Home | Champions League 2007-2008 | 2007 Matches | Benfica | Forum

Quick Review
Many fans may have felt downhearted after the last game where we lost with 2mins to go and no Nakamura starting, but somehow we pulled off a great 1-0 win having been under the cosh badly in the first 17mins. McGeady played a blinder of a game, and for the first time that I can ever think of the whole Celtic support rose to applaud his performance. He didn't stop running and pestering the Benfica defence, and he scored a good goal (albeit with a bit of a deflection). Anyhow, the defence is still shakey, and its onto the Shakter game at home which is practically a cup tie sudden death for the both of us.

Also Benfica player sent off for what must rank as one of the worst unprovoked tackles/assaults on a player ever at Parkhead. Scott Brown was lucky not to have a broken leg.

Trivia

• No Nakamura in squad (injured and knackered etc)
• Celtic continue with their fortress Celtic routine, winning again at home (although away record is still a joke).
• Again like last campaign, the aggregate v Benfica in scores is tied with again neither scoring away from home against each other (3-3 in 2006-07, 1-1 in 2007-08 campaigns).
• Benfica player (Binya) committed a horrendous tackle lucky not break Scott Brown's leg. Correctly sent off for it, and should get hammerred for it by the authorities.Edit: He has received a 6 game ban subject to appeal.
• Referee was well praised for not falling for diving antics and letting the game flow.

Teams

Celtic team:- Boruc, Caldwell, Kennedy, McManus, Naylor, Scott Brown (Sno 89), Hartley, Jarosik (Donati 66), McGeady, Vennegoor of Hesselink (Killen 66), McDonald.

Subs Not Used:- Mark Brown, Zurawski, Riordan, O'Dea.

Goal:- McGeady 45

Benfica team:- Quim, Luis Felipe, Edcarlos, Luisao, Leo, Katsouranis, Rui Costa (Bergessio 77), Pereira (Di Maria 61), Binya, Rodriguez, Cardozo (Nuno Gomes 77).

Subs Not Used:- Butt, Zoro, Nuno Assis, Adu.

Sent Off:- Binya (85).

Booked:- Pereira.

Att: 52,000

Ref: Martin Hansson (Sweden).



Articles

• Match Report
  
• UEFA Report
  
• Manager Interview

Links

• Benfica

Pictures

• Match Pictures

KStreet

• Pre-match
• Match
• MoTM - McGeady (Link to MOTM Winners)
• Post-match

Stats

Celtic		Benfica
1	Goals scored	0
0	Yellow card	1
0	Red card	1
7	Shots on goal	5
6	Shots wide	7
11	Fouls committed	15
7	Corners	7
2	Offsides	0
34' 49''	Ball. Poss. (time)	29' 38''
54%	Ball. Poss. (%)	46%

Match Report


International Herald Tribune (by Rob Hughes) :
"Cowards do, alas, exist in soccer. Late in Glasgow Celtic's 1-0 home victory over Benfica, there was a foul of such ugly intent that it warranted more punishment than the referee could give. Augustin Binya, 23, from Cameroon, used his studs to stomp on the outstreched leg of Celtic's Scott Brown. The red card is not enough. We wait, probably in vain, for a club courageous enough to fire a player who perpetrates such violence. Brown has only bruising, but his career could have been broken. Benfica, with all its fine tradition, should ensure that Binya never gets a second chance to maim an opponent in its colors."