Celtic on this Day – Goals for Burns, Cascarino, Di Canto, Thompson and Brown

Celtic on this Day – Tony Cascarino scores at Ibrox, Sporting Lisbon hammered, plus wins over Shakhtar Donestk, Hibs and today’s opponents Aberdeen…

Rangers 1-1 Celtic 

Tony Cascarino scores Celtic’s equaliser following a terrible backpass from Nigel Spackman. Signing for a club record fee of £1.1 million from Birmingham in the summer of 1991, Cascarino’s goal at Ibrox was his only notable positive from his brief time spent in Glasgow. He subsequently lived on his finish in front of the Broomloan Road for the rest of his career at the Hoops. Recalling his strike against Rangers he said, “I will never forget the night I scored at Ibrox. I got quite drunk in a Chinese restaurant. I then kept falling asleep, and the waiters kept shaking me to wake me up. All I kept singing was, ‘who put the ball in the Rangers net? I did.’

Celtic 5-0 Sporting Lisbon 

41 years ago today, Celtic 5-0 Sporting Lisbon. Davie Hay’s side overturned a two-goal deficit after a defeat in the Portuguese capital two weeks prior in the first leg. Interestingly, in the opposition dugout at Parkhead was Dr Jo Venglos who would go onto become Hoops manager 15 years later. It was a terrific European night for Celtic and was reminiscent of the spectacular evenings in the late sixties and seventies. Not only leading on the night but when the referee blew his whistle for half-time, the Celts were also ahead in the tie through strikes from Burns, McAdam and Brian McClair which was the pick of the bunch. Further goals from MacLeod and McGarvey late on sealed a place in the third round of the UEFA Cup against Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forrest.

Celtic 1-0 Shakhtar Donestk

20 years ago today, Celtic 1-0 Shakhtar Donestk. Another Champions League home victory, which became the norm so often in the early 2000s. The goal however came through bizarre circumstances. Ukrainian goalkeeper Lastuvka was adjudged by French referee Eric Poulat to have had held onto the ball for too long in his box. As a result, Celtic were awarded an indirect free-kick. Courtesy of Alan Thompson, three points were sealed. It was the only victory Martin O’Neill’s side picked up in the 2004/2005 Champions League campaign.

Celtic 1-0 Aberdeen

2 November 1996, Celtic 1-0 Aberdeen. Di Canio’s punishing strike with 20 minutes remaining meant that Celtic went top of the league on goal difference for the first time of the season. Who remembers Barry Elliot? Substituted on with five to play, he made his first-team debut which was to be his only ever appearance in green and white hoops.

Celtic 5-2 Hibs

Five years ago today, Hibs 2-5 Celtic. Neil Lennon’s side eased their way to the Scottish League Cup final. It was Celtic’s 30th consecutive domestic cup win, a run which would last until November 2021. Doubles from Elyounoussi and Broony with Callum McGregor also netting booked the Hoops a place in the final and a chance to win their 10th successive domestic trophy. Notably, Celtic won the final via Christopher Jullien;s iconic volley.

Conor Spence