' GOAL! SAMARAS HAS PUT CELTIC AHEAD! Lovely guided header to convert Izaguirre's cross! 2-3!!!!!
    • 88' Commons flicks the ball into Hooper's path and the striker's deflected shot is held by Pesiakov.
    • 87' Spartak's final sub does see Ari leave the action despite shaking off the worst of his niggle. His replacement is Aleksandr Kozlov.
    • 86' Forrest overhits a through pass intended for Hooper and the keeper again claims.
    • 85' Commons' corner is headed at goal by Ambrose but again Pesiakov denies the visitors, catching the attempt.
    • 84' Ledley from distance! Rasping 30-yard drive tipped over the bar by Pesiakov!
    • 83' Another good piece of work from Forrest on the right culminates with a floated cross which Hooper cannot get to before Bryzgalov.
    • 82' Both sides have had nine attacks apiece so far as we enter the dying embers, with Spartak still ahead in possession but only with 52% now.
    • 81' Ari, looking a little more spritely now, climbs on Izaguirre to end a now-rare home attack.
    • 80' Joe Ledley comes on for his Champions League debut. Mulgrew the man coming off.
    • 79' Handy ball from the left by Kombarov but Wilson takes it away from the hat-trick-seeking Emenike and allows Forster to catch the defensive header.
    • 78' Ari is the odds-on choice to be Spartak's third and final sub. He has been favouring his hamstring for the last few minutes.
    • 77' It's a good driven delivery but no black shirts are able to get a touch and prevent it leaving the danger zone as quickly as it arrived.
    • 76' McGeady's game against his old employers is over as he makes way for Artem Dzyuba before we get the latest flag kick.
    • 75' Samaras skips past one and wins a corner off the second. 8-4 now the count as Celtic catch up with these pressure set pieces.
    • 74' Forrest is causing mayhem for the hosts already. He makes space for himself on the right and sets up a Hooper cross which Pareja lunges to put behind for a corner inside the six yard box!
    • 73' Pasiakov comes out of his goal to stop Hooper pouncing on a long ball.
    • 72' Celtic are looking to stop a run of 11 straight away defeats in this competition, which would level the record set by... Spartak Moscow.
    • 71' The corner is cleared but Celtic keep on the attack and Mulgrew's low cross from the left is dummied by Samaras, held by Hooper eight yards out under pressure and teed off to FORREST! First touch and he's put the Bhoys back on level terms!! 2-2
    • 70' And as Izaguirre wins the visitors another corner, James Forrest is brought on at the expense of the booked Wanyama in their first switch of the match.
    • 69' It's now Celtic's turn to hold the ball for extended periods without steering too close to the 18-yard box. They need something to salvage this, though...
    • 68' Still 22 minutes plus all that stoppage time to come, Celtic fans... does the red card for Insaurralde give you hope for a leveller?
    • 67' Mulgrew to strike from 20 yards... parried by Pesiakov! Spartak get it away!
    • 66' There has been four minutes since the foul so expect a fair chunk of stoppage time, by the way...
    • 65' They will, and De Zeeuw, the Dutch midfielder who got the assist on Spartak's second, makes way for teenager Sergey Bryzgalov.
    • 64' Emery is preparing a substitution to get another defender on the pitch, but it remains to be seen if they'll squeeze it in before the free-kick.
    • 63' Wait a second. The assistant has chipped in and the official changes his call. It's a Celtic free-kick and Insaurralde is off! Last man, straight red.
    • 62' Hooper squeezes past the Spartak back line to latch onto Samaras' excellent through pass and is brought down clean through! That's got to be a red card? The referee says no foul! Wow.
    • 60' Samaras has space to stride forward but loses out to Makeyev on the edge of the box.
    • 59' Mulgrew sends it into a packed box and Ambrose heads it over the bar.
    • 58' Insaurralde catches Samaras accidentally with an arm to the face and the Bhoys have a free-kick 35 yards out on the right.
    • 57' Actually, no foul was given. Should have been though. A drop ball is the call from the ref and Spartak sportingly send it back to Forster.
    • 56' Commons is on the pitch in agony after a foul from Kallstrom.
    • 55' Samaras has a low cross from the left cleared after Brown's decent lay-off. The captain is advancing forward a lot more since the third goal.
    • 54' Mis-hit cross from Kombarov goes out for a Celtic goal kick.
    • 53' Offside against Brown as a long ball comes over the top.
    • 52' Good slowing down of the tempo now from the hosts as they look to suffocate Celtic's spirit.
