On This Day: Viduka at the double

Celtic achieved one of their easiest wins of the season on this day in 1999 as Hibs capitulated at Easter Road. Alex McLeish’s side finish sixth that season, and it was clear to see why as they lost their heads in spectacular fashion with two red cards.

A dour first half ended goalless, but things turned in Celtic’s favour just before the hour mark with a sending off for Franck Sauzee, which led to the opener.

The first goal was rather fortuitous. The free kick deep on the left-hand flank was whipped in with venom by L’ubomir Moravcik just before the hour mark, before Henrik Larsson’s header found the boot of Mark Viduka, who got the slightest of slight touches to flick the ball onto the post.

Viduka may have been offside given just how far Hibs goalkeeper Gottskalksson came to punch the ball, but he didn’t care as the ball trickled half a yard over the line to give Celtic the lead.

It got better for the Aussie just ten minutes later; this time in much easier circumstances.

A poorly contested ball in the middle of the park fell to the creative Lubo once again, and with one Hibs defender going and one Hibs defender staying whilst watching Viduka, Lubo picked him out, giving the Australia international yards of space to find his spot, which he did.

Hibs further lost their heads just fifteen minutes later as Paul Lovering was sent off, signalling a strange day at the office for the Edinburgh side.

The Celtic team that day was: Kharine, McNamara, Riseth, Stubbs, Tebily, Moravcik, Blinker, Petrov, Viduka, Lambert, Larsson.

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