Match Pictures | Champions League | Matches: 2006 - 2007 | 2006-2007 Pictures | Forum

Match Review

Celtic slumped in Lisbon as Benfica got revenge for their defeat in Glasgow and Gary Caldwell endured a nightmare. Not all his fault to be fair, and Pearson starting was not a great touch and the midfield was a sieve which made the defence have to work too hard. Benfica had a free run down our left side and we were caned by Benfica for this.

Anyhow, not a great return for the Celts but the Lisbon Lions came onto the pitch at half time as it was another umpteenth anniversary for them, but this time we were all in Lisbon.

Good word also for the Benfica fans, who were brilliant and their stadium was excellent also.

Trivia

• Celtic fans made a great tribute to Benfica in honour of former SL Benfica player Miklós Fehér who died during a match (see story at the end).
• Around 20k went to Lisbon, mainly as it was the 30th anniversary season of the Lisbon Lions, and with many taking over the Estadio National in the afternoon before the game, it was a delight for many with the Lisbon Lions coming onto the pitch with the fans (and also came on at half-time during the main game in the evening).
• 
  

Teams

Benfica:-
Quim, Nelson, Luisao, Ricardo Rocha, Leo, Petit (Beto 84), Karagounis, Nuno Assis, Simao, Nuno Gomes (Mantorras 88), Miccoli (Karyaka 67).

Subs Not Used:- Moretto, Anderson, Miguelito, Paulo Jorge.

Goals:- Caldwell 10 og, Nuno Gomes 22, Karyaka 76.

Booked:- Ricardo Rocha, Leo.


Celtic (4-5-1):-
Boruc, Telfer, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Sno (Zurawski 71), Lennon, Pearson, Maloney (McGeady 64),
Miller.

Subs Not Used:- Marshall, Balde, Riordan, Jarosik, O'Dea.

Booked:- Sno, Maloney, Pearson.

Att:- 49,000

Ref:- Kyros Vassaras (Greece).

Articles

• BBC Match Report
• UEFA Match Report
• WGS says collective blame (BBC)
• WGS - News Conference

KStreet

• MOTM Voting
• Winner - Lee Naylor - (Link to MOTM Winners 2006-07)
  

Pictures

• Match Pictures

Statistics

Match Statistics

Celtic		Benfica
3	Goals scored	0
1	Yellow card	1
0	Red card	0
6	Shots on goal	2
1	Shots wide	10
13	Fouls committed	23
5	Corners	4
1	Offsides	2
29' 29''	Ball. Poss. (time)	24' 22''
55%	Ball. Poss. (%)	45%

Hugh McIlvany
(STimes 2006-11-05)

Lions without a roar

Celtic’s Champions League defeat by Benfica in midweek was no shock — their away results in Europe have long made miserable reading — but it saddened me that the current representatives of the Glasgow club should have suffered such a glaring loss of nerve in the city where I watched Jock Stein’s Lisbon Lions make history nearly 40 years ago. The gloom of the men on the wrong side of a 3-0 scoreline could only be deepened by the knowledge that the stadium crowd in Portugal included the surviving members of the team who became Britain’s first European champions as well as a huge travelling contingent of the most extraordinary support in world football.
However, the past is not only a foreign country but one inhospitable to pilgrimages.

Report (ESPN)

A nightmare first-half display by Celtic defender Gary Caldwell helped Benfica to dish out a 3-0 drubbing in the Champions League Group F match in Lisbon.

The Scotland international scored an own goal after just 10 minutes and, to compound his error, a misplaced header from a long kick by Benfica keeper Quim 12 minutes later allowed Nuno Gomes to grab a second.

A strike by substitute Andrei Karyaka in the 76th minute sealed victory and brought the Portuguese club to within two points of the second-placed Glasgow club with two games remaining.

The Stadium of Light, with around 8,000 Celtic fans inside, provided an inspiring backdrop for the encounter even though it was short of its 65,000 capacity.

The Glasgow club knew three points, and a win for Manchester United against Copenhagen in the other match in the section, would seal their place in the next phase of the tournament.

However, Gordon Strachan could not have imagined how badly the first-half was to go for his team.

There had been little previous danger when Caldwell put through his own goal after just 10 minutes.

Nelson's cross from the right was heading towards Miccoli at the back post when the Scotland international, in his haste to clear, knocked the ball past helpless Hoops' keeper Boruc.

Benfica, roared on by their jubilant fans, moved quickly to grab a second and a good parry from Boruc at his left-hand post was required to prevent Konstantinos Katsouranis' drive from distance finding the net.

More disaster ensued for Caldwell in the 21st minute when another mistake led to the home side going two up.

A long punt from Benfica keeper Quim was heading harmlessly for Boruc but Caldwell inexplicably tried to help the ball on with his head, knocking it Nuno Gomes who drove home from 12 yards out.

Stunned Celtic tried to rally and a Shunsuke Nakamura corner from the right caused some panic in the Benfica defence before the ball was eventually smuggled to safety.

It looked a long way back for the Parkhead side but they began passing the ball with some confidence and as the first half unfolded further, the earlier panic seemed to have evaporated.

However, a further warning was delivered in the 35th minute when a snapshot from Miccoli flew just over Boruc's crossbar.

Moments later, as Celtic pressed again, Pearson missed a good chance to reduce the deficit when he stabbed the ball wide from only 10 yards.

Celtic began the second-half in positive fashion but the hosts remained a threat going forward.

Stephen Pearson had swapped places with Shaun Maloney to give Miller more of a hand in attack but that tactical switch made little difference as the former Rangers and Wolves player was still too isolated.

The Hoops were living dangerously at times and only some desperate defending from centre-back Stephen Cans in the 76th minute prevented Miccoli's close-range drive getting through to test Boruc.

Benfica's defence looked equally fragile but the visitors couldn't get forward with enough support to take advantage.

On the hour mark, a timely intervention from Celtic defender Lee Mayor prevented Nuno Gomes getting through again and, for a spell, the Glasgow side were pinned inside their own penalty area.

Moments later, Caldwell almost made amends for his earlier mistakes when his hooked shot from 12 yards was saved on the line by Quim before the ball was eventually cleared to safety.

The Portuguese continued to press for the third goal and it came in the 76th minute courtesy of substitute Karyaka, who had replaced Miccoli 10 minutes earlier.

Petit sent Nelson scurrying down the right and, when his cross came into the area, Karyaka dispatched the ball swiftly past Boruc from 12 yards.

The visitors were crumbling and only a good block by Boruc with his feet prevented Nuno Gomes making it four with 10 minutes left.

In the dying seconds, a Nakamura free-kick from 65 yards was well-saved by Quim.

But the final whistle ended a night of misery for the Parkhead side, whose dreams of qualifying for the last 16 of the tournament were dealt a blow ahead of their forthcoming meeting with Manchester United at Celtic Park.
From UEFA

Celtic stage Fehér tributeThursday 2 November 2006

©uefa.com 1998-2008. All rights reserved.
Source: Link