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
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 29
- »
On Saturday,whilst many of CQN’s inner sanctum of drouthy cronies are munching curries and quaffing copies amounts of ale in some of Glasgow’s finest food and beer emporiums,no doubt regaling each other with tales of bygone days of their youth, I hope to be relaxing in one of Edinburgh’s more salubrious leisure salons, sharing a glass or two of fine Claret with the urbane and genial tully57.
No doubt the topic of discussion will be the ramifications of the upcoming Referendum on Independence in that part if the world and how it will impact on the Import/ Export business.
However, let’s hope we all have a good time,according to our own limitations.
glassford03
gallacher was always a pussy…. 0))
LiviBhoy
dare we say Generation of Dominance?
Now there’s a good domain name to own!
Well spotted BlantyeTim. JC and the boys were also there though. They manned up for the last ten minutes, unlike Mr G.
glassford03
JC refused to go to a game with me after the cup defeat at ipox from Falkirk
i spent most of the game staring at the ground saying we are out….
I was correct of course….
Wheres BSR when you need him.
Dont know hot to do the link thingy anymore!!
Anyone else know?
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
* how to…..
notthebus
I think we will dominate the league title. The cups are a totally different ball game. Our style of play will always give teams a chance to beat us in a one off game. The cup competitions will become massive for other SPL sides. They have a genuine chance of silverware. For the first time in two decades the silverware has been shared round clubs like it used to be in the past. Celtic are beatable on an off day. We demand a particular style of football and tactics can halt that style of play and beat us in a game at a netral venue. This has been proven recently at Hampden. There is no disgrace in that. We can’t always win. There is always a knee jerk reaction to these losses but if you look at the bigger picture it’s good for the game to see a different name on the trophies from time to time. I am like everyone else. Once we are beaten I don’t really care whose name goes on the trophy because it’s not ours but it has been refreshing to see other teams have some success.
LB
TTT
………me too………
……altho’ probably best I’m kept in the dark………..
BT,
that just coz your a moaning faced auld bassa, nothing to do with how the game was going…..
;-)
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
I was working in the middle east in 2003 and proudly watched celtic progress round by round
While in the gym I watched CNN give the top team rated teams in the world and MONs Celtic made it to number 9. Fantastic. I knew we were something special.
Before we beat Liverpool I had noticed that tickets for the final were on sale (ostensibly for neutrals based in Spain) I knew that if Celtic made it to the final then Glasgow would face the biggest ticket rush ever seen and if I was not in Glasgow I had no chance of getting one. So I bought two tickets for the final, just in case and wait and see how we do against the English. We done good. So onwards to the semi final.
Well, when the great man himself, scored against boavista, I was in the Irish Village in Dubai jumping around with the other ecstatic celtic men, but I had one extra reason to be happy, because I had already secured a ticket for the final. But did anyone else notice how long the last 10 minutes or so took to finish the game? A lifetime if it was a minute!
I headed out from the middle east, days before the final and travelled via London where I saw hundreds of Celtic fans already on the way to Seville around heathrow even though it was still a couple of days away.
I made my way up to Glasgow and finally met with the Supporters bus guys and we travelled out to Seville. We all know what happened, proud but broken hearted.
I stayed on for the last league game of the season but Dunfermline lost six at Ibrox and disappointment set in. A long way back to middle east again but we would do it all again at the drop of a hat.
It kinda even made travelling to wales by black hack to see us play Inter Cabletel worthwhile.
TTT
just about mate.. o))
bankiebhoy,
used to know but since it went new “style” a while back ive never took the time to ask/learn!
BTW hows things over in the Ole Rebel County?
Hope you well?
Oh and say HAIL! HAIL! to the big bro of yours not seen or spoken to him for a good while.
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Anybody,
Find me,
A zombie too-oo love…
http://www.onfieldsofgreen.com/?p=692
The latest crisis at Sevconia leaves the SFA no place to hide.
This one can’t be handled “in-house.”
Steinreignedsupreme
14:22 on 24 April, 2013
I remember the goal celebration, I always thought Chris Sutton was telling the team to, “Work, work, work, work.”
I see ra Bombur is on Shortbread tonight with Tam English.
Maybe the Zombie McIntyre could ask ra Bombur if he shared his concerns about Charlatan with Ally Absolutely and Nosuname.
Watched Boavista game in O’Learys Rutherglen,had to go outside at full time furra wee greet.Then the panic for Final tickets went nuclear….
0-0 at half time for the U20s. A win is enough for the title. Come on Celtic.
Steinreignedsupreme
I always thought the Evil Genius was saying “whoa, whoa, whoa” during those celebrations. Kinda telling the rest of the team to waste as much time celebrating as possible!
cadizzy
Love the analogy with the ball-boys – hilarious. Cheating gets got what they deserved!
CM
i live in england and its true..that game against boavista barely registered with the english press [despite us easily despatching 2 english teams en route]….infact i clearly remember the standard of the uefa cup being laughed at especially as that particular game came the same week as a very high scoring man utd v real madrid champions league last 8 match at old trafford…i think.
celt55 14:52 on 24 April, 2013
I remember the goal celebration, I always thought Chris Sutton was telling the team to, “Work, work, work, work.”
——–
It was the days before the ole HD – so anything is possible.
We might need the Zombie Supporters Trust to hire their tried and trusted lip reader to get to the bottom of it all.
But she’ll probably conclude it was Neil Lennon making a sectarian remark.
TTT & bankiebhoy
Go to the page you want to post, highlight the link in your address bar, right click and copy, then right click again in the CQN post box and select paste
16 road @14:25 grandstanding and appealing to base partisanship does not a Celtic player make. Nor does it fool the Celtic support.
On the pitch in Glasgow is where a Celtic player has to do it. Once he has won his place on the training ground.
It’s not so long ago he was drama queening about leaving if he wasn’t picked to play against Rangers. I don’t think he’s good enough for Celtic. His fondness for off field gestures would suggest he shares that view. As does his social life.
Coatbrig-Mick 14:56 on 24 April, 2013
We need the Zombie lip reder right enough…
James Forrest is Neil Lennon! We are ALL Neil Lennon!
14:50 on 24 April, 2013
http://www.onfieldsofgreen.com/?p=692
…………………………………………………..
Surely the Nimmo Smith at Ibrox pic was a PhotoShop?
lazydynamite @14:58 I remember weeks of text pages with Blackburn crowing about how they’d toyed with us up in Glasgow.
Next day the result of the return leg was removed by 11:00hrs, as were all reports.
Steinreignedsupreme
14:58 on 24 April, 2013
You’re right, we better not go there, it’ll cost Neil in the end!
It’s funny how little things about Celtic stick in your mind though after all the years.
Ntassoolla 14:59 on 24 April, 2013…………
Neil Lennon seems to hold a different opinion re……..
tbm
My old man who is Celtic mad was getting ribbed at work about the Hoops and how bad we were in the 90’s by Rangers fans. He turned to the Rangers fans ribbing him and said we will get to another Eueopean final before you do. Cue much laughter and even more ‘banter’. This was the year after they got knocked out of the new European Cup by Marseille. They all used to go for a pint and a bet on a Friday and when all the blue noses were filling out their fixed odds for the weekend my old man pulled out a £20 note and marched up the the desk in Hills in Pumpherston.
My old Man: Can you give me a price on Celtic to reach a European final before Rangers please?
Hills Employee: I can’t do that. I would have to phone up and get one.
My Old Man: Phone up then and get me one.
Five mins later……
Hills Employee: Sorry they won’t take that bet.
My old man turns to Rangers fans in the bookies. See even the bookies know it. They won’t take the bet.
He who laughs last and all that. Endless banter about your team being rubbish is nonsense. Total school boy stuff. It’s moments like that one in the bookies that get right up their noses.
He was raging when we got to Seville that the bookies didn’t give him a price. Would probably have paid his trip!
LB
gcctim
14:07 on
24 April, 2013
===
Truely sorry for your loss Mo Chara, i ‘m sure the memeories of you and your good lady celebrating will stay with you forever
HH
henkes flowing locks,
thnx for info but its a pic of my own i want to post.
used to be able to do that easily enough esp with own words to the link, but not a scooby how to do it now!
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Big Nan, 15:03
Yes, and badly so at that
Watched Boavista game in The Vogue Ruggerglen
What a waste of drink when Celtic scored : >)
theBHOYfromU.N.C.L.E
14:06 on
24 April, 2013
Good to hear that Mr Dornan was , squirming, I was one of his
constituents that got an answer from him , that could have been
written by the police, it was quite simply incredible, lies from
start to finish.
HH
10 game ban for Gnasher!
The Barca Mole,
I hear you van longer make the meet in town this Saturday.
Looks likely now that I will be the same.
Perhaps will manage a meet in the Philippines soon though?
Although I tend to be Manila based wen I go there as opposed to Cebu, where if memory serves you now reside?
A good mate of mine – ex Singtim – has recently moved to Manila too. Really good lad.
If you find yourself up there and want company for a beer let me know and I’ll pass on your details to him.
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Sorry TTT, didn’t realise what you were trying to do!
Go to http://imageshack.us/ and you can upload the pic there and add tags, though you’ll need to register your email address or sign in with a facebook account.
Hail Hail!