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Kilmarnock v Celtic

Saturday 13th March 2010

Robbie Keane the hat-trick star for Celtic
Kilmarnock 0 3

Robbie Keane's second-half hat-trick took Celtic past Kilmarnock in their Active Nation Scottish Cup quarter-final clash at Rugby Park.

The home side had the best of the first period with striker Allan Russell clipping the bar with a shot.

However, the tide turned in the 63rd minute when Keane opened the scoring from Edson Braafheid's long ball and two goals within a minute secured the visitors a place in Monday's semi-final draw.

Like last week's win at Falkirk, where Keane helped himself to a brace, the Republic of Ireland international showed why he is worth his £65,000 per week wages with his eighth goal in eight games since arriving from Tottenham in January.

And having dropped 13 points behind Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders Rangers, Hoops' boss Tony Mowbray will be glad that his side recovered from an indifferent first half in which a cup exit looked possible.

A far from full Rugby Park witnessed a scrappy start to the match.

Celtic captain Scott Brown, playing wide on the right, had the first effort on goal in the fifth minute when he drove at the Killie defence before firing wide from the edge of the box.

Kilmarnock slowly grew in confidence and Russell got the break of the ball in the 14th minute after captain Craig Bryson had driven at the Parkhead defence and his curled shot from 16 yards beat goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska but clipped the top of the bar.

At the other end a Braafheid free-kick from 25 yards was held by Kilmarnock goalkeeper Cameron Bell, who made an even better save when he blocked Keane's close-range shot after he had been threaded in by Marc Crosas.

But Celtic looked rather disjointed with Keane and Morten Rasmussen isolated up front and the home side pressed with purpose, with only the final pass missing.

In the 38th minute Kilmarnock defender Frazer Wright did well to head away Aiden McGeady's cross from under the bar.

At the other end, Bryson then brilliantly burrowed his way past Braafheid and into the Celtic box, but Russell failed to get on the end of his cut-back.

The visitors, apparently rejuvenated by Mowbray's half-time pep-talk, almost broke the deadlock two minutes after the restart.

Killie failed to clear their lines from a Celtic attack, allowing the foraging Keane to chip the ball up for a McGeady volley which was speeding past Bell and towards the top corner until Wright bravely headed clear.

Moments later, Bell palmed a half-volley from McGeady over the bar for another corner, which again the home side survived.

In the 55th minute Russell again hit the woodwork when Tim Clancy's cross from the left was flicked on by Burchill.

As the Parkhead defence hesitated Russell stole in at the near post but Zaluska did enough to prevent the Killie striker getting a clean shot away and the ball hit the post before bouncing wide.

That was the cue for Mowbray to replace Rasmussen with Georgios Samaras and Crosas with Marc-Antoine Fortune.

But in the 63rd minute it was Keane who gave Celtic the lead and it came courtesy of a long and hopeful ball from Braafheid.

The pass caught the Kilmarnock defence sleeping and Keane's first touch took the ball past Bell and he calmly stroked the ball into the empty net.

As Celtic tightened their grip, Bell made another decent save from McGeady's low drive.

However, the tie was all over in the 81st minute when Samaras robbed the hesitant Wright on the touchline and played in Fortune who rolled the ball past Bell for Keane to tap into an empty net.

A minute later Fortune set up Keane again and this time the Hoops' striker almost casually rattled a drive past Bell to take collection of the match ball.

Man of the match : Robbie Keane

Kilmarnock Bell, Clancy, Wright (Kiernan 83), Severin, Kelly,Taouil, Bryson, Hamill, Fowler, Burchill (Invincibile 84),Russell.

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Hay, Fernandez.

Booked: Clancy.

Celtic Zaluska, Hinkel (Wilson 84), Thompson, O'Dea,Braafheid, N'Guemo, Brown, Crosas (Fortune 57), McGeady,Rasmussen (Samaras 57), Keane.

Subs Not Used: Cervi, Ki.

Goals: Keane 64, 81, 82.

Att: 7,351

Ref: I Brines (Scotland).

