14. CELTIC’S FLYING DUTCHMAN
CELTIC 2 – 1 RANGERS
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE, 16 APRIL 2008
Celtic were chasing the financially doped Rangers for the title but had to win to keep our hopes alive. Shunsuke Nakamura scored his first goal against Rangers and what a screamer it was, to give Celtic a deserved lead.
In the second half Walter Smith sent on the loathsome Nacho Novo to try to grab an equaliser against the run of play and the horrible little lowlife duly delivered catching Artur Boruc out as the Celtic goalkeeper got his angles all wrong.
Celtic pushed forward and with twenty minutes remaining another Nakamura shot was stopped on the line by the outstretched hands of Carlos Cuellar. After the Rangers defender was sent off Scott McDonald tamely hit the Celtic penalty and an injured Allan McGregor was able to dive to his left to save.
Celtic’s championship challenge was all but over as play entered the final minute. Gary Caldwell showed great composure to summon up one final assault on the Rangers goal. His precise pass to the head of Scott McDonald resulted in the little striker heading across goal for the flying Dutchman Jan Vennegoor of Heselink to head past the substitute goalkeeper Alexander to put Celtic ahead.
The Championship would be won at Tannadice by another Hesselink header but the stuffing was knocked out of Rangers that night. How we celebrated!
