BOBBY PETTA scored only four goals for Celtic – and one of those strikes arrived during a memorable 3-1 win over Ajax in Amsterdam in the Champions League on August 8 2001.
The Dutchman turned in one of his finest performances in his five years at the Hoops by scoring the first goal in the seventh minute and the hosts were shaken again shortly afterwards when Didier Agathe raced through to whip in a second.
Shota Arveladze, who would later play for Rangers, pulled one back, but Chris Sutton had the final say with a bullet-like close-range header for No.3 10 minutes after the interval.
Ajax won 1-0 in the return at Parkhead, but Martin O’Neill’s men got through on a 3-2 aggregate to reach the group stages of Europe’s most prestigious tournament for the first time.
Later, Petta reflected: “It was a very strong Celtic team. Almost every player was an international , so there was experience and quality there. Martin O´Neill and his coaches got the best out of the players and it was a great time to be at Celtic.
DUTCH TREAT ON THE WAY…Celtic team that won in Amsterdam. Back row (left to right): Neil Lennon, Didier Agathe, Paul Lambert, Johan Mjallby, Rab Douglas, Chris Sutton; Front row: Bobby Petta, Henrik Larsson, Tom Boyd, Joos Valgaeren and Jackie McNamara.
“Throughout the team we had quality players – Didier Agathe on the right, Henrik Larsson and Chris Sutton up front – and it’s very easy to play with players like that.
“There was a great understanding there, especially between myself and Henrik and that made it so easy to play together.
“I remember the goal very clearly. It was a throw-in and Lenny played it to Sutty, who took a touch, turned and crossed it on goal. The keeper came out and punched it away.
“I anticipated it and as soon as I touched the ball, I knew what I was going to do – and it went in. It was an unbelievable feeling, that moment meant a lot to me.”
The Dutchman, who had been in Feyenoord’s Academy as a youth, had been brought to Glasgow in July 1999 after coming out of contract at Ipswich Town, an early signing for John Barnes and Kenny Dalglish.
NUMBER ONE…Bobby Petta gets the show on the road in Amsterdam.
NUMBER TWO…Didier Agathe leaves the Ajax keeper grounded.
NUMBER THREE…Chris Sutton is a roaring success.
Petta, often dropped to make way for Regi Blinker, had a slow start to his Celtic career during a tumultuous year for the club in which rookie boss Barnes was sacked following the unacceptable 3-1 Scottish Cup exit against Inverness Caley Thistle at Parkhead.
The wide Bhoy made only 17 appearances in all competitions, but he sparked to life after the arrival of O’Neill in the summer of 2000 and scored in the first game of the new season, away to Jeunesse D’Esch in the UEFA Cup.
Another highlight of Petta’s time at the club came on August 28 that year when he ran amok against Dick Advocaat’s Ibrox side as the Hoops steamrollered their Glasgow rivals in a 6-2 thrashing and the flanker was involved in three of the goals.
He was so impressive that afternoon at Parkhead that his direct opponent, Fernando Ricksen, was hauled off after only 25 minutes.
Celtic, of course, went on to win the treble in O’Neill’s debut campaign – only the third time the feat had been achieved with the legendary Jock Stein claiming the previous two, in the all-conquering campaign of 1966/67 and again a couple of years later.
Sadly for Petta, this rich vein of form was not to last. He played a mere five games in the 2003/04 season before moving to Fulham on a six-month loan in December.
He left on a permanent basis the following pre-season and had spells at Darlington and Bradford City before heading for Australia in the summer of 2006.
Petta joined A-League side Adelaide United and, two years later, moved to Sydney FC as he wound down his playing career.
* TOMORROW: Don’t miss the adventures of another former Celt in CQN’s EXCLUSIVE series.