Falkirk v Celtic

Sunday 07th March 2010

Keane double seals all 3pts for Celtic
Falkirk 0 2

TWO Robbie Keane goals wrapped up the points for Celtic in 2-0 victory over Falkirk at Westfield.

The Irishman was the difference in a tight match against the Bairns, who stay rooted at the bottom of the league.

Tony Mowbray made four changes to the line up who faced Rangers the previous week with Georgios Samaras, Morten Rasmussen and Darren O’Dea replacing the injured Thomas Rogne, Diomansy Kamara and Marc-Antoine Fortune. Marc Crosas lined up in midfield for his first league appearance since the end of January, stepping in for Scott Brown after his red card appeal was thrown out by the SFA.

Celtic started the match brightly, controlling the ball in midfield for the first 15 minutes, but failed to create many chances in front of goal.

Falkirk came back into the game, and midfielder Victor Lima had the first real chance of the game after 20 minutes.

He unleashed a right-footed low drive past Artur Boruc’s right-hand post, before firing another effort over the bar two minutes later.

Keane had a decent chance just before the half-hour mark, but his shot from inside the box was knocked behind for a corner by Falkirk keeper Robert Olejnik.

The Irishman had another chance minutes later when he made a quick turn in front of goal, but he shot straight at the Bairns keeper.

On a Falkirk breakaway, Ryan Flynn drove into space down the right. His cross was met by the on rushing Scott Arfield, but his effort went just wide.

It had been an even contest so far, but Keane put Celtic ahead on 34 minutes. The Irishman picked up a pass from Rasmussen and quickly turned away from his marker.

He controlled the ball and effortlessly slotted the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-0.

But Falkirk continued to look dangerous and Flynn came close to equalising only seconds later when his overhead kick in front of goal was parried away by Boruc.

The home side also finished the half strongly. Showunmi did well to break away from the Celtic defence, but his shot was well off target.

After the break, the Hoops took a while to settle, although Samaras cracked a 30-yard shot towards goal, but it failed to trouble Olejnik.

Steven Pressley’s side began to increase the pressure and came close to equalising on 73 minutes when Lima’s powerful shot blasted just high of Boruc’s bar, before Arfield tested the Polish keeper with a drive from distance.

But it was Keane who popped up again on 79 minutes to wrap up the points for Celtic and calm the nerves in the away end.

He latched on to a Marc Crosas pass on the edge of the box and coolly knocked it past Olejnik.

From then on the Hoops were able to see out the game comfortably.


Man of the match: Darren O’Dea

Falkirk Olejnik, Barr, McLean, Scobbie, Twaddle,Lima (Moutinho 80), O'Brien, Arfield, Flynn, Healy, Showunmi.

Subs Not Used: Wagenaar, Lynch, Compton, Duffy, Davidson, Bloom.

Booked: McLean, Twaddle.

Celtic Boruc, Hinkel, Thompson, O'Dea, Braafheid,Rasmussen (Wilson 90), N'Guemo, Crosas, McGeady, Keane,Samaras (McGowan 90).

Subs Not Used: Zaluska, Naylor, Ki, Zhi, Caddis.

Goals: Keane 34, 79.

Att: 6,792

Ref: B Winter (Scotland).

Rangers v Celtic

Sunday 28th February 2010

Celtic lose all three points with last gap winner
1 0

Maurice Edu's last-gasp winner against Celtic at Ibrox took Rangers a giant step closer to the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title.

Celtic skipper Scott Brown was shown a straight red card by referee Dougie McDonald in the 65th minute after wrestling with Kyle Lafferty, who escaped unpunished.

But, in the dying seconds, Edu, on for Lee McCulloch, slammed the ball in from close range to take the Light Blues 10 points clear of Celtic with a game in hand.

Robbie Keane recovered from his knee injury to make his Old Firm debut while Rangers keeper Allan McGregor was fit enough to take his place between the sticks following an attack after a night out last weekend.

Further edge was added to proceedings following a leak from the Parkhead club during the week in which they aired grievances at some decisions they felt had gone against them this season - including in the two previous matches against Rangers.

Referee McDonald was under increased pressure and the game kicked off in a poisonous atmosphere after Celtic fans disrupted a minute's silence for former Rangers keeper Gerry Neef, who died earlier in the week.

Unsurprisingly, the game got off to a frantic start.

McGregor was called upon to make a good save from Keane with around 30 seconds on the clock, after Hoops striker Marc-Antoine Fortune had escaped past Sasa Papac down the right.

Moments later at the other end, Kris Boyd took a Steven Davis pass, rounded Hoops goalkeeper Artur Boruc but ran the ball too wide and failed to hit the target.

The tempo refused to subside as play swung mostly towards the Rangers goal. In the 17th minute, after Papac had fouled Diomansy Kamara 19 yards out with a wild swing, Keane chipped the free-kick over the bar - to the delight of the Rangers fans.

The home side suffered a blow when midfielder McCulloch caught his studs in the turf and limped off to be replaced by Edu.

Moments later the American drove the ball into the net from the edge of the box with his first touch but referee McDonald ruled the goal out for an infringement inside the area.

Just before the half-hour mark, Boyd sent Kenny Miller racing clear on goal but Boruc blocked the former Celtic player's first shot then collected at the second attempt.

Celtic had to reshuffle moments later when Thomas Rogne pulled up and had to be replaced by Darren O'Dea.

Then McGregor made a great save from Keane's volley after the ball broke to the Irishman on the edge of the box before Fortune drove wide after barging his way through the Ibrox defence.

Celtic had been the better side in the first half but Rangers displayed more purpose and power at the start of the second half.

After Light Blues' right-back Steven Whittaker played the ball in to Boyd's feet inside a packed Hoops' penalty box, O'Dea had to make a saving tackle before the Rangers striker got his shot away.

Boruc then made a fine double save from Davis as the home side stepped up the pressure, although only a poor pass from Landry N'Guemo in a Celtic breakaway prevented Fortune going through on McGregor.

Celtic substitute Georgios Samaras then replaced Aiden McGeady on the hour mark but, in the 65th minute, Hoops skipper Brown was handed a straight red card by McDonald after an altercation with Lafferty on the halfway line.

Celtic changed again, with Ki Sung-Yueng replacing Fortune, while Nacho Novo came on for Lafferty.

Rangers took advantage of the extra man to press for the winner but the Parkhead side still carried a threat on the break.

With eight minutes remaining, Edu flashed a Papac cross over the bar.

The tension and tetchiness increased in the closing stages but the moment of real drama came in injury time when Edu bundled the ball over from close range after a goalmouth scramble.

WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH: Artur Boruc

Rangers McGregor, Whittaker, Bougherra, Weir, Papac, Davis, McCulloch (Edu 26), Thomson, Lafferty (Novo 70), Miller, Boyd.

Subs Not Used: Alexander, Beasley, Fleck, Little, Wilson.

Booked: Bougherra, Miller.

Goals: Edu 90.

Celtic Boruc, Hinkel, Thompson, Rogne (O'Dea 31), Braafheid, Kamara, N'Guemo, Brown, McGeady (Samaras 61), Keane, Fortune (Ki 68).

Subs Not Used: Zaluska, Wilson, Rasmussen, Zhi.

Sent Off: Brown (66).

Booked: Fortune, N'Guemo.

Att: 50,320

Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).

Celtic v Dundee United

Saturday 20th February 2010

Robbie Keane scores winner for the Hoops
1 0

ROBBIE KEANE netted his first goal at Celtic Park to give the Hoops a deserved three points against Dundee United. He struck with 20 minutes on the clock, latching on to a superb through ball from Diomansy Kamara and slotting the ball under the advancing Dusan Pernis.

Chances continued to flow for Tony Mowbray’s men throughout the game, but Keane’s intervention was enough to secure a vital victory which closes the gap with Rangers at top of the table to seven points.

Tony Mowbray made several changes to the team that drew with Aberdeen last week. Thomas Rogne made his first start for the Hoops, partnering fellow teenager Josh Thompson in central defence. Andreas Hinkel returned from injury at right-back, while Ki Sung Yueng took the place of the suspended Aiden McGeady in midfield.

The opening minutes were largely devoid of incident, but Celtic looked the more likely to open the scoring. With United sitting deep, like so many visiting teams at Celtic Park, many of the Hoops’ best openings came on the counter-attack through the pace of Keane, Marc-Antoine Fortune and Diomansy Kamara.

Fortune in particular continued his recent good form by creating havoc down United’s left straight from the kick-off. On several occasions, he beat his marker and cut the ball back across goal, winning a number of corners free-kicks from desperate defending from the visitors. 

The door remained bolted, however, to the 20 minute mark when Keane scored his first goal at Celtic Park. Kamara picked the ball up on the halfway line and played a perfect pass in behind the United defence for the Irishman who beat the offside trap and coolly rolled the ball under the body of Dusan Pernis, before taking the adulation of a jubilant home support.

On the balance of play it was certainly a deserved lead for the Hoops. The visitors, who had barely threatened, won a corner, which Jon Daly headed wide of the far post.

But it was the home side who looked the more likely to add to their tally. Fortune won another free-kick on right in the 33rd minute. Kamara took it quickly, playing a low ball to Keane around the penalty spot, but his effort was blocked by the United defence.

Rogne, who had looked composed and assured at the back on his first Hoops start, also came close to opening his account two minutes later, rising highest at the back-post from a Ki corner, but his header crept agonisingly wide.

As the half drew to a close, the play continued to flow towards the United goal and only Pernis’ reflexes kept the score at 1-0. Keane’s clever movement had caused the Terrors backline all sorts of problems. This time he found space on the left, before finding Fortune with a low pass. The striker’s shot was blocked into the path of the onrushing Scott Brown who stung the United stopper’s hands with a rasping drive.

The Hoops looked determined to continue where they left off in the first-half after the break, with Keane again at the centre of the action. His looping cross picked out Fortune in the six-yard box, but he failed to make a good connection with his shot.

As the half progessed the Terrors began to show more ambition and Buaben had their first strike on goal, firing over from the edge of the area, before Jon Daly dragged another shot wide from distance.

As the visitors grew more adventurous though, it also created more space for the home side to exploit. Kamara rifled in a powerful shot from 25 yards which Pernis struggled to grasp, then Scott Brown collected a loose ball in the box, but shot over with his left foot.

On 62 minutes, Celtic set off on a wonderful counter-attack. One-touch passing saw Kamara rive down the left. His low cross-field ball was picked up by Brown, who played in Keane, but Pernis was equal to the Irishman’s powerful shot, pushing the ball wide for a corner.

A series of substitutions took place from both sides as Celtic looked to consolidate their lead and United pushed for the equaliser.

With 15 minutes remaining, one of the new arrivals, Zheng Zhi showed good composure on the left, timing a ball through for the impressive Landry NGuemo. The Cameroon internationalist raced into the box and drilled a low shot which looked destined for the far corner, until Pernis’ showed great athleticism to turn the ball past the post.

In truth, Celtic had looked secure at the back, but Daly could have stolen an undeserved point when he found himself with just Artur Boruc to beat in the six-yard box with just 10 minutes remainging.

But the Polish keeper, who was also celebrating his birthday, was equal to the task, spreading himself well to pull off an important save. After that the Hoops held on comfortably for a vital three points.

ROBBIE KEANE netted his first goal at Celtic Park to give the Hoops a deserved three points against Dundee United. He struck with 20 minutes on the clock, latching on to a superb through ball from Diomansy Kamara and slotting the ball under the advancing Dusan Pernis.

Chances continued to flow for Tony Mowbray’s men throughout the game, but Keane’s intervention was enough to secure a vital victory which closes the gap with Rangers at top of the table to seven points.

Tony Mowbray made several changes to the team that drew with Aberdeen last week. Thomas Rogne made his first start for the Hoops, partnering fellow teenager Josh Thompson in central defence. Andreas Hinkel returned from injury at right-back, while Ki Sung Yueng took the place of the suspended Aiden McGeady in midfield.

The opening minutes were largely devoid of incident, but Celtic looked the more likely to open the scoring. With United sitting deep, like so many visiting teams at Celtic Park, many of the Hoops’ best openings came on the counter-attack through the pace of Keane, Marc-Antoine Fortune and Diomansy Kamara.

Fortune in particular continued his recent good form by creating havoc down United’s left straight from the kick-off. On several occasions, he beat his marker and cut the ball back across goal, winning a number of corners free-kicks from desperate defending from the visitors. 

The door remained bolted, however, to the 20 minute mark when Keane scored his first goal at Celtic Park. Kamara picked the ball up on the halfway line and played a perfect pass in behind the United defence for the Irishman who beat the offside trap and coolly rolled the ball under the body of Dusan Pernis, before taking the adulation of a jubilant home support.

On the balance of play it was certainly a deserved lead for the Hoops. The visitors, who had barely threatened, won a corner, which Jon Daly headed wide of the far post.

But it was the home side who looked the more likely to add to their tally. Fortune won another free-kick on right in the 33rd minute. Kamara took it quickly, playing a low ball to Keane around the penalty spot, but his effort was blocked by the United defence.

Rogne, who had looked composed and assured at the back on his first Hoops start, also came close to opening his account two minutes later, rising highest at the back-post from a Ki corner, but his header crept agonisingly wide.

As the half drew to a close, the play continued to flow towards the United goal and only Pernis’ reflexes kept the score at 1-0. Keane’s clever movement had caused the Terrors backline all sorts of problems. This time he found space on the left, before finding Fortune with a low pass. The striker’s shot was blocked into the path of the onrushing Scott Brown who stung the United stopper’s hands with a rasping drive.

The Hoops looked determined to continue where they left off in the first-half after the break, with Keane again at the centre of the action. His looping cross picked out Fortune in the six-yard box, but he failed to make a good connection with his shot.

As the half progessed the Terrors began to show more ambition and Buaben had their first strike on goal, firing over from the edge of the area, before Jon Daly dragged another shot wide from distance.

As the visitors grew more adventurous though, it also created more space for the home side to exploit. Kamara rifled in a powerful shot from 25 yards which Pernis struggled to grasp, then Scott Brown collected a loose ball in the box, but shot over with his left foot.

On 62 minutes, Celtic set off on a wonderful counter-attack. One-touch passing saw Kamara rive down the left. His low cross-field ball was picked up by Brown, who played in Keane, but Pernis was equal to the Irishman’s powerful shot, pushing the ball wide for a corner.

A series of substitutions took place from both sides as Celtic looked to consolidate their lead and United pushed for the equaliser.

With 15 minutes remaining, one of the new arrivals, Zheng Zhi showed good composure on the left, timing a ball through for the impressive Landry NGuemo. The Cameroon internationalist raced into the box and drilled a low shot which looked destined for the far corner, until Pernis’ showed great athleticism to turn the ball past the post.

In truth, Celtic had looked secure at the back, but Daly could have stolen an undeserved point when he found himself with just Artur Boruc to beat in the six-yard box with just 10 minutes remainging.

But the Polish keeper, who was also celebrating his birthday, was equal to the task, spreading himself well to pull off an important save. After that the Hoops held on comfortably for a vital three points.

WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH: Robbie Keane

Celtic Boruc, Hinkel, Thompson, Rogne, Braafheid (Naylor 77),Brown, Ki, N'Guemo, Kamara (Zhi 71), Keane,Fortune (Samaras 79).

Subs Not Used: Zaluska, Rasmussen, Wilson, Crosas.

Booked: Hinkel, Braafheid, Keane.

Goals: Keane 20.

Dundee Utd Pernis, Kovacevic (Dods 83), Webster, Kenneth,Dillon, Swanson (Myrie-Williams 67), Buaben, Gomis, Conway,Casalinuovo (Goodwillie 67), Daly.

Subs Not Used: Banks, David Robertson, Shala, McCord.

Booked: Kenneth, Dillon.

Att: 49,000

Ref: C Thomson (Scotland).

Aberdeen v Celtic

Saturday 13th February 2010

Celts held in Pittodrie thiller
4 4