July to December 2003 match reports
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Fixture List & results for season 2003-2004 |
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Celtic v Sevilla FC
Tuesday 25th May 2004
Henrik's Farewell
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Thankfully "King of Kings" Henrik Larsson had seven regal years of memories behind him as his finale proved to be a bit of anti-climax at Parkhead on Tuesday night.
The super Swedish striker had won everything in the Scottish game during a glorious stay in Glasgow and turned the Tennent's Scottish Cup final on its head on Saturday.
The fans and Larsson too will remember fondly those many glory days in the Hoops for years to come and not this £1million benefit, which begged the question why it ever went ahead.
His adoring worshippers, to their eternal credit, still packed out the stadium in the Swede's merchandise and watched Chris Sutton steal the limelight with the winner.
It was, however, memorable for returning former goalkeeper Jonathan Gould and John Hartson, who made his first start in four months after back surgery.
Mike McCurry also seemed to be trying to gatecrash the party with some ridiculous refereeing in a game he lost control of.
Seville also made it clear early on that they had not come for a holiday in the Glasgow sunshine and were threatening to ruin Larsson's night.
Gould was called into action after just two minutes when Jose Luis Marti struck a sweet shot from inside the area and the Preston man pushed the ball away.
He was beaten, however, four minutes later by a Marti header, from Gerardo Torrado's cross but Alan Thompson was on hand to clear the ball off the line.
But Stilian Petrov and Stanislav Varga showed Celtic's commitment to Larsson with strong tackles before Hartson almost put the Swede through on goal.
The Welshman was hoping he might be the man to replace Larsson next season and he went close to breaking the deadlock in the 27th minute.
Thompson swung an inviting cross to the back post and the leaner-looking Welshman rose to thunder a header towards the goal but Francisco Gallardo was right behind it.
Engliah duo Thompson and Sutton looked agitated throughout the first half despite their double-winning success this season.
Larsson was also desperate to score and he had to wait until the 33rd minute for his first chance of glory on the night.
Thompson swung in another free-kick into the box and he leapt in trademark fashion but he headed just past the post.
Larsson's curling free-kick was comfortably saved by Gallardo in the 40th minute after the Seville defence were pushed back for coming forward.
A weary season looked to have caught up on Bobo Balde moments later as Antonio Lopez seized on his poor head back but Varga came to his rescue with a vital tackle.
To illustrate just how fired up Celtic were Varga almost lost his temper as he pulled back his clenched fist, after a foul by Magallanes, but quickly realised it was a friendly.
Larsson turned provider in the 55th minute to thread the ball through to Hartson but his touch allowed Gallardo the time to rush off his line to save at his feet.
Celtic finally came to life in the 59th minute when Hartson flicked the ball to Sutton and and he found Larsson at the back post but he headed back across goal and the chance went.
But Sutton pinched the Swede's thunder moments later with Neil Lennon the unlikely contributor as he swung in the ball and the Englishman headed home from close range.
That revived the crowd but a triple substitution and some terrible refereeing by McCurry threatened to suck the life out of it again.
The official managed to lose grip of a friendly and booked Torrado before Gould, Hartson and Balde made way for Michael McGovern, Momo Sylla and Joos Valgaeren.
McCurry booked Redondo for a foul on Lennon as both sets of players began to look jaded with the summer holidays getting closer.
Sutton almost grabbed a double of his own in the 75th minute after forgotten man Sylla crossed and he fired wide of the post.
On came Kevin McBride and Jamie Smith for Thompson and Petrov and it was Smith which gave Larsson the ideal opportunity to cap his farewell with a goal with five minutes left.
The youngster cut inside and chipped the ball into his path but he headed straight at Gallardo.
But after seven glorious years of great memories the fans still chanted the name of Celtic's most important signing of recent times long into the night.
Celtic v Dunfermline Athletic
Saturday 22nd May 2004
2004 Tennents Scottish Cup Final
Trophy Presentation (take2)
The legend bows out in style
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Henrik Larsson marked his last competitive game in a Celtic shirt with two goals as Martin O'Neill's men came from behind to beat Dunfermline 3-1 in the Tennent's Scottish Cup final.
The Swede netted twice after the break and Stilian Petrov made sure late on with the third to enable the Hoops fans to celebrate a league and cup double.
But the victory was not achieved without controversy as a handball in the Celtic box by Bobo Balde with the score at 1-0 to Dunfermline was missed by referee Stuart Dougal just seconds before Larsson scored his first.
Jimmy Calderwood's side put in an excellent battling performance and deserved their half-time lead courtesy of Andrei Skerla's header.
Gary Dempsey, who scored the winner at Parkhead in the league match, fired an early free-kick inches over and many of the Pars fans at the other end thought it had gone in.
Then a fine passing movement opened up the Celtic defence, although Stevie Crawford spoiled all that good work with a hurried finish.
