Boavista v Celtic, 24 April 2003, was one of the most frustrating games of football I’ve sat through. Needing to score, for 78 minutes Celtic were moribund; they made not a single attempt on goal. Instead, they did what most teams do away from home, condensed midfield and defended, while Boavista, who would qualify for the Uefa Cup final if the game ended goalless, did much the same.
The goal appeared to take place in slow motion. Henrik Larsson moved forward to the end of the D and tried to pass to John Hartson, but a defender intercepted. Unfortunately for Boavista the ball was returned from the interception to an unmarked Larsson on the edge of the box.
It spun from his preferred right foot onto his left but the shot gently arced inches away from the goalkeeper’s grasp. The goal was a deflection, although we didn’t see it at the time. The keeper was moving his weight from right to left as the ball drifted to his left.
It may have been a turgid game of football decided by a deflection but it was also one of the most intense sporting occasions in our 125 year history. The sheer release of tension when the goal went in was incredible. 15 minutes, and one generous refereeing decision later, Celtic were in a European final.
Since then we have become accustomed to our position as a credible European team but it was very different in season 2002-03. This was the first Christmas Celtic were in Europe since 1979; each milestone along the way, Blackburn Rovers (a far more credible team at the time), Celta Vigo, Stuttgart and Liverpool, was celebrated with something close to astonishment.
The triumphs of this season, qualifying for the Champions League group stage instead of losing to Basel, then progressing to the knock out rounds, are greater than the achievements of April 2003, but they will never feel that way. That game, that season, trophy-less though it was, changed our entire landscape. Nothing would ever be the same again.
[calameo code=000390171e93e6000b08d lang=en page=1 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
1,082 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- »
Blantyretim – know them? I’m fed up looking at them – they are my in-laws.
I’m off to Ballbriggan outside Dublin this Friday with Maureen and her man Chris (and possibly Matt and Bernard) and their sister (my wife) Mrs BGFC – and a whole gang – it is their brother James’ wee girl’s 1st Communion.
Matt’s a great guy – me and him (well, mainly him) built my extension a couple years ago.
Know a few chaps from your neck of the woods.
HH
BGFC
Night folks
Ktf
Maureen sits just along from my oldman atCeltic park.
She will tell you who I am.
SF
O.G.Rafferty
00:47 on
25 April, 201
========================
Oh, that is just splendid!
So there is something about the SFA/SFO (please let it be CO), plus your earlier information that was hinted at the tail end of last week, plus Phil’s hints too.
Even allowing for a large degree of potential overlap with some of these, it is just as well that Paul and the team got the new servers on-line last week.
It really is the best Soap Opera ever. Compulsive viewing.
The only thing I remember being so absorbed in was Roots.
BGFC
blantyretim
00:57 on
25 April, 2013
____________________________
Me and the weans sit just a few rows in front of her – great view of Big George’s goal at the weekend :-)
I’ll see her on Friday, and I’ll get her to introduce me to your dad at the game sometime.
Night mate.
HH
BGFC
Right. Annual one-to-one with the boss-wummin tomorrow, so better get to bed.
Night folks.
BGFC
Enjoy your trip. My nephew received the sacrament if holy communion the day before black Sunday in drogheda.
Watched that match in sargfields with hun in law. ..o(
pabloh_AKA_NEIL LENNON
00:14 on
25 April, 2013
My mate has told me about a meeting tomorrow at Ibrox, not sure what it is about but he did say that it would not be good news for us (huns)
He did say that the rumour is about the money or lack of it .
Is there anybody alive out there…?
Radio Nowhere…
CQNers…
Put Your Lights On…
rrc
Ssshhhhh…..cqn is fast asleep.
I Wish I Was A Lesbian…
Hey, Bro
What kept ya…
Hadta wash my hands.
It could get LOUD…
zimmerman
You’ll know this song
Wicked Messenger…
Yes indeed.
Can you access the links on your phone?
And, what’s the craic?
Rrc
Sti ck on comfutably numb if u have it ti gacd please
rrc,
Some tunes can.be accessed,some can’t…not much craic…stuck on nightshift.
BT… is that your current state?
zim…
Got a dodgy gas installer sent down last week, 4 months.
Big result.
Cue much golden bhoy stuff coming at me
Rrc
Indeed painkilletrf oot ma nut o))
Rrc legally of course
BT
Out here on the perimeter there are no stars.
We are stoned, immaculate…
However, I am sure you are…
Elegantly Wasted… :-)
I bet we all have sat in a traffic queue and wondered what the hold up was.
Then we get alongside the accident on the other carriage way and we slow down to look just as everyone else did.
You know you shouldn’t but you just can’t help yourself.
It’s known as rubbernecking over here.
I’m a bit like that with the train wreck that is Rangers in whatever guise they are currently appearing.
They are stumbling blindly from one crisis to the next, and I can only stand on the side and encourage and cheer each and every scurrilous chapter.
It’s getting to the point where every day sees them dragged further down into the mire and another crook or chancer emerges to add to the mirth and misery.
Mirth for us and misery for them.
So I beg and plead with the SFA, UEFA, SFL and SPL to end this farce and withdraw their license. Bury the corpse for once and for all.
Between split sides, aching jaws and spontaneous outbursts of hilarity my sanity and health is in grave danger.
Well, time for a shower, followed by two rolls and square slice, and a large coffee.
This thread started with a one word post…
I’ll make my final tune…
Californication
After listening to John Brown on the radio I think there will be a few sphincters a quivering inside The Big Hoose later today ……Jabba done up like a kipper….wonder what he will come back with?
Lots of collateral damage about to be inflicted and it will get worse, next stop Hampden…
INCOMMING!!!!
bunburybhoy..I just listened to that. How can they possibly survive? Rotten to the core.
Jonny Russel – Dylan McGeogh
Makay Stevens – Jamesie Forrest
I dont get the excitment by Celtic fans over these two.
If ‘He is a Celtic Man’ is suck a thing BT is a big Celtic man, sign him.
I am looking forward to seeing Dylan in the Kris Commons role. He is wasted on the wing.
.
I Never used to Get.. Celtic fans Failure to get Excited about Big Sammi..
If there is a Bigger Celtic Man (Fraser Foster apart).. I’d like to see Him..
Summa of MonTheBigHoopsCSC
Invercelt 21:06 on 24 April, 2013
TBM,
TY: small world, eh? If you meet, don’t let on that you smoke!………………………
No, DM……….
You’re kidding right????? My Ma knows that I smoke!!!!!
Regards & Hail Hail
TBM
Morning all.
Happy 25th April.
National holiday here in Italy:
1945 – The Nazi occupation army surrenders and leaves Northern Italy after a general partisan insurrection by the Italian resistance movement; the puppet fascist regime dissolves and Benito Mussolini tries to escape. This day is taken as symbolic of the Liberation of Italy.
HH!!
Morning from Pishy Wishy.
Good morning friends from a repetitively wet and grey EK. There’s been some amount of rain here during April.
EN
Send the paperwork to my hospital bed and I’ll sign for Celtic
Exactly 10 years ago this morning I woke up with the hangover from hell.
Was happy but
Don’t know if this posted before. Liked the bit about HOOPY
http://www.scotsman.com/news/tom-english-green-in-the-pink-for-now-1-2908425