Celtic 3 Aberdeen 2

Scottish Premier League
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Celtic Park, Glasgow
CELTIC v ABERDEEN
CELTIC (4-4-2) Boruc; Wilson, Loovens, McManus, Naylor; Nakamura, Crosas, S Brown, Maloney; Vennegoor of Hesselink, Samaras.
Subs: M Brown, McGeady, McDonald, Hartley, Donati, O’Dea, Caddis.
ABERDEEN (4-4-2) Langfield; Foster, Diamond, Mair, Hodgkiss; Young, Severin, Kerr, Duff; Mackie, Miller.
Subs: Bossu, Mulgrew, McDonald, Wright, Maguire, Aluko, Smith.

Nice possession play by Celtic as the game kicks off. New Bhoys Loovens and Crosas both getting early touches of the ball.

Wilson does well to win possession, side-stepping a Severin challenge before winning a throw in off Duff on the right.

Scott Brown clears as Darren Mackie gets to a Young ball down by the corner flag and fires in a cross which initially comes off McManus.

Maloney wins a free kick on the left, on the corner of the box, after being impeded by Kerr. Maloney takes, ball easily claimed by Langfield.

Langfield comes out to collect an overhit pass, fired down the left channel, as Samaras threatens.

Miller caught by Wilson, 25 yards out in front of goal. Severin takes, but also overhits his delivery, sending it spinning out of play.

Chance for Aberdeen, but Miller fails to find Mackie, with the striker through on goal.

Artur Boruc is caught by Miller as he attempts to clear the ball. Goalie brushes off the challenge, but McManus needs treatment after landing awkwardly after challenging for a ball.

McManus returns to the fray with a bandaged left arm.

Goal for Celtic, great persistent and patient play. Vennegoor wins a knock down, laying off to Samaras ten yards inside Aberdeen half. Greek sprints through the heart of the Aberdeen defence and is halted on the penalty spot by a Mair challenge. Scott Brown nips in and lays the ball off to the onrushing Vennegoor of Hesselink, who places it, through a pack of players, into the bottom corner. 1-0 Celtic!

Hopelessly wayward shot from Severin almost hits the corner flag! Decent chance squandered.

Celtic clear their lines as Aberdeen attempt to play their way into the back of the net with a series of one-twos.

Crosas clears on the line, heading the ball away after Diamond almost heads home from a corner.

Loovens goes to sleep, allowing Miller to steal in behind the defence, but Boruc is out quickly, saving Miller's attempted chip.

More great play from Celtic, with Samaras the hold up man and Nakamura and Wilson combining well before the latter lifts in a cross to the back post which just evades Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Naylor gets in Nakamura's way as he attempts to get on the end of a ball, with both players falling as the ball runs out of play.

Severin limps off injured, with Jimmy Calderwood telling Charlie Mulgrew to get stripped.

Charlie Mulgrew on for Scott Severin.

Mulgrew immediately steps up and takes a free kick which is easily collected by Boruc.

More great play by Celtic, with Nakamura getting on the end of a tidy Vennegoor of Hesselink lay off and forcing a block from Hodgkiss.

Samaras almost gets through, with Foster just doing enough to block his run at goal.

Hodgkiss impedes Naylor after the left back gets beyond him. Free kick given six yards up from the byline, but is cleared at the near post and thn hooked away at the edge of the box by Mackie.

Samaras tees up Naylor for a cross which finds Vennegoor of Hesselink at the back post. His header is saved by Langfield at his near post.

Nakamura shows great control to stop a Crosas pass down at the byline, then cuts it back to the Spaniard who threads in a lovely ball for Brown which just evades the midfielder.

More great play from Celtic! Brown at the heart of it, with the move breaking down as Vennegoor's back heel fails to find a taker.

Positive spell of Aberdeen possession ends with Kerr firing wide. Celtic just couldn't get the ball off their opponents.

Duff sends a shot high over the bar from the edge of the box after being teed up by a poor clearance by Naylor.

Naylor fires wide after being set up by Samaras.

Referee adds on two additional minutes.

Nakamura wins Celtic a corner with a lovely ball in behind the defence for Wilson. Naka takes, ball goes out of play at the other end of the park.

HALF TIME WHISTLE SOUNDS - Celtic 1 Aberdeen 0 - Vennegoor of Hesselink, 15.

SECOND HALF

Samaras forces a good save from Langfield with a swerving effort from the edge of the box.

Samaras wins free kick almost 30 yards from goal. Naka's low attemnpt is collected by Langfield.

Official attendance:58,565

Maloney concedes a free kick 20 yards up the left flank. Mulgrew delivers, Boruc misses the punch, the ball sails out of play but Mark Wilson is injured in an accidental collision.

CORRECTION - Glenn Loovens is injured, but returns to his feet and jogs off after treatment.

Equaliser for Aberdeen - cross sails across goal and finds Mulgrew at the back post, unmarked, who powers in a low finish. 1-1.

CELTIC SUB - McGeady on for Maloney

Glenn Loovens comes close with a header at the back post.

Scott McDonald on for Marc Crosas.

Miller down injured after a strong challenge from Loovens which wins the ball. No free kick given.

Loovens hooks away a Mackie cross as Aberdeen continue to threaten.

McDonald fires over a shot from the edge of the box as Celtic push forward.

McDonald lay off to McGeady, who's cross is cleared on the edge of the six yard box by Diamond.

McManus's back post header from a Nakamura corner powered wide. Big defender unsighted as he went for the ball.

ABERDEEN SUB - Wright on for Miller.

Nakamura attempt from the edge of the box sails over the bar.

Free kick given against Brown on the edge of the Aberdeen box, breaking up a Celtic attack. Celtic player clearly won the ball!

CELTIC SCORE!!!!! 91st minute, McGeady's cross helped on at the near post by McDonald, flicked home a yard out by Vennegoor of Hesselink!!! 3-2 Celtic!

Celtic sub - Samaras off, Hartley on

Aberdeen sub - Aluko on for Hodgkiss.

Nakamura gives away possession, Aberdeen break, Mackie onto the through ball, lifts his shot wide of the goal.

Final whistle sounds after five minutes of addtional time.

FULL TIME - Celtic 3 Aberdeen 2