Samaras strikes late to fire Celtic through
Samaras moved to Celtic from Man City in 2008
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Wednesday, 05, Aug 2009 07:24
Substitute Georgios Samaras made history with an injury-time winner that fired Celtic into the final qualifying round for the Champions League, writes inthenews.co.uk's Matt Fortune.
The Bhoys overcame a home first-leg deficit for the first time ever with a 2-0 win over Dinamo Moscow at the Luzhniki Stadium.
Tony Mowbray's troops had trailed 1-0 from last week's opening contest at Celtic Park . Scott McDonald headed home moments before the break to pull the scores level on aggregate before former Manchester City man Samaras sealed progression with a fine solo goal late on. The win also ended a 22-game winless run on the continent for Celtic.
Before kick-off the players were not the only ones with designs on a Champions League spot. The man in the middle, Jonas Eriksson, is newly promoted to the elite squad of referees - the pool from which UEFA chose their officials - and to his credit he performed well in an intimidating atmosphere.
Celtic's only change from the first leg saw recent acquisition Danny Fox make his European debut in place of Lee Naylor. Star man Scott Brown was only deemed fit enough for a place on the bench.
The hosts, too, shuffled their pack as captain Dmitry Khokhlov, who was absent from Celtic Park because of suspension, replaced goalscorer Alexander Kokorin.
And how the latter's teenage exuberance was missed.
A stagnant opening-quarter was punctuated by a sprinkling of half-chances with the sides unsure where the initiative lay. Dinamo were restricted to pot-shots from range and it wasn't until Sean Maloney's 26th-minute surge inside and tame shot that 'keeper Vladimir Gabulov was required to make a save.
Artur Boruc, meanwhile, was equally redundant at the other end.
Even when Glen Loovens felled Aleksander Kerzhakov just outside the box, the wall was suitably well stationed to stop the subsequent free-kick. From then, though, Celtic begun to look dangerous.
Their patient build-up had been pleasing on the eye but, much like a week earlier, it had ultimately brought little reward. In the closing stages of the first half it finally paid dividends.
After a sustained spell of careful probing, Andreas Hinkel found enough space on the corner of the box to flick a looping cross to the far post. It was the best move of the match and McDonald made no mistake in finishing it off.
Dinamo looked for an instant riposte and would have had it were it not for a sound piece of positioning by Hinkel. Moments after playing role of creator, the defender shuffled along his own goal-line before swiping Khokhlov's shot clear with Boruc beaten.
The hosts were going to have to change their ultra-defensive approach after the break. Early signs were that they could do just that.
Seven minutes in Dmitri Kombarov was granted the freedom of the area but could only drill a low effort wide of Boruc's far post. Celtic heeded the warning sign and McDonald soon went close again.
But Dinamo were ever-improving. Fox had a heart-in-mouth moment when he clashed with Kirill Kombarov inside the box. Rightly, though, the referee signalled for a corner. From that more last-ditch defending was needed - Hinkel again to the rescue with Boruc already grounded.
Marc-Antoine Fortune, who had been quiet for the majority, was replaced by Brown and Celtic duly regained the upper-hand. Aiden McGeady tried his best to force the issue with a buccaneering run beyond Brown while Hinkel attempted to prize the door open with a typically measured cross.
Brilliant interchange gave Maloney a sight of goal but after squirming through a challenge he saw his shot well saved. Extra-time now appeared inevitable. Samaras, though, had other ideas.
With 90 minutes on the clock Landry N'Guemo hoofed a high ball back into a crowded penalty area, Samaras controlled smartly on his chest, danced past three challenges and expertly rolled a shot back beyond the reach of a despairing Gabulov. It was a goal worthy of winning any match - a goal that would not have been out of place in the Champions League proper. Celtic will hope, with the monkey of an away win in Europe off their back, that they too will prove worthy of the place this win could bring.
Inthenews.co.uk will bring you details of the draw for the final qualifying round which takes place on Friday.
TEAMS
Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, Loovens, Daniel Fox, McGeady, Donati, N'Guemo, Maloney, McDonald (Samaras 79), Fortune (Brown 69). Subs: Zaluska, Scott Brown, O'Dea, Caddis, Crosas, Killen, Samaras.
Dinamo Moscow: Gabulov, Kowalcyzk, Fernandez (Ropotan 90), Kolodin, Granat, Kirill Kombarov, Khokhlov, Wilkshire, Svezhov (Kokorin 83), Dmitri Kombarov, Kerzhakov. Subs: Shunin, Smolov, Dimidko, Tanasijevic, Ropotan, Denisov, Kokorin.