Udinese were pushed all the way tonight but hold on for a point that was enough to get them through to the knock out round of the Europa League at Celtic’s expense. Gary Hooper gave Celtic the lead but Antonio Di Natale equalised in time added on at the end of the first half.
The game was only six minutes old when Georgios Samaras extended his telescopic legs and moved beyond Benatia to the edge of the Udinese box but the defender dived in front of the Greek striker to con the referee into awarding a free kick.
Udinese should have taken the lead in 12 minutes when Scott Brown was careless with a cross-field pass which was intercepted. The Celtic defence were caught moving forward and had left Di Natale in acres of space but his lob missed the target.
Gary Hooper was the next sinner 10 minutes later. Udinese had no answer to the probing of Samaras and James Forrest. The former beat two players and slid an inch perfect pass inside the full back for Hooper to collect 16 yards from goal. Unfortunately he failed to find the target with what at that time looked like being the best chance of the game.
Celtic opened the scoring on 28 minutes when Samaras rampaged down the left and sent a dangerous cross between goalkeeper and defence. Handanovic punched the ball against his own defender and was left stranded when it rolled to an unmarked Hooper three yards from goal. The Englishman rolled the ball over the line to put Celtic ahead.
With 45 minutes already played Samaras again rampaged down the left but possession was lost as Celtic were reluctant to pour forward seconds before half time. Udinese moved the ball quickly up field and a fortunate break of the ball allowed them to catch the Celtic defence flat footed. Cha was wrong side of his player who crossed for Di Natale to finish. It was an unfortunate break for Celtic who had the better of the first half.
Udinese stepped up the pace after half time and enjoyed their best period of the game. Fraser Forster made three saves within as many minutes just after the hour mark. Ten minutes later a sharp passing move provided Asamoa with a gilt edged chance from 10 yards but he turned the ball against the post with Forster stranded but this signalled the end of the home team’s pressure.
Celtic came close to taking the lead again on 74 minutes when Cha DuRi stretched to volley from outside the box. His shot struck the post with Handanovic unable to reach it. The ball rebounded off the goalkeeper, who landed on the ground, and spun back towards goal, but Handanovic recovered in time to catch it on the line.
Greek referee, Koukoulakis, did not have a good game, mistook Cha for Scott Brown and incorrectly booked the Korean. 18 minutes later he booked Cha again but had clearly received a message from an assistant informing him of his earlier mistake, leaving Cha bemused and relieved to survive his second yellow card.
Celtic were pressing for the goal but with 10 minutes remaining a slip by Daniel Majstorovic set Di Natale clear. Fraser Forster then had the most impressive 6 seconds of his career. The keeper made himself a big target and saved Di Natale’s shot but he had change direction quickly as the ball broke free on the right. A cross was swiftly dropped onto the head of the unmarked Di Natale 8 yards from goal but Forster changed direction one more time to save again.
The match finished with Celtic camped inside the Udinese box. The ball broke to Ki inside the six yard box from a Charlie Mulgrew corner but his shot was blocked. Fraser Forster came forward for two further corners. From one, Daniel Majstorovic flashed a header goalward but an Udinese defender raised his arm to the ball, however, the referee failed to award a penalty.
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1st
Yee hAH
Hat Trick
Top 10
Sing When Youre winning
I’m going for 5IAR
Excellent match re-run Paul67
TOSB
Thats cheating lol
Disqualified!
Jinkynewton
What is a yonk?
;o)
Without the performances in Europa and the belief they instilled in our young team I doubt we’d have pulled back the points deficit to der Hun in the SPL.
MWD
Curse you Cults Bhoy ( or should I say Perry the Platypuss)
top ten!!!
repost from last thread:
very proud of the bhoys tonight, can’t fault any of the players though forster and samaras (in the first half) were absolute stand outs.
such a bad time to concede a goal, really think udinese were there for the taking if we had just held on to that lead at half time
certainly no disgrace, and its a sobering thought to think that but for that dodgy last minute penalty they got in glasgow we would have went through
oh, and would you believe it, right on full time, two police officers came into the pub i was watching the game asking the bar staff “any trouble” only for them to be given short shrift; law has been in force one day and they are already at it. anyone else have that?
Great display tonight – bodes well for the rest of the season.
3 points in Perth is the new focus.
This team are growing up together – I will sleep well.
Hail hail
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy (Phin & Pherb)
Perry the palatapus.
:-))))))
Brilliant.
MWD
only 1 repl on here
then my computer froze
top 20?
who cares?
nobody loves me
im nobodys child
just like the flowers, growing in the wild
I’m sorry for saying it but if we play the rest of the SPL like that for the rest of the season we will be TREBLE winners that was a performance to be proud of STAND UP as I believe Glasgow is green and white.
P.S. Cha only should ever play again in emergencies Shocking performance
Moonbeams WD. \o/ Supporting Neil Lennon 100%. says:
15 December, 2011 at 23:51
I love Phineas and Ferb.
Watch every episode with my grandson.
Dr. Doofenschmirz is the greatest cartoon character ever!
http://www.football-italia.net/node/13843
not a bad child
hope they qualify for the Champions league now
more of the same
and
the treble will happen
Neil says Ki was fantastic 2 night.Thats good enuff for me.
antrimkev says:
15 December, 2011 at 23:52
My fingers were on fire! I was posting so quickly that a message flashed up telling me exactly that!
@antrimkev
what’s a repl?
Is it true that, in the past 25 years, Celtic have won more points in European competition than the Horrible Undignified Neds?
TOSB
Aye. Mini MWD loves it too.
The sister does my nut in.
:-)
MWD
SadiesBhoy
Phin and Ferb…Cults Junior is an avid fan!!
twinbhoy
reply
computer freezing
proud of the team tonight ,we have players growing in stature
TBH i’m glad we can now focus on the league , it’s there for us to win
onward and upward!
HH
Lads I honestly don’t see anything wrong with this banner or maybe I’m missing the point.
@antrimkev
doesn’t sound too good
0_o
MWD
Yonk
Younger sparrow. Juve I understand its the newton veneicular
Win when we’re singing ,,,,
We only win when we’re singing
Great effort from the bhoys tonite , very unlucky not to qualify… now bring on the forces of darkness and lets win this league.
Estadio on the previous post;
Well said! Don’t do their work for them.
Its as basic as knowing that celtic fans sing songs about celtic and not songs slagging off other teams
Hail! Hail!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2074582/Scott-Allan-talks-join-Rangers-Dundee-United.html
then
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2074629/Scott-Allan-bid-accepted-West-Brom.html
how the feck uefa do they get away with printing such nonsense?
to think Norn Iron was like this in the 70’s !!!!
“Cha was wrong side of his player who crossed for Di Natale to finish. ”
I think Cha was the one who knocked it on for Di Natale to finish.
hen1rick
Forget about it. What did you make of game?
Do you like Phin & Ferb?
MWD
Very proud of Celtic tonight.
Read Paul67’s article from earlier today to remind yourself of what we were up against tonight.
We have our faults, we are imperfect.
But tonight we mateched an accomplished Udinese side.
Well done Celtic.
SwanseaBhoy
works night out tomorrow – god how i hate them, eating and drinking with people you (pretend) hate
a lot of great points tonite, Foster, sammi, forest, wanama outstanding
hooper scored, but once again, does not help his team mates
Cha, well there you go again, the Korean anton, ok balls in the air, i can see the goals in from of me, lets just head it staright back across the goals,the guy should never be near a Celtic Jersey