Celtic snatch late winner
Strachan's team needs one more good result to qualify
Wednesday, 28, Nov 2007 10:50
Celtic boosted their hopes of a place in the knockout stage of the Champions League after they beat Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 with a last minute goal.
Shakhtar took a shock lead after just four minutes following a defensive error by John Kennedy.
The defender failed to connect properly with a header and nodded it straight to Brandao who smashed the ball past Artur Boruc with aplomb.
Celtic then suffered more misery when Lee Naylor and then Kennedy were forced off the field with injuries.
However Gordon Strachan's men were undeterred and handed themselves a lifeline just before the break when Jiri Jarosik fired home from the edge of the box.
With time running out at the end of the game Aiden McGeady crossed for Massimo Donati who guided the ball into the far corner of the goal.
Elsewhere in Celtic's group AC Milan drew 1-1 with Benfica in Portugal. Andrea Pirlo scored first for the visitors but their lead lasted just five minutes when Maxi Pereira equalised. However the point was enough to confirm Milan's place in the knockout stages of the competition.
In group A Besiktas beat Marseille 2-1 with goals from Rodrigo Tello and Bobo to give themselves a chance of qualifying if they win their final game against Porto.
Real Madrid failed to book a place in the next round after suffering a 3-2 defeat away to Werder Bremen.
The Spanish giants remain top of group C with one round of matches remaining but they are joined on eight points by Olympiakos who beat Lazio 2-1 in Rome.
In Chelsea's group Valencia and Schalke 04 drew 0-0 at the Mestalla, a result which means both teams could still qualify for the knockout stage.