Celtic on this Day secured a Champions League win at Celtic Park. It would be eleven years before that happened again. A very happy birthdayto Celtic legend Paul McStay, probably Celtic best midfielder since Bobby Murdoch. The Maestro is 60 today! How time flies…
Ajax humbled in Paradise ahead of Celtic’s long wait
On this day 11 years ago, Celtic 2-1 Ajax. Neil Lennon’s only points of the 2013/2014 Champions League campaign came against Frank De Boer’s side.
The game had been marred with controversy following Ajax fans causing crowd trouble. Their travelling support broke seats, chucking them at Celtic fans and stewards. James Forrest netted a penalty on the stroke of half-time which seemed to annoy Ajax supporters at the interval.
Beram Kayal’s deflected strike in the second half gave the Celts a comfortable cushion.
Nir Bitton was shown a straight red card on his European debut for a terribly timed tackle. Derk Boerrigter missed the game from, yes you guessed it, an injury. He had signed for Celtic from Ajax that summer but was absent from the match, much like his Celtic career, through an ankle issue.
Skipper Scott Brown joined the list of those notably missing as he was given a lengthy three-match suspension for his ‘stamp’ on Neymar in our previous Champions League encounter. Who knew that would be our last victory at home in the competition until last month’s win over Slovan Bratislava?
Celtic take on old foes Dynamo Kiev
38 years ago today, Celtic draw 1-1 with Dynamo Kiev in the 1st leg of the European Cup second round. The Hoops had built up a rivalry with Dynamo following Celtic defeating the Soviets in the European Cup Winners Cup in 1966, which was followed by Kiev seeking revenge in 1968, shockingly knocking out the European Cup holders out of the competition in the first round.
Dynamo had nine of the Russian 1986 World Cup team in their side. They were also the European Cup Winners Cup holders having defeated Atletico Madrid in May 1986. During the game, Tommy Burns broke his ankle which led to him being sidelined for six months. Judas’ late goal kept Celtic in the tie but were to be convincingly beaten 3-1 in the return encounter.
The Maestro turns 60 – Happy Birthday Paul
Happy Birthday to The Maestro, Paul McStay. 16 years spent as a one-club man at his boyhood club. McStay, who sits third in Celtic’s all-time record appearances, featured a staggering 683 times in green and white hoops. Winning seven major honours which included two league titles, four Scottish Cup winners’ medals and League Cup champion on seven occasions, it remains a footballing injustice he did not win more as Celtic skipper. Conducting the team in the centre of the park personified the exceptional qualities The Maestro possessed.
The day Celtic defeated VAR and Hearts in seven goal thriller
Two years ago today, Hearts 3-4 Celtic. This match is a good quiz question. Which game was Celtic’s first ever involvement with VAR domestically? Ange Postecoglou became exasperated very quickly with the new technology as Nick Walsh was sent to the monitor to review a Hearts penalty, which he gave.
Shankland scored a hat-trick, but was on the wrong end of the result. The Hoops had four different scorers; James Forrest, Daizen Maeda and Giorgos Giakoumakis were all on target as Greg Taylor was the unlikely hero grabbing the game’s winning goal. A real throwback and a league classic full of action. Celtic also went five points clear ahead of a misfiring Giovanni Van Bronckhorst team.
Conor Spence
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