    • 50' As far as timing of goals goes, this turnaround is a big kick in the teeth for Neil Lennon's side and it's going to take a rare away super-performance to get three points now.
    • 49' Ari cuts inside from the left and scuffs a long shot wide of the far post.
    • 48' Max's prediction is already out of the window as Emenike has his second and Spartak lead! Ari's 20-yard drive is spilled by Forster and de Zeeuw squares the loose ball for another easy finish for the striker. 2-1!
    • 47' Max Bendle @maxbendle is optimistic for Celtic's chances of moving back ahead: "well 1-1 good commentary but I think Hooper will get 1, Samaras will get 1 and McGeady so 3-2 Celtic. I use this every game"
    • 46' Celtic get us back underway for the second period.
    • 45+2' Half-time, 1-1. Celtic looked to be successfully catching Spartak out and led through Hooper's latest goal but Emenike with the equaliser before the interval courtesy of some great direct attacking play. Who are you backing for the full-time result?
    • 45+1' Corner number eight for Spartak and a better delivery from Kallstrom from the flag but it's dealt with until the Swede concedes a free-kick for climbing.
    • 45' Just the one minute of added time at the end of the half.
    • 44' Tails up and with the crowd extremely vocal, Spartak look for a turnaround before the break but let the ball run out for a defensive throw.
    • 42' Celtic attack from the restart and Mulgrew crosses for Hooper! Shot is deflected behind for Celtic's first corner!
    • 41' GOAL! Spartak level and it's finally a golden chance for Emenike courtesy of Ari's square pass for the tap-in. Kallstrom set it into motion with a lovely raking pass into the danger zone. 1-1.
    • 40' It's 20 yards out just left of centre and Pareja looks for the top corner - great parry by Forster! Yet another Spartak corner now, their seventh. Still none for Celtic.
    • 39' Dangerous free-kick for Spartak now as Ambrose fouls Emenike. The two have to be separated by team-mates before the situation calms down.
    • 38' Driven loft delivery and Samaras gets a head to it, but Pesiakov in goal has it covered and catches.
    • 37' Cheap free-kick given away by Insaurralde 35 yards out as Hooper makes a presence.
    • 36' Mulgrew has a dig from 25 after Samaras wins an aerial challenge but he shoots yards over the crossbar.
    • 35' Carioca's ball from the right is headed off-target by Emenike, who hasn't had much joy thus far and it shows in his body language.
    • 34' It's not Mulgrew's best delivery and safely headed away by Makeyev.
    • 33' Now Pareja guilty of catching Mulgrew and the man himself will deliver the free-kick from the left wing into the box.
    • 32' Hooper's through pass to Commons inside on the right is telegraphed and intercepted.
    • 31' The set piece is whipped into the box but Ari cannot connect with a header. Goal kick.
    • 30' De Zeeuw has space to push down the centre but is tripped from behind by Wanyama and that's an obvious yellow card.
    • 29' McGeady is robbed of possession by Mulgrew, but the Scot is soon swarmed by the back line.
    • 27' Kombarov with a quality delivery of his own but the header from Eminike is glancing at best and the ball isn't guided any further towards goal.
    • 26' The game beginning to open up now as Lustig has another decent ball, this time a traditional cross from the right, headed out of danger.
    • 25' Corner number six for Spartak up the other end. Once again, it comes to nothing.
    • 24' Another Hoops counter and Izaguirre feeds Samaras on the left and the Greek forward's ball is perfect for Hooper to head in! But it won't be his second goal. The flag was up.
    • 23' Excellent stand-up defending from Wilson to deny Emenike a chance at goal as the striker pounces on a long ball into the box.
    • 22' First booking of the match goes to Celtic's Charlie Mulgrew. A silly one to concede as he clatters Makeyev on the wing.
    • 21' Celtic pounce again with another break from out of nowhere but Commons is dispossessed excellently by Insaurralde just as he enters the penalty area.
    • 20' A speculative McGeady 25-yarder comes off Wilson and goes out for corner number five for the home side. Kallstrom again goes short but again they are unable to take it forward.
    • 19' A Spartak free-kick just inside the Celtic half is lofted into the danger zone sparking a bit of a scramble, but Izaguirre gets it away eventually.
    • 18' Kallstrom's delivery is headed safely wide of the far post by Pareja.
    • 17' Spartak win another corner, their fourth to Celtic's none.
    • 16' Can Celtic hold onto this lead? Let me know on Twitter!
    • 15' Unfortunately for those fans, the players are a little taken aback by that and have mis-placed three short passes since the restart already.
