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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Greenjedi
So. Did you enjoy the game or is that irrelevant.
Because a few Celtic fans seem to have Tourette’s.
Your obviously dying for us to get punished again.
MWD Jack loves you.
greenjedi says:
You still supporting the SNP?
McLaughlin says:
16 December, 2011 at 02:25
Today – Friday 16 December – it is 50 years to the day since my first Celtic game.
Half-a-century as a Bhoy and Mhan.
Half-a-century of memories, good and bad.
I’m going to have a quiet celebration tonight, full of reflection and reminiscing.
Hail Hail.share
Hell,thanks for sharing that.
`61 then?
Haffey,McKay and Kennedy,sumdy McNeil and Price,
Chalmers and Carroll, Coleraine ,Divers and Auld.
Good days. Not too long to wait for great days.
Celebrate Oz.
We are the people.:-)
Hail Hail
Graffiti on the wall that says were magic!
Well done Celtic, sound performance, one to build upon.
Last year in December our walls were crumbling. This year looking a lot better.
Don’t tell SFTB that I am starting to come round to liking the big keeper, don’t want to spoil his Frazer lovefest :-)
On the way back from Nessieland.
HH
CRC
Great performance last night.
A word or two on the clowns who decided that banner was a good idea. That was a decidedly hunnish and insanely stupid thing to do. If we weren’t being looked at closely by uefa every time we play, we will be now. One word for the clown who thought up the idea.
Arsehole.
The same old posters trying to divert the attention away from what was a great team performance by doing the Hun medias work
Celtic fans my a$@*!
In other news
McLeish offering £2m for Davis
Looks like the EPL teams know the Huns are skint
Paul 67 – Is this D Day for the Wee Tax case ??
greenjedi
“Sadly all the headlines in the papers are about the fans, I feel sorry for the majority who went and backed their team who were let down by a small minority of f***wits. I feel a massive fine and perhaps an away game ban coming.” This post was followed by 95 why?s in a Daily Mail disgusted-from-Tunbridge-Wells stylee.
Now, as I posted last night, our fans and posters have every right to decry and denounce aspects of fan behaviour they do not like or favour.
However ????? (in homage to the style) ….. why do you “feel” or wish a fine on us? Under what grounds could a fine be levied?
Political??
Sectarian??
Use of asterisks to disguise a sweary word?? If so, your post will get it too.
You come across as a Tim who rolls over and expects to be punished?
Are you on our Board?
I hope we can sign Fraser Forster on a long-term deal.
The Angel of the North is having a great season.
.
Happy 55th to TOMMY BURNS..
Summa
So proud of our Bhoys last nite… Gave us 100%
not to take the shine off our performance but what the point of the banner was last nite
was I don’t know… I’ve a feeling the media will try and blame the GB but last nites
banner was not in there style hope they release a statement either way about it
flippin flip flip.
some bhoys decided to get bolshy and use the flip word to flippin flip a flippin protest.
i couldnt give a flippin flip.
Henriks Sombrero
Same question to contestant no.2
Are you seriously suggesting that Uefa will “look more closely” at us because some fans displayed bad words against us? That they will abandon their rules and regulations and get us for some hidden offence not in the rulebook? Or that they will be prejudiced and bigoted against us next time our fans break a real rule?
Are you suggesting in print that UEFA are …
All powerful and dictatorial??
Prejudiced and vindictive??
If so, have you not just committed the same offence as the banner writers from last night?
Happy Birthday Tommy Burns,I also believe its SOAL’s birthday too cos he shares it with moi,I think…..
Really good performance by the Bhoys last night.
Forster is looking like the keeper we all want him to be, a few
world class saves from both long range and close in shots.
I thought Mulgrew aloud himself to drift into the central defence area far too much, allowing
Udinese to exploit the right wing.
Sammi had a brilliant first half, but was closed down in the second as was young Forrest.
If only we could replicate this standard week in, week out, we would run away with all domestic trophies.
Izzy, Brown, Mathews, Ledley and Commons still to come back.
The future is bright, but it ain’t orange.
In other Celtic related news
Are the Happy Clappers in the Celtic Support more ugly than the Mineshafters?
Good morning Hoopy Campers.
I was proud of our team last night. They went toe to toe with a top Italian side and were unlucky not to get the victory.
The league title will have to do. (thumbsup)
Summa of Sammi…. says:
16 December, 2011 at 09:29
Happy 55th to TOMMY BURNS..
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Well said M8!
Hail! Hail!
KevJungle – I heard your parents met at a family reunion after appearing on the Jeremy Kyle show together.
Is that true, or just a good guess? (thumbsup)
anyone watching This Is England’88 ?
the political references , and sliced in images of the worst of times under Thatcher.
When people protested about everything, and rightly so.
When the Celtic supporter I knew was very very political.
Now we have people on here worried about writing on the wall, and a sheet with the Flip words.
I’m not glad to be out of Europe but extended runs do us no semi quavers where the ole domestic front is concerned.
Make mine a treble.
Heart in mouth, edge of the seat and total deflation post match… that really only happens to me when we play in Europe and when progression is on the line. It’s what it’s all about for me.
I browsed CQN comments last night and there was a lot of pride and possibly a little bit of gloating. My instinct at the time was the same one I get when I see the ‘tartan army’ celebrating in defeat, i.e. a little pissed off.
However, I got what people were saying, we were good in the game, we were good in all the games during this campaign. A bit of luck here, a more experienced head there and we’d have topped this group. It’s a tough thing to assess, but, broadly speaking I think we should go into a group like this one, tough though it was, and expect to go through. Indeed it was the lack of expectation which may have undone this team. Really we snatched defeat from a comfortable success. Next time that group of players will be expected to keep it together, and take full advantage of the numerous opportunities and the dominance we had during each of the games (save, perhaps Madrid away).
So, I guess we can hold our heads up, but only because we proved over the 6 games that we are nowhere near as poor as the Sion games suggested… and the promise for the future within our squad remains exciting.
I think for about the 5th time in recent weeks I’m saying well done Forster, I’m pleased for him. The criticism he has received online has just been poor and whilst there are little wrinkles in the young man’s game his upside is startling – better than Boruc, and Boruc had his wrinkles too.
Forrest was good last night. In itself not enough, but, he took a step forward last night in my opinion. He’s a player of uncommon confidence and ability. I often hoped we could see some kind of amalgam of Aiden and Shaun, Shaun having the composure that Aiden lacked and Aiden having the confidence that Shaun lacked. Not to mention the fact that Aiden’s final ball was generally below par and Shaun’s ability to dribble from deep was basically non-existent… Forrest does it all well. He really can only get better.
Sammi, what can you say.
The midfield wrestled control of the game in the first half. That first 5 minutes were frought, Udinese were pressing us very hard, which is what I would ask any player to do to an opponent used to SPL standards. That said, it was in the midfield that things stuttered. They lost control in the second half, partly due to the sub, but more important than that we had moments in that game where were got into the perfect spot and the final ball let us down. Indeed that would be the adiding memory of our performances in Europe this year. Of course that’s not all down to the midfield, but in truth it has been those guys and the full backs (Cha, who was great last night, I do mean you!) who have failed in these spots. Dead balls haven’t been consistent.
I’d put this down to a slightly desperate panic to succeed. Forcing the issue when what they normally do would be sufficient. The more they play in these games, and the more success they get, the better the decision making will be.
By the way… this banner business – It’s a none issue, but I’m pissed off that we have a rump of fans who seem determined to be seen to noise people up. It’s utterly juvenile and they are a constant distraction from the countless positive things our club does… by the way, if you’re Scottish and a football fan Celtic are the only positive story around. People will argue about the banner and the fans today, and make all kind of high minded arguments, but, if you are a football fan you have to ask yourself, finally, is this not really the last straw. Can we really be bothered defending these people.
Is there no end to how low those Media House scoundrels will go? Sneaking in among the Celtic fans at the game last night and raising a stupidly controversial banner.
What next? It wouldn’t surprise me if they send some daft boys in among our crowd with a badly spelled ‘poppy’ banner or some idiotic songs to try and make us look bad.
Be on your guard. They’re out to get us.
SFTB – To answer the questions in your first two paragraphs – Yes, and Yes.
To answer your accusation in the last sentence – no, not at all. This is a Celtic forum, not an official Uefa event. At no point have I been so crass as to state f*** Uefa in this Celtic forum – never mind print it on a banner and display it at a Uefa sponsored event.
Are you seriously suggesting the banner last night was not an own goal ?
Do you think it was a good, sensible idea in keeping with the traditions and reputation of the Celtic support ?
It was an idiotic idea. If you really don’t think uefa will use such a derogatory comment aimed at them to shorten our leash then you are in cloud cuckoo land.
I suppose you think the flates were a good idea too ?
Just back from the school run. Who allowed it to snow overnight?
Many were cauld but few were frozen.
Bonty Bhoy
“Can we really be bothered defending these people. ”
Or bothered attacking them?
The banner was daft but not political, racist, sectarian, xenophobic, etc…
I honestly don´t think Uefa will pay it mush attention.
I would like to think they are not quite the childish, vindictive, unethical, amateurish old boys club of a footballing authority with have the utter displeasure of at national level.
Last night exposed some of the propaganda lies regularly put out by the laptop loyal-
“McGregor a far better keeper than Forster”- Is he? Really? On the evidence of this season, I don’t think so. In fact if I was offered both I’d take big FF in a heartbeat- he is on the up, Mythgregor on the slide. (McGregor v Celtic, Dons anyone?)
“Jelavic is worth £10m, Samaras £2m- Again I revert back to the Croatia v Greece game a few weeks ago, 1 player got hooked the other was MoM. Look at the form this season- Jelavic is not interested and not worth even half that money, Samaras is worth 3 times his amount.
But nobody in the media would EVER be brave enough to admit this.
Morning bhoys, cool but hun free as ever.
Well feck me, all the fuss about a sweary word.
uefa can do nothing about it, nothing, personally instead of uefa I would have put snp, but whatever.
The bhoys done good last night, proud to be a Tim.
Cheated in the qualifiers, justice in the end.
Cheated for the pen in Glasgow, cheated last night as well.
All in a days life of supporting Celtic.
Well done Lenny, you deserved to go through.
if you are a football fan you have to ask yourself, finally, is this not really the last straw. Can we really be bothered defending these people.
is it these people ?
http://splinteredsunrise.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/father_ted_down_with_this_sort_of_thing.jpg
For flates – read flares !
Saint Stivs – Kano 1000 – Glasgows Green and White – They were the best of times.
People slept more soundly in their beds, knowing Mrs T’s firm but gentle hand was on the tiller of the ship of state.
Knowing that we were stoically patrolling the front lines of freedom in a cold war against monstrous socialism.
Knowing that Britain was no longer a country in terminal decline, but awaking to a brighter future thanks to the blessed Margaret’s wise leadership.
And did those feet, in ancient time
Walk upon England’s mountain green?
Yes, they did. (thumbsup)
philvisreturns says:
16 December, 2011 at 09:38
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Do you know what happens after the school bell rings ?
Or, are you scared to go there ? (thumbsucker)
I would also like to think that Uefa have to act with at least some degree of accountability unlike the SFA!
Henriks Sombrero
“Are you seriously suggesting the banner last night was not an own goal ?”
Yes I am. It is an irrelevance. Our on goal was in the Rennes away game.
“Do you think it was a good, sensible idea in keeping with the traditions and reputation of the Celtic support ?”
No, but I have seen far worse offences on a regular basis. I genuinely cannot find much outrage but, if it helps you, I do not approve of the action, but my disapproval is of the quite mild kind.
“It was an idiotic idea. If you really don’t think uefa will use such a derogatory comment aimed at them to shorten our leash then you are in cloud cuckoo land.”
From whatever land I am in, I would like clarification on how you imagine they will “shorten the leash”?
I suppose you think the flates were a good idea too ?
No idea
Flutes??
KevJungle – “Lennons Lions Get Ready To ROAR!!!” – Do you know what happens after the school bell rings ?
You have to go inside, where exasperated teachers try to impart basic reading skills to you? (thumbsup)
BontyBhoy says:
16 December, 2011 at 09:39
(Cha, who was great last night, I do mean you!)
Enjoying your assessment.
However,Cha was a disaster last night.
That`s not an opinion,that`s a fact.
philvisreturns @ 09.44
Magnificent humour!