Celtic had the majority of the possession and there was plenty of defending for Dunfermline to do but few clear-cut chances came the champions' way in the first period, with Chris Sutton appealing in vain for a penalty after a bump with Skerla.
Larsson also had a forlorn appeal when a poorly-timed free-kick hit an arm in the wall just before half-time.
Other Dunfermline chances had come and gone before Skerla opened the scoring to everyone's surprise.
Didier Agathe's inability to defend almost cost his side in the 21st minute when he failed to cut out a long, diagonal ball to the back post from Pars skipper Barry Nicholson.
Craig Brewster took the ball down to fire in a shot but Marshall made a smart stop to deny the 38-year-old.
Within seconds Richie Byrne's long ball had sent Crawford beyond the Celtic backline but his lob did not have the beating of Marshall.
Celtic's best chance of the first half was created and missed by Alan Thompson, who exchanged passes with Sutton to stroke the ball inches wide of Derek Stillie's left-hand post.
Aaron Labonte made a fine tackle on Petrov in the box when there was no margin of error before Brewster was booked for climbing over Neil Lennon in the 29th minute.
Petrov had the ball in the net in the 34th minute but the linesman indicated Larsson had fouled Labonte in the build-up.
A corner was delivered to Lithuanian Skerla who was a long way out when he headed Dempsey's delivery goalwards but, although Derek Young and Agathe were close to him on the line, there was no reason why the Celtic goalkeeper should have allowed the ball to drop into the net.
Dunfermline were ecstatic and Dempsey sent a rasping long-range shot just over.
Celtic roared back after the break and Stillie was called into action twice by his own team-mates, first when he punched a clearance that bounced back off Byrne and when a free kick was deflected off Labonte.
Gary Mason hacked off the line from a corner and Stillie made tip-overs, punches and catches before finally picking the ball out of the net in the 58th minute.
The Pars had gone up for a corner but when that was booted downfield only Labonte was there to challenge Larsson. He slipped at the crucial moment and could only watch as the Swede disappeared to curl the ball effortlessly past Stillie.
However, the ball had hit Balde's outstretched arm from the corner, which was spotted by the Pars players but not the referee.
Darren Young was booked in the 65th minute before Larsson made it 2-1 six minutes later with a peach of a finish.
The striker received the ball with his back to goal from Thompson and turned Labonte from just inside the box before stroking the ball past Stillie.
Petrov made sure in the 84th minute by accepting a Wallace pass and, after negotiating his way past the luckless Labonte, slotted past the keeper.
Teams:
Dunfermline: Stillie, Darren Young, Skerla, Byrne (Tod 88), Mason (Grondin 82), Nicholson, Dempsey (Bullen 60), Derek Young, Labonte, Brewster, Crawford.
Subs Not Used: Scott Y Thomson, Mehmet.
Booked: Brewster, Darren Young.
Goals: Skerla 40.
Celtic: Marshall, Varga, Balde, McNamara, Agathe, Lennon, Petrov, Pearson (Wallace 58), Thompson, Larsson, Sutton.
Subs Not Used: McGovern, Lambert, Mjallby, Beattie.
Booked: Lennon.
Goals: Larsson 58, 71, Petrov 84.
Att: 50,846
Ref: S Dougal (Scotland).
Celtic v Dundee United
Sunday 16th May 2004
Henrik signs off with a double
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The "King of Kings" left it late to secure his crowning glory in Paradise as Henrik Larsson hit two golden goals in his final competitive appearance at Parkhead.
After a sparkling seven-year stint as Celtic star striker, it looked like a final day of frustration as he squandered a throne-full of chances.
But after his team-mates had done everything but put the ball in the net for him, he pounced twice in the last nine minutes to take his Bank of Scotland Premier League tally to 30, before the visitors scored a late Mark Wilson penalty.
There was a carnival atmosphere at Parkhead with the championship trophy presentation and dramatic last-gasp victory over Rangers still fresh in the memory.
United came to spoil the party though and they were almost celebrating in the eighth minute after an uncharacteristic fumble from teenage goalkeeper David Marshall.
The youngster failed to hold a Barry Robson corner and Didier Agathe blocked Collin Samuel's goalbound shot and then Chris Sutton diverted Charlie Miller's follow-up behind.
At the other end Larsson would have eased the pressure on himself with a 12th-minute goal but for the heroics of Paul Gallacher.
He soared above the United defence to head Alan Thompson's free-kick towards the corner of the net but the Scotland goalkeeper flung himself to his right to tip the ball around the post.
Larsson showed his unselfish side in the 21st minute to coolly backheel the ball into the path of Stephen Pearson, after Sutton had flicked on Thompson's chip into the area, but the young player of the season's powerful shot was well pushed away by Gallacher.
The Swede was given a difficult chance to score on the half-hour when Petrov picked him out in the area - but he screwed his first-time right-foot shot wide of the post.
Gallacher again frustrated the champions in the 36th minute but he was not quite as convincing as before as he pushed McNamara's low long-range effort behind.
The Celtic man was back to doing what he does best in the 38th minute in getting ahead of Samuel in defence to put Robson's cross behind for a corner.
The game flowed and Pearson's cross-cum-shot was deflected wide before he came agonisingly close to converting McNamara's ball across the face of goal.
Celtic stepped up the pressure after the break and Larsson's shot was deflected before Sutton's header, from a Thompson corner, was saved by Gallacher.
Pearson was unfortunate in the 48th minute with a chip over the goalkeeper which went just wide of the upright.
Larsson was presented with another glorious chance seconds later from Thompson's throughball but he blazed into the sidenetting.
United responded again and Marshall did well to save Charlie Miller's shot from Jason Scotland's cross and then rush out to save at the feet of the former Rangers man.
It was not looking like Larsson's day as again he missed the target, this time with a header, after Agathe had picked him out in the box with an inviting deep cross.
The Swede went close again in the 58th minute with a flick over his head after McCracken had made a mess of Agathe's cross.
Samuel could have snatched the lead in the 61st minute but he headed Wilson's cross straight into the hands of Marshall.
Larsson fired a low shot straight at Gallacher from Sutton's pass, missed again with possibly one of the easiest chances he has ever had in his seven years at Parkhead as he blasted over from inside the six-yard box, before turning and firing over the top moments later from Sutton's flick-on.
Scotland went down in the box under the challenge of Varga before Marshall frustrated the visitors further with a point-blank save from Robson.
Robson was booked for a foul on Sutton which proved decisive for Celtic and Larsson, who finally bagged the goal he craved so badly.
Thompson swung in the free-kick and the top marksman got ahead of Gallacher to head into an empty net.
Larsson was not finished and he scored his second with just six minutes left to divert Agathe's cross past Gallacher and into the corner of the net.
Moments later Varga gave away a penalty for a foul on Scotland and Wilson sent Marshall the wrong way.
Ian McCall was seething soon after when his side failed to give his side a second penalty after Robson had gone down in the area.
As a result the United manager was sent to the stand for the final seconds and missed a tearful Larsson making a final league bow in front of his adoring worshippers.
Teams
Celtic Marshall, Balde, Varga, McNamara, Agathe, Lennon, Petrov, Pearson, Thompson (Wallace 87), Larsson, Sutton.
Subs Not Used: McGovern, Lambert, Beattie, Mjallby.
Goals: Larsson 81, 84.
Dundee Utd Gallacher, Innes, McCracken, Archibald, Wilson, Kerr, Miller, Easton (Holmes 84), Robson, Samuel (James Paterson 74), Scotland (Scott Paterson 90).
Subs Not Used: Bullock, Duff.
Booked: Kerr, Robson.
Goals: Wilson 87 pen.
Att: 58,386
Ref: J Underhill (Scotland).
Motherwell v Celtic
Wednesday 12th May 2004
Unbeaten away record preserved
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Terry Butcher's youngsters waved good riddance to the controversial Fir Park pitch for another season - but Craig Beattie denied them a winning send-off.
David Clarkson looked set to overshadow Stephen Pearson's anticipated first return to his former club with a strongly disputed goal which had more than a hint of offside.
But the youngster emerged from the shadows of missing trio Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton and John Hartson to give the inexperienced champions a draw.
Martin O'Neill made eight changes from the side which completed a whitewash of wins over Rangers at Parkhead on Saturday ahead of the Tennent's Scottish Cup final.
But the clutch of first-team stars would not have minded missing out on the risk of serious injury on the Fir Park potato patch ahead of the showpiece with Dunfermline.
It was no surprise both sets of players found it hard to control or predict the bounce of the ball before even trying to contemplate anything which resembled football.
Celtic did their best with Manchester United-bound Liam Miller and Pearson showing some good early touches which infuriated the home crowd even further.
But the ambitious Scotland international ignored that and almost put Craig Beattie through in the sixth minute - but Barry John Corr raced off his line to clear.
Scott McDonald thought he had given the home side a shock lead in the 17th minute when he headed the ball home from close range, after Clarkson had flicked Stephen Craigan's cross over the head of Marshall - but the linesman rightly had his flag up for offside.
Beattie was raging with John Rowbotham in the 21st minute when he ran at Craigan and appeared to be tripped just outside the box but the referee ignored his pleas.
The home side again did well to play some football in the 24th minute when McDonald picked Alex Burns out in the area but Stephen McManus did well to block his shot.
At the other end Ross Wallace kept on teasing the Motherwell defence and his deep cross was inviting his team-mates to attack it - but Jamie Smith could not make a telling connection.
The youngster's trickery almost