Solskjaer strike wins it for United
The Norwegian's injuries seem a distant memory
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Wednesday, 13, Sep 2006 10:03
A goal in the opening minute of the second half by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer handed Manchester United a 3-2 home victory against Celtic in a memorable Champions League clash.
The veteran Norwegian, now well and truly back from his long-term injury layoff, pounced to give his side the lead for a second time after two Louis Saha strikes had been sandwiched by goals from Celtic's Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Shunsuke Nakamura.
The men from Old Trafford sprang into action early on, playing with purpose and vigour - and Saha might have put them ahead after seven minutes when he headed a good cross from Gary Neville just past the far post.
United continued to press, and Saha had another chance ten minutes later when he crashed a volley inches over Artur Boruc's crossbar as a hanging ball dropped invitingly to him on the edge of the area.
Stunningly, Celtic went ahead with their first real chance of the game, instantly allaying pre-match predictions that they were facing a drubbing. Dutch star Vennegoor of Hesselink capitalised upon Rio Ferdinand's inability to deal with a long Boruc clearance and proceeded to finish clinically past countryman Edwin Van der Sar.
Polish keeper Boruc was behind United's equaliser just nine minutes later, felling Ryan Giggs on the right of his area as the mercurial Welshman danced clear. Saha restored parity from the spot, but United's joy was tempered slightly by an apparent hamstring injury that Giggs sustained when being fouled, leading to his being replaced by Solskjaer.
Alex Ferguson's men were undeterred, though, and gained the lead for the first time after 39 minutes. The ubiquitous Saha was in the right place again to squeeze the ball over Boruc after Paul Scholes had capitalised on some loose Celtic passing to play him in.
Just as it seemed that United might ease clear, Celtic conjured a magical equaliser as half time approached. Japanese maestro Nakamura has long been one to watch out for from long range, and he justified his reputation with an arcing free-kick from 25 yards which gave Van der Sar no chance.
Only 58 seconds of the second half had elapsed when United took the lead again. Saha, again released by Scholes after sloppy Celtic play, saw his shot parried by Boruc into the path of Solskjaer, who scored his first European goal since his two-year injury nightmare.
Gordon Strachan's Glaswegian outfit strove to find a swift way back, forcing several corners, but Saha came close to netting his hat-trick in the 63rd minute, seeing his personal duel with Boruc continue as the keeper beat away his header from Darren Fletcher's inviting cross.
Eight minutes later the relatively quiet Wayne Rooney might have put things beyond doubt, but once again Boruc - on top form despite a disappointing World Cup playing for his country - came to the rescue with an excellent save as the England striker bore down on goal.
As time began to run out for Celtic it was Boruc to the rescue yet again, saving veteran defender Paul Telfer from embarrassment by turning his misdirected header onto the post and keeping his side in with a shout.
Former Everton star Thomas Gravesen saw an effort tipped round the post in his side's most threatening foray of the half, but Celtic were unable to make anything of the final stages of the game and Ferguson's men wound up with an ultimately deserved victory in what was, nevertheless, a close-run Battle of Britain encounter.