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.
Read CQN Magazine for free online here. Subscriptions to the online copy are discretionary but you can contribute here. Old-school hard copies are available here from Magcloud.
[calameo code=000390171e35a62410844 lang=en page=12 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
436 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- »
Are we talking about the same firm but gentle Thatcher who started a war because she was getting bounced in opinion polls or the same Thatcher that sunk a boat full of young men who were retreating and of no threat?
Darma – Dharma!
“That’s it, I’m out!”
Mort (Kano 1000) says:
16 December, 2011 at 11:49
prestonpans bhoys at 11:41
He’ll still make mistakes, I’ve yet to see a goalie who doesn’t but he is improving and is still very young for a goalie.
That double save from Di Natale was excellent. If that was McGregor we’d never hear the end of it.
Mort
…………………
The double save might just make him as a top class goalie. He’s always seemed petrified in most games, surely after the last 2 games he will kick on and be more confident in his overall play.
St Martin’s Bhoy at 11:44
Tricky one. It’s not really a players duty to correct a refereeing mistake but we don’t really know what exactly happenned as by the time Cha was booked again, the mistake had been rectified by someone.
Scott might have told someone off camera but even if not, I can’t blame him too much.
Mort
!!Bada Bing!! Kano 1000 says:
16 December, 2011 at 11:53
Cheeky bass,Working gear on mate,still look 1000 times more dapper
than yirself,understandable….cause your working gear was always
crumpled through lying in a cot all day.ladder????? whits that?
prestonpans bhoys at 11:53
No idea I’m afraid.
Mort
Thanks Mort and you’re right we don’t know exactly what happened.
I just thought at the time that I’d have liked my Captain to have stood up for his team-mates.
EDDIE URSUS
Deeeeeeelighted to hear from you.
Your contributions have been missed.
Hope all is well wih you and yours.
Happy Christmas and a guid New Year to you and yours.
Here`s tae us!
Edward Ursus says:
16 December, 2011 at 11:54
The blog is a poorer read without your input.
Good performance last night, thought the ref was a bit of a homer, FF seems to be growing in stature after pen
save. Sammi was immense in first half, why didn’t he stay wide left, decision to penalise him when nearly one on one
was a shocker. Any of you guys know if St Johnstone game is on TV in UK?
Keep the Faith
St Martin’s Bhoy at 12:00
If it was me, I’d have said nothing at the time and considered myself lucky (and free to keep putting the boot in a bit more) but when the second yellow was issued to Cha, I’d have been over to complain like mad.
Mort
Bhoys, i am still buzzing after last nights game just how good were we? Huge grin on my face all morning sitting in an office full of H*Ns and Aberdonihuns – they really hate us to but then again they hate everyone. Only dampener is cosntanly being shown pics from the Rags about a banner and flare. To the Orcs i say – A banner at least we didn’t trash a”British” city, to the Dons i remind them that Celtic have probably scored more goals against them in 2 seasons that Aberdeen had fans at the St Johnstone game -in other words shut the f**k up.
But really why does the laptop loyal and media concentrate on the negative. That performance last night must be considered the best by a Scots team in Europe for quite a while. 1 banner and a couple of flares – really
Off out for Christmas lunch and some drinks.
Woohoo.
T’is the season to be merry.
Mort
Edward Ursus says:
16 December, 2011 at 11:54
hate to admit this, but was just thinking the other day why are you not posting, and Willie Millers Bushy Tash guy as well.
cmon back in, your points were allways well made (sort of).
tomtheleedstim says:
16 December, 2011 at 12:02
Edward Ursus says:
16 December, 2011 at 11:54
The blog is a poorer read without your input.
………………….
Agreed
Edward Ursus
What is it with you? One ghuy makes a point about your mob,and you’re on
here shouting the odds.
ED UR :o)
fanadpatriot: 16 December, 2011 at 11:50
“Your first impression was correct FF was slow to come off his line at goal,but he did have agood game,and I am his biggest critic.
Where do you reckon he should have come off his line?
So the Swastika flew proudly at the midden!
Didn’t know that,brilliant!
oglach UFB: 16 December, 2011 at 12:04
“But really why does the laptop loyal and media concentrate on the negative.”
Because they have an agenda and are not subtle enough to hide it.
Ed U
Your contributions, particularly on the ‘merits’ of Ayrshire, are missed. Get yerself back on here more often.
JC
Macjay1, TomTLT and SaintStivs :- Thanks for the welcome, I still lurk when I can but rarely post for a few reasons probably the main one being that this season I see very little of Rangers and senior football in general. I’m now heavily involved in both amateur and youth football so have little to add to the debates on the site when talking about teams.
Setting Free
Fraser is Celtic’s No 1 priority. I hope you’re right that a permanent deal was discussed prior to the second loan. Newcastle should take into account the fact we’ve developed the player, and the should be a factor.
The fee whatever it is (within reason) should be found by Celtic, and sorted during January.
Why are the LL not suggesting that some nasty English teams’ supporters mingles with us and waved banners?
BBCchrismclaug Chris McLaughlin on Twitter
#Celtic chief exec Peter Lawwell tells me flares and banner ARE in uefa report and club will face consequencies next week
FootShooterCSC
Edward Ursus says:
16 December, 2011 at 11:54
Hun
Surely the huns,with their cosy relationship wither SFA could have protested to having the ole Swastika fluttering in the breeze,proudly above the midden?
Ed
reading most folk on here it is clear they see little football.
Good to hear from you.
Polite note to CQN
It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas
I am now of the mind that the Celtic support in Europe are going to be hunfiltrated to cause trouble.
Edward Ursus says:
16 December, 2011 at 12:12
Great to hear from you.
Your input has always been of value.
Please don`t let the insulters inhibit you.
Welcome.
Macjay
Who’s insulting or inhibiting Ed?
macjay
The stuff about Jack Jones is nonsense.
Jack Jones lived a very, very modest life.
He lived in a council flat (that reminds me of a song, which is probably now illegal) til the day he died.
He could have become a media or corporate whore when he retired if he’d wanted to and made a small fortune. He didn’t.
The so called evidence suggests to me a KGB agent who was fiddling his expenses.
I’m not sure whether gullible or malicious. Maybe a bit of both.
Hope those responsible for the banner are proud of themselves, behaved like children in a class trying to push the teacher’s patience, how far can we go, how much will she take?
Not much by the looks of it.
Those responsible for the flare should be banned from travelling to away games.
I despair.
lennon’s passion says:
16 December, 2011 at 12:15
Edward Ursus says:
16 December, 2011 at 11:54
Hun
Naw,son.
Your intolerence makes you the hun.
Peter Lawwell will no doubt come out fighting.
bournesouprecipe says:
16 December, 2011 at 12:18
Polite note to CQN
It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas
…………..
Office Party about to start then? :-)
Edward Ursus
welcome back, even if based on your committments it is only briefly.
a welcome reminder of when the tone and debate on CQN was much more respectful and less polarised.
PS I believe Spurs may have flown the Swastika in similar circumstances when WHL was hired by the FA for an international.
I will check with a Spurs/Celtic fan in the office to confirm but if they did I would say that is more noteworthy than Rangers.
hail hail