    • 14' The home fans making a lot of noise now trying to urge their side on to make amends.
    • 13' Credit due to Wanyama who won possession as Spartak dawdled on the ball and set Lustig free on the wing. The hosts were not prepared at all for that having controlled the play for the early stages.
    • 12' GOAL! One meaningful attack and Celtic have made it count! Gary Hooper with the finish to a quality low Lustig ball from the right. 0-1!
    • 11' Forster makes a good take of Kombarov's delivery from the left.
    • 10' A rare attempt at a counter from the men in black is quickly snuffed out.
    • 8' Moscow continue to dominate possession, however. Celtic having to stick to their duties and keep them out of their final third.
    • 7' French referee Tony Chapron has a quiet word with Kallstrom for a foul on Brown in the middle of the park.
    • 6' Good defending by Ambrose to neutralise another attempted Spartak advance.
    • 5' Celtic are in their all-black change strip with the hosts in their regulation red tops and white shorts.
    • 4' The second McGeady delivery is headed clear and Kallstrom's attempted follow-up cross is closed down. Forster soon takes his first goal kick of the match.
    • 3' Kombarov's cross from the left is headed behind by Ambrose for another Spartak corner which former Celtic man McGeady takes, but Mulgrew heads clear. Ari with a good early ball from the right and again the visitors put it behind. Three corners in as many minutes for the home team.
    • 2' Ari makes a very early nuisance of himself and wins the hosts the game's first corner. It's taken short by Kallstrom but possession is squandered by the time they attempt to penetrate the Celtic box.
    • 1' The home side kick off the first half and we are underway!
    • 17:00 The players have made their way out onto the pitch and kick-off is but moments away. Remember, you can get involved in this commentary by following me on Twitter and tweeting your predictions and thoughts during the entire 90 minutes.
    • 16:55 Celtic have failed to score in five of their last eight Champions League matches. Spartak scored with both of their shots on target against Barcelona on matchday one.
    • 16:50 Celtic captain Scott Brown is the only survivor from the side which also visited Spartak for the 1-1 draw in a CL play-off match five years ago.
    • 16:45 Spartak have won just one of the last 14 Champions League home games (W1 D5 L8). Celtic have won just one of their last 10 Champions League matches (W1 D3 L6).
    • 16:40 Celtic were the only team in the Champions League who didn’t manage a single shot on target on the opening matchday.
    • 16:35 Today's match odds are... Spartak 1/2, Celtic 11/2, Draw 16/5.
    • 16:30 One possible intangible factor to tonight's group stage fixture is how the visitors cope with the Luzhniki's artificial pitch surface. Lennon, however, is not fazed by the playing surface. Article
    • 16:25 Celtic boss Neil Lennon on former Hoop Aiden McGeady: "Aiden is a tremendous player, very talented and definitely one to watch tomorrow and I'm sure he will be even more motivated than usual against his old club. He was a great servant to Celtic and is still held in high esteem at the club. He has improved since his days at Celtic. In the games I have watched Spartak play, Aiden has probably been their best attacking player. He looks in good condition."
    • 16:20 Spartak manager Unai Emery: “Celtic’s history compels you to respect that team. They won the European Cup in 1967, beating Inter. They are a team only used to winning and display a very intense and aggressive style in the process. They instill that style into the young players in the team. We should be ready for that.”
    • 16:15 TEAMS - Spartak Moscow: Pesyakov, Insaurralde, Pareja, Makeev, Carioca, McGeady, De Zeeuw, Kallstrom, Kombarov, Ari, Emenike.Subs: Rebrov, Bilyaletdinov, Bryzgalov, Dziuba, K. Kombarov, Yakovlev, Kozlov. /// Celtic: Forster; Lustig, Wilson, Ambrose, Izaguirre; Commons, Brown, Wanyama, Mulgrew; Samaras, Hooper. Subs: Zaluska, Miku, Ledley, Watt, Rogne, Kayal, Forrest.
    • 16:10 You can have your say below in our comments section or, if you’re on Twitter, send your messages and predictions over to @liamhappe – some of them may even get a publish…
    • 16:05 Full teams will come shortly, but we do know Spartak will be without first-choice goalkeeper Andriy Dykan, who is out for a month with a shoulder injury. The Muscovites already have several key players out with injuries, including captain Sergei Parshivlyuk, Brazil international midfielder Romulo and leading striker Welliton. Read more
    • 16:00 Good evening and welcome to Eurosport’s LIVE Champions League matchcast as Celtic travel to Spartak Moscow in an early kick-off Group G fixture.

  • Summary

    • 90+2' Spartak send a ball into the Celtic box and Emenike is there! Terrific last-ditch defending to outnumber the striker and deny a hat-trick!
    • 90' GOAL! SAMARAS HAS PUT CELTIC AHEAD! Lovely guided header to convert Izaguirre's cross! 2-3!!!!!
    • 84' Ledley from distance! Rasping 30-yard drive tipped over the bar by Pesiakov!
    • 74' Forrest is causing mayhem for the hosts already. He makes space for himself on the right and sets up a Hooper cross which Pareja lunges to put behind for a corner inside the six yard box!
    • 71' The corner is cleared but Celtic keep on the attack and Mulgrew's low cross from the left is dummied by Samaras, held by Hooper eight yards out under pressure and teed off to FORREST! First touch and he's put the Bhoys back on level terms!! 2-2
    • 67' Mulgrew to strike from 20 yards... parried by Pesiakov! Spartak get it away!
    • 63' Wait a second. The assistant has chipped in and the official changes his call. It's a Celtic free-kick and Insaurralde is off! Last man, straight red.
    • 62' Hooper squeezes past the Spartak back line to latch onto Samaras' excellent through pass and is brought down clean through! That's got to be a red card? The referee says no foul! Wow.
    • 48' Max's prediction is already out of the window as Emenike has his second and Spartak lead! Ari's 20-yard drive is spilled by Forster and de Zeeuw squares the loose ball for another easy finish for the striker. 2-1!
    • 42' Celtic attack from the restart and Mulgrew crosses for Hooper! Shot is deflected behind for Celtic's first corner!
    • 41' GOAL! Spartak level and it's finally a golden chance for Emenike courtesy of Ari's square pass for the tap-in. Kallstrom set it into motion with a lovely raking pass into the danger zone. 1-1.
    • 40' It's 20 yards out just left of centre and Pareja looks for the top corner - great parry by Forster! Yet another Spartak corner now, their seventh. Still none for Celtic.
    • 24' Another Hoops counter and Izaguirre feeds Samaras on the left and the Greek forward's ball is perfect for Hooper to head in! But it won't be his second goal. The flag was up.
    • 21' Celtic pounce again with another break from out of nowhere but Commons is dispossessed excellently by Insaurralde just as he enters the penalty area.
    • 12' GOAL! One meaningful attack and Celtic have made it count! Gary Hooper with the finish to a quality low Lustig ball from the right. 0-1!
    • 16:15 TEAMS - Spartak Moscow: Pesyakov, Insaurralde, Pareja, Makeev, Carioca, McGeady, De Zeeuw, Kallstrom, Kombarov, Ari, Emenike.Subs: Rebrov, Bilyaletdinov, Bryzgalov, Dziuba, K. Kombarov, Yakovlev, Kozlov. /// Celtic: Forster; Lustig, Wilson, Ambrose, Izaguirre; Commons, Brown, Wanyama, Mulgrew; Samaras, Hooper. Subs: Zaluska, Miku, Ledley, Watt, Rogne, Kayal, Forrest.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Spartak Moscow

    Manager: Unai Emery

  • Celtic

    Manager: Neil Lennon

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.2 7
      Defenders
      4.6 5
      Red Card 4.1 6
      5.4 6
      Own Goal 5.5 7
      Midfielders
      5.9 5
      6.2 7
      Substitution Out66′ 5.8 6
      Strikers
      Substitution Out87′ 6.5 7
      Substitution Out76′ 6.6 5
      Goals ×2 7.2 8
      Subs
      Substitution In76′ 5.2 5
      Substitution In66′ 5.8 6
      Substitution In87′ 3.8 -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      5.9 7
      Defenders
      6.5 7
      5.5 6
      Yellow Card Substitution Out70′ 6.1 6
      7 7
      Midfielders
      6 7
      6 6
      5.4 7
      Yellow Card Substitution Out80′ 5.8 7
      Strikers
      Goal 6.9 7
      Goal 7.2 9
      Subs
      Substitution In80′ 7.4 6
      Substitution In70′ 7.3 7

Comment 105 - 125 of 125

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  1. It has been a long time coming - when Ian Crocker (or­ was it Davey?) said the last away victory in this­ competition was against Shamrock Rovers in '86, I was­ gob-smacked. It's been painful to watch, as the guy­ in comment #131 said, the Juve match was just gutting,­ cheating Italian swine. You know, I wouldn't bet­ against us taking something from the Camp Nou,­ either!?! There were some fine performances and­ Hoop-er is so hot at the minute, I doubt he'll be in­ the SPL next season. But for me - talk about leading by­ example; Scott Brown is just the dog's #$%$. Captain­ f'ing Marvel, or what?

    From Zebedeerox, on Wed 3 Oct 22:13

  2. Celtic are the greatest football club in the world, ­ celtic are more than just a football club, no amount­ of money can buy what celtic are The celtic family are­ all over the world, and we know our history, god bless­ us one and all

    From David Sharpe, on Wed 3 Oct 10:00

  3. But spartak came away with no points!

    From Alistair, on Wed 3 Oct 1:55

  4. the next game will be a home game in Europe and a bet­ youthey do not have as big a audinence as the third div­ team

    From Alistair, on Wed 3 Oct 1:54

  5. were worrying about not losing the last three away­ games and it has taken tivc 26years to win an away game

    From Alistair, on Wed 3 Oct 1:52

  6. terry k...why don't you curl up and fade away, #$%$­ halfwit!

    From James Mcghee, on Wed 3 Oct 0:45
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    hoopers a DISGRACEgetting there man sent off with a­ customary celtic dive thats the only reason they got a­ lucky result watp , ftp

    From terry k, on Tue 2 Oct 22:30

  8. Celtic always seem to be able to perform better against­ the bigger teams. They're playing against skill,­ and not just muscle, and Celtic can match that style of­ play. SM Nqy Cornwall

    From steve, on Tue 2 Oct 21:49

  9. Celts painting Red Square Green and White tonight

    From none, on Tue 2 Oct 21:42

  10. Why why why.... can the game commentary be heard loud­ and clear on BBC Scotland MW but absolutely nothing on­ the from the BBC radio web site but #$%$ Bryan Burnett­ or Galic stuff?? come on BBC that is just poor service.­ Does my head in ;[ Great Result Thou, ace :) ­ yes samaras :) you may look like a big ugly­ bearded girl but just now and then your an awesome­ fitba player.

    From Berti, on Tue 2 Oct 21:11

  11. Hail hail!

    From Ciaran, on Tue 2 Oct 20:17

  12. Well done Celtic! This is long overdue after some­ heroic away efforts in the CL during the last ten years­ - at Old Trafford (lost 3-2), Juventus (lost 4-3)­ especially.

    From Commentator, on Tue 2 Oct 20:09

  13. Fan Fuckin Tastic! Best team in Scotland proudly­ represents Scotland in Europe. Fk th Hun, c'mon her­ majesty seize castle greyskull

    From sidewaysbomber, on Tue 2 Oct 19:40

  14. GIFRUY hun bawbags.

    From Mad as a cabbage  , on Tue 2 Oct 19:38
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Wow. Neil Lennon must be wondering how his team won. ­ Amazing.

    From Eoghan, on Tue 2 Oct 19:28

  16. Dizzy what claptrap - the Celts were excellent and as­ for championship players, surely you mean champs­ league! Don't forget Spartak were very unlucky to­ come away from Barcelona without any points and that­ tells you all you need to know.....

    From CLOSS, on Tue 2 Oct 19:19

  17. Well done Celtic boys

    From Gus, on Tue 2 Oct 19:16

  18. J

    From david, on Tue 2 Oct 19:16

  19. Doing the Huddle in the Champions League, We're­ doing the Huddle in the Champions League...............

    From 1967, on Tue 2 Oct 19:16

  20. Its just like watching Brazil... Or Annan if yer a­ sevco fan!

    From stevie g, on Tue 2 Oct 19:06
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