| Opponent |
Hearts |
| Score |
5-2 |
| Date |
01/11/00 |
| Venue |
Tynecastle |
Celtic illustrated tonight that
they have the strength in depth to handle the most gruelling
of campaigns after coming through a titanic struggle at
Tynecastle to book their place in the semi-final of the CIS
Insurance Cup. The thrilling extra-time victory came minus the
likes of Henrik Larsson and Paul Lambert. And promising
youngsters Stephen Crainey and Jamie Smith produced two great
strikes in normal time before Colin Healy hit the winner.
Late goals from Lubo Moravcik and Jackie McNamara flattered
Celtic but it will be their name that goes into Friday's draw.
Hearts certainly gave manager Jim Jefferies everything he
asked for and more as befitting a team in crisis. Colin
Cameron gave his side the lead and again scored from the spot
to force the extra period.
Jefferies made four changes from the side which lost at home
to St Johnstone and it seemed to have the desired effect.
Striker Andy Kirk was looking lively and he got away down the
left flank in the 11th minute before picking out Scott Severin
in the centre, who could only blaze over the bar.
But Hearts' hopes were dealt a massive blow in the 16th minute
as the game was held up for nearly five minutes when Thomas
Flogel and Gary Locke went up for a header with Crainey and
the two Hearts players came off worse following a clash of
heads.
The pair were both stretchered off as everyone looked on
anxiously and substitutes Juanjo and Robbie Nielson both got
their chance to make amends for their weekend show.
Jonathan Gould's mistake in the Celtic goal almost brought the
first goal on the half hour when he failed to hold Cameron's
shot and he made amends to save Nielson's rebound. Hearts were
giving everything for under-pressure Jefferies and for the
injured duo and in the 36th minute they took the lead from the
penalty spot after Riseth had tripped Juanjo in the box.
Alan Stubbs was then booked for an earlier foul on Kirk and
Thompson was shown the yellow card for dissent and to make
matters worse Cameron stepped up to fire home into the bottom
corner.
Thompson needed to watch himself and just three minutes later
he was lucky not to be shown the red card following a late
challenge on Severin, but the referee took a lenient view.
But Hearts' joy was short-lived as Celtic got back on level
terms as Tommy Johnson cut the ball back from the by-line and
Moravcik stepped over the ball leaving Crainey to fire a low
shot into the bottom corner.
McNamara became the next man in the book in the final moments
of the mark for a challenge on Severin as the sides went in at
the break all-square.
After the restart the home side gave Celtic a warning when
Juanjo blazed just wide from just outside the box. But the
game come to life again in the 52nd minute and Celtic
goalkeeper Gould had to make a brilliant stop to deny Kirk,
who hit a fierce shot that the Scotland star pushed on to the
bar and over.
The game was flowing from end to end and moments later
Moravcik crossed for Smith, but Niemi made a superb save from
point-blank range.
The visitors were furious in the 53rd minute when they should
have had a penalty as Johnson got to the by-line and crossed
for Smith, but the youngster got bundled over by Steven
Pressley.
Niemi then had to get down well to save a testing free-kick
from Thompson - with the game on knife's edge. But Celtic were
in front for the first time on the hour when McNamara played
the ball between Petric and Pressley and Smith took it in his
stride before ramming the ball past Niemi's out-stretched
hand.
Healy was booked for persistent fouling soon after but Hearts
were back on level terms again in the 70th minute and it came
courtesy of another Cameron penalty.
Joos Valgaeren was adjudged to have handled Kirk's cross in
the area and referee Kenny Clark had no hesitation in pointing
to the spot and up stepped Cameron to send Gould the wrong way
again.
Riseth was the next player to be shown the yellow card
following an unnecessary tug on Juanjo's shirt. Celtic should
have gone ahead again in the 77th minute as Thompson's cross
found its way to Moravcik, but not realising the time he had,
he hit it first time and the ball ended up in the crowd.
Johnson was then handed a glorious chance 10 minutes from time
as Thompson seized on Tomaschek's mistake and played the
striker clean through, but he blazed over the bar with Niemi
beaten.
Smith then wasted the chance of his second when Nielson was
dispossessed by Crainey, but they youngster fired straight at
Niemi. Smith was booked for a challenge on Fulton as the game
went into extra time.
Gould was tested in the 98th minute and he responded with a
brilliant stop to deny Kirk's goal-bound effort. But Celtic
responded and were back in front moments later Petta's cross
was headed against the post by Johnson and Healy was on hand
to slot the ball home into the bottom corner.
Petrov, Johnson and Valgaeren all went close to sealing the
victory before Moravcik (116) and McNamara (117), secured
Celtic's place in the last four of the competition.
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