Celtic will take on Austrian side SK Sturm Graz on Thursday night in the Europa league at Celtic Park in what will be the first time the two clubs have been paired together in a competitive fixture…
Celtic however has played against many of Austrian sides throughout the years such as the well known sides Rapid Vienna and Red Bull Salzburg. However there’s one Austrian team that might not roll off the tongue so much is Tirol Innsbruck, a side Celtic were thrown against in the second round qualifier of the UEFA Cup back in August 1997.
After riding our luck in the first leg in Austria, Wim Jansen’s still gelling together Celtic side headed back with a chance of qualifying thanks to a stellar performance between the sticks by Jonathan Gould, and Alan Stubbs who’s late away goal gave us hope, with the tie firmly poised at two goals to one in the Austrian’s favour.
We more than fancied our chances at a packed Celtic Park on that summer’s evening, and what followed in the next ninety minutes, will live long in the memory of anyone who had the privilege of being present.
After a quiet but robust start, we got the goal we wanted when Simon Donnelly fired us ahead eleven minutes before the interval. We were now ahead on aggregate and the momentum was well and truly with the green and white hoops. However in predictable Celtic fashion on a European night, a major spanner in the thrown in the works when the visitors equalised soon after.
But such is the topsy turvy nature of our game, Andreas Thom fired us into the lead just before the interval to level the tie on aggregate. It was just what we needed as the break approached, boosting our spirits and hopes of a second half surge, when yes you guessed it, the Austrians levelled the match yet again thanks to an own goal from a certain Henrik Larsson.
From a major high, to immediate deflation, the supporters stunned, and the player dejected as they trooped off at half time, in the full knowledge that we now needed two goals to advance in the tie.
After the interval the rejuvenated players went for the visitors from the first whistle, but the Austrians proved a hard side to break down, confident that they could protect their advantage.
Then on the 69th minute, a glimmer of hope when Simon Donnelly converted a spot kick to give us a much needed boost, and it was now firmly game on. Whilst still celebrating Sid’s goal, the decibels were raised ever so slightly higher when Craig Burley made it four and put us ahead on aggregate.
But with twenty or so minutes still remaining, it was imperative we kept our concentration as Tirol would throw everything at us, as they after all now had nothing to lose. And so it would prove, when they got their reward as they pulled it back to 4-3, but more importantly they were ahead on aggregate, and looked like advancing at Celtic’s expense.
But traditionally throughout the years Celtic never give up, famed for our last gasp triumphs, and we were soon celebrating again when Morten Weighorst fired us ahead once again on the 87th minute. That didn’t stop the nerves however, as with a few minutes still remaining the Austrians would go for broke.
Many in the ground would have been casting their minds back eight years, when a similar sort of scenario unfolded in a dramatic night in Paradise that seen Partizan Belgrade win on aggregate due to away goals in the Cup Winners Cup, despite Celtic running out 5-4 winners on the night.
With time ticking away, and the supporters biting what they had left on their nails, Henrik larsson took the ball on a mazy run, and instead of going to the corner flag, he found the advancing Craig Burley who made no mistake from close range to make it game set and match.
With the ball nesting in the net, it was literally over as the full time whistle sounded. Those who attended despite having their nerves shot to pieces, would recall this night with great fondness in the coming years.
And it was also the first sign that in our new signing Henrik Larsson, despite his own goal, we had a rather special player on our hands. Afterwards Henrik had this to say about his eventful start to what would become a glittering career at Celtic.
“My own goal was unbelievable and after making Chic Charnley such a big man in Scotland because of my mistake which let him win the first league match for Hibs, I didn’t want to go out of the UEFA Cup because of my assist. I saw the large headlines saying: ‘Larsson knocks Celtic out of Europe!’ and I didn’t want that.”
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Celtic in the Thirties in Two Volumes – Brilliantly researched and written by Matt Corr. An unmissable addition to any Celtic bookshelf. Click on the image below to order your copies…
