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
- ...
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- »
New Chinese proverb: “When Charles Green looks you in the eye, he’s looking at the ceiling and looking at the floor.”
celtic_first
10:43 on 25 April, 2013
————————————-
I would have one of them but I notice they don’t do my size-FB
“Malcolm Murray going to try and fire CG in next 15 mins up at Murray Park. If you support CG pls turn up to Murray Park asap to show your support for him.
I’m going now”
This is first post on a thread in Bears Den dated 13/4/13, there was a subsequent thread started by same poster with user name of “IamRangers” alluding to rumours of the Easdale brothers buying up Sevco Shares. Nothing unusual in either you might say. However the speculation is now rife that the said “IamRangers” is none other then Imran Ahmad, the Club’s Commercial Director. If this is true it opens yet another can of worms. Apart from the Commercial Director of a Club using the internet to try & organise a fans rally against the Club Chairman there is also the question of him starting rumours about potential Share purchases which could affect the Share Price.
Celtic_First
it is a nice colour scheme though, you have to admit…..
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 4m
NL on Victor Wanyama: “Never intimated he wants away. Will do all we can to tie him down on longer term contract.” #BeCeltic
Very old Chinese proverb ” Beware of man with googly eyes, because you don’t know if he is eying-up your pies”
Govan Asda
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 1m
NL: “We have offered Gary a contract, it’s not been signed and we are hoping to come again.” #BeCeltic
Neil Lennon says Celtic were interested in Lewandovski when he was at Lech Poznan around three years ago.
Bummer
fc bayern Deutscher Meister as the song goes :)
guten morgen aus bavaria
blue skies and 22c
C1st- have you read ‘Germania’ by Simon Winder?
A real treasure trove of Teutonic tonics.
From MTH twitter.
http://t.co/LkUGogiqfa will recover data from any of your damaged iPhones/iPads , speak to them today 0845 166 4664
From RhebelRhebel
Will Sevco have audited accounts by the 30th April? Any MSM journalists asked the question?
If its Chinese Proverb time, then one from my schooldays,
“He who streaks in the snow, will get flake in the Ass”.
No To Newco 2013 @NoToNewco2013 5m
Should the SFA be Cleansed ? Poll http://wp.me/p3mm9P-3F via @wordpressdotcom
No To Newco 2013 @NoToNewco2013 7m
Petition Publish the Five Way Agreement http://ipt.io/fziu via @ipetitions Over 1,800 sig help us get to 2,500 by tonight #NoToNewco2013
Looks like the SFA are hiding from Alex Thomson :)
There’s only 1 journo in this town and it ain’t no Scottish 1.
Alex Thomson Emglish journo we salute you.
Back in again – re: Bomber Brown
When BB played with Hamilton Accies, I was in the same class as one of BB’s team mates – younger brothers – whose name I’ll not reveal on here.
Anyway the younger bro who I went through school with and, attended a lot of Celtic games with, was with our group one night at CP during – mid to late 70’s when…in those days – you would go to the Jungle and, you could go round to the – Cellic end or, the huns end.
On the night in question – we wnet to the huns end and my mate saw his big brother who played wi Accies and his team mate BB…standing wi – green n white bar /scarf
on. Both of them !!!
I kid you not. The bomber was always seen roon a boot where I lived when I was a wee bhoy and he would always say – “How yeez doin boys ?”
He always came across as a no bad guy and, ye could tell he was gonnae make it as a Footballer.
I’ll tell ye what….If I was a hun(well I’ve been called wan plenty of times on here)….I would want BB to be the manager of the team. A lot of fholk will laugh at that but, what i would say to them would be – remember how everybody wrote off Paul Lambert at Livingston.
Anyway….roll-on the fun :)))
Hail Hail
Off oot.
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 44s
NL: “After the outcome yesterday there is a lot of ill will in the dressing room.” #BeCeltic
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 1m
NL: “But to have no Celtic players in that top group is unbelievable.” #BeCeltic
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 2m
NL: “Are people voting for best player or most improved? Not taking away anything from candidates, all had fine seasons.” #BeCeltic
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 1m
NL: “Very disappointed none of my players have been recognised.” #BeCeltic
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 1m
NL: “For all their efforts in putting Scottish football back on the map in a positive way, it’s a smack in the face.” #BeCeltic
wnet=went
typo
sorry
To add to the list of fine Germans, I suggest Hermann Hesse and Can.
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 2m
NL: “A lot of anger and bewilderment yesterday and I totally understand that.” #BeCeltic
Auld Scottish Proverb –
” He who way pays the paper…………..calls the tune”
;)
Andis Thom and Hinkel.
Old Chinese proverb: “A whispering fat man is not always what he appears to be.”
DBBIA @ 10 54 .
Butting in ——-
Germania —- an enjoyable read ..[ despite there being no Ash Ra Tempel ] . Very good on the horrors of marzipan
National holiday here —–celebrating saying arrivederci to the Germans.
As it is quiet here, I will add the terrific Rainer Werner Fassbinder to the list of Germanic wonders.
Elf Meister in ole German
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHKreFFmyPQ&feature=player_detailpage
Relive the moment – ” Henrick Larsson scooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrreeees”
DBBIA
Sounds good.
…..regarding all things Germanic…….
“Comic” Stan Boardman was thankfully unavailable for comment…….
Ol’ John Patrick McEnroe was born in Germany
Any chance of Motherwell players applauding our team onto the park on Sunday as Champions ?
Nah, I don’t think so either…
DA BOMBER the whistle blower – whodda thunk it !!!!!!
Car crash radio but disappointed with the lack of texts from hurting huns – I think it just might be starting to dawn on them now that one of their own has told them in no uncertain terms WE’RE F@#KED
Watch out for window jumpers while out walking today bhoys
If Blackburn get relegated again we should go for Jordan Rhodes as a replacement if Gary Hooper leaves.The boy would score goals galore up here it might take 5 million to get him but Celtic say they are prepared to spend that for the right player.H.H.
Suarez is working his ticket at Liverpool,the Calimero act is pathetic.
Good Germans ——–
Amon Duul
Ash Ra Tempel
Can
Cluster
Cosmic Jokers
Faust
Floh De Cologne
Harmonia
Kraftwerk
La Dusseldorf
Manuel Gottschung .
Neu
Popol Vu
Tangerine Dream [ early / before they went prog ].
And the lovely chaps at Basic Replay / Rhythm and Sound in Berlin.
Neil Lennon @OfficialNeil 5m
Our fans deserve every one of the rewards the club are offering on season tickets.Thanks again for all your support. BeCeltic