|
By Clive Lindsay
|
 It was a close encounter between Dundee United and Celtic at Hampden
|
Celtic defeated Dundee United on penalty kicks to set up a Co-operative Insurance Cup meeting with Rangers after an enthralling semi-final.
Artur Boruc denied United midfielder Willo Flood, while Lukasz Zaluska saved from Scott Brown in an even first-half.
United dominated after the break, but Celtic's Marc Crosas and Georgios Samaras struck the bar in extra time.
Both sides scored 10 of their 11 penalties, Willo Flood skied his second attempt and Scott McDonald fired home.
It ended a war of attrition on the paddy field that is Hampden to set up an Old Firm final in the Co-operative Insurance Cup.
United manager Craig Levein had shuffled his pack, bringing in Francisco Sandaza and Mihael Kovacevic for Jon Daly and Sean Dillon.
It meant a five-man midfield designed to prevent Celtic charging into the kind of 2-0 lead established in the recent league draw between the sides.
But there were some nervous moments early on in the United defence, with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink scuffing his shot as the ball bobbled about the penalty box.
Willo Flood belied suggestions that he might be unsettled by Celtic's admission that they are considering a transfer bid for the midfielder by weaving into the area and forcing goalkeeper Artur Boruc to tip his low shot past his near post.
A cross-cum-shot from Shunsuke Nakamura was hastily cleared by Warren Feeney after the ball curled across the United six-yard box before Celtic's Japanese midfielder had a volley deflected wide.
Feeney then played Sandaza through with a clever reverse pass, but the Spaniard's weak first-time effort with the outside of the boot was comfortably held by Boruc.
It was Celtic's turn to press and Vennegoor of Hesselink turned Garry Kenneth on the edge of the box but sliced his shot well wide.
Sandaza headed Craig Conway's in-swinging free-kick a yard wide before United found themselves under pressure in the latter stages of the half.
Zaluska, who has signed a pre-contract deal with Celtic, foiled his future employers by pushing away Scott Brown's 20-yard drive.
The United goalkeeper was forced into a fine tip over the crossbar early in the second half after Nakamura whipped in a wicked free-kick that was heading for the far corner of the net.
Glenn Loovens, who had started in place of injured captain Stephen McManus, was given only a yellow card when he halted Feeney, referee Calum Murray decided the defender had not been the last man.
United were starting to dominate possession and Prince Buaben fired a low drive just wide from the edge of the box.
Celtic had claims for penalty waved away when substitute Barry Robson went down under pressure from Morgaro Gomis.
The Glasgow side began to take control before the tie moved into extra time and, after both Georgios Samaras and Nakamura fired efforts into the side netting once play had restarted.
Flood almost broke the deadlock when he sped through the Celtic defence and his shot beat goalkeeper Artur Boruc but also the back post from an acute angle.
And the unmarked Feeney just failed to get his foot to a Craig Conway cross delivered into the six-yard box.
Desperate defending denied Celtic in the closing moments, Kovacevic blocking a Scott McDonald header, a Marc Crosas chip and a Samaras header struck the underside of the crossbar and Kenneth stopping a goalbound effort from Barry Robson.
The scene was set for an incredible shoot-out, with Flood, possibly on his way to Celtic Park, who missed the crucial spot kick.
Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, Loovens, Naylor, Nakamura, Scott Brown, Crosas, McGeady, McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink.
Subs: Mark Brown, Samaras, Robson, Hartley, O'Dea.
Dundee Utd: Zaluska, Dixon, Wilkie, Kenneth, Kovacevic, Flood, Gomis, Buaben, Conway, Feeney, Sandaza.
Subs: McGovern, Dillon, Daly, Swanson, David Robertson.
Referee: C Murray
No comments:
Post a Comment