Celtic 1-1 Manchester United

[statto]

A late header by Ryan Giggs gave United a deserved point in this thoroughly entertaining Champions League match.

The home crowd were ecstatic when Scott McDonald's delightful lob from 14 yards gave Celtic a 13th-minute lead.

United pinned Celtic back for much of the first half, but stout defending limited the Red Devils to half chances.

Giggs headed an 84th-minute equaliser when Artur Boruc could only parry a Cristiano Ronaldo shot, then Dimitar Berbatov missed a great late chance.

The result leaves United requiring a point for certain qualification, while for Celtic, with Villarreal six points ahead, they must win their last two matches and hope the Spaniards fail to take a further point.

When United took to the field on a crisp Glasgow evening wearing their all-blue strip, you suspected former Rangers striker Sir Alex Ferguson was enjoying a joke.

With a noticeable difference in quality between the squads, Celtic were hoping that the noise and passion created by their fans could unsettle the visitors and embolden their own starting 11, which was minus the talents of the injured Aiden McGeady.

Having played McDonald as a lone striker at Old Trafford, Celtic manager Gordon Strachan gave 19-year-old Cillian Sheridan his Champions League debut, believing the Irishman's physical presence could test Ferdinand and Vidic.

The match started at a frantic pace, with Giggs, partnering Carlos Tevez up front, looking in the mood to inflict damage on Celtic's European hopes.

A brutal challenge by Barry Robson on his international team-mate Darren Fletcher allowed Ronaldo to have a crack at goal, though his free-kick sailed a few yards over Boruc's bar.

Celtic caught their breath and began to venture forward with runs by Maloney.

If the opening exchanges were characterised by passing and shooting that lacked precision, the opening goal was an example of perfect finishing.

A speculative header found Gary Caldwell at the edge of the United box and his cushioned header set up McDonald, in the inside left position, who remained composed to lob Ben Foster, in only his second start, from 14 yards.

It was Celtic's first goal in the Champions League this season and the first conceded by the cup holders.

United responded by increasing the pace of their play. Michael Carrick, Tevez, Fletcher and Ronaldo had Strachan's men pinned back.

Ferdinand volleyed an awkward ball over from three yards, a Vidic header was cleared off the line by Celtic captain Stephen McManus and the same player went close from one of many United corners.

Former Villa striker Maloney offered the home defence occasional relief. On the half-hour mark he cut inside from the left wing and rifled a dipping shot directly at Foster, who gathered well.

United looked most menacing when they played the ball quickly through midfield. In one such spurt, Giggs seized on an error by Paul Hartley, ran at the Celtic rearguard and ought to have tested Boruc.

Instead he slid the ball wide of Nani and the chance to equalise was gone.

For all the Red Devils' superior technique and movement, in open play Celtic were able to frustrate the visitors on their raids.

On numerous occasions, Caldwell and McManus and a retreating midfield got in the way of United's efforts at goal.

Strachan will have been satisfied at the workrate and intelligence of his players. Scott Brown, Barry Robson and Paul Hartley hounded the Carrick and Fletcher incessantly and for the greater part, held on to the ball when they could.

Ferguson's half-time talk encouraged United to up their game at the re-start, but not before Maloney curled a long-range shot in at Foster.

In a raucous atmosphere, the Celtic fans cheered their team on as they stymied successive waves of United attacks.

Caldwell cleared a dangerous low cross by Tevez, then a low left-footed shot by Ronaldo found the grateful gloves of Celtic's Polish keeper Boruc.

Substitute Berbatov came close when his flick-on from five yards was cleared off the line by Maloney.

Rooney came on for Tevez for the last 20 minutes and his first involvement in the game was a long-range shot which Boruc turned round the post.

With just six minutes remaining, United levelled the match.

Boruc was unable to hold a thunderous swerving shot by Ronaldo from 25 yards and in rushed the veteran Giggs to head home as Boruc lay helpless.

United could have snatched a victory in the final seconds when the ball was played into Berbatov.

His shot on the turn whipped past Boruc's right-hand post and Celtic's slim chances of reaching the knock-out stages remained intact.

Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson, Hartley, Scott Brown, Robson, Maloney (O'Dea 75), McDonald (Hutchinson 81), Sheridan (Donati 63).
Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Naylor, Nakamura, Caddis.

Goals: McDonald 13.

Manchester Utd: Foster, Rafael Da Silva (Evra 66), Ferdinand, Vidic, O'Shea, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Carrick, Nani (Berbatov 46), Tevez (Rooney 71), Giggs.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Anderson, Park, Evans.

Booked: Nani.

Goals: Giggs 84.

Attendance: 58,903

Referee: Tom Ovrebo (Norway)

[hotmama]

aye the bhoys done well 2nite,best i've seen them playimg in a long while eh...

[Bazza]

Was a fantastic game and i did expect Man Utd to play alot of attacking football but our defence were on good form, I was looking forward to the after match interviews but got totally p'd off we at arsewipe Greame Souness yet again,

[kevin67]

thought we were the better team in the first half. second half man u took advantage of us tiring. the good thing was we were actually still in the game up to the final whistle which some people thought man u were just going to turn up and win.
well done bhoys!

[kona]

played well. baw hair from another win :) nothing more annoying when they mouth off down south when after playing scottish side. hope one of us get a crack at Blackburn next season lol

[Boa]

That would be nice kona m8 and so would giving Mince a crack in the jaw :)

[Nugget]

First time in a long time i've felt truely uncomfortable watching a game. Because we scored so early I knew Man Utd would pile the pressure on, but the fact there was such another good game going on in the group at the same time which had a direct effect on us helped bump up the pressure. Couldn't make up my mind if I wanted the Aalborg vs Villarreal to finish a draw or not.

Even now i'm undecided about progressing to the CL final 16. I'd love to do it to get one up those that doubted us, but I don't think we're strong enough to beat whoever we'd get over two legs. Part of me thinks dropping down to the Uefa Cup and doing what Rangers did last season wouldhelp re-energize the club in the way the Seville run did.

RE Kona - I think it'll be a long time before Blackburn raise their game enough to play in a competition featuring us. Paul Ince is most undoubtably a dick, and if his Blackburn team crash and burn then hopefully Celtic invite the twat up for pre-season freindly so we can turn them over.

[Tiercel]

If by some miracle we make the last 16 I can't hoestly see us progressing much further. Whereas we could have a good run in the UEFA Cup. But the PLC MUST use the money generated & that from the CL tv to invest in the team! Compare our performance at Old Trafford to that 2 years ago to see how far down the scale we've slid class-wise. But last night with 4 of our first team missing, The Bhoys gave everything. You can't ask more than that. I would like to see the PLC perform in a similar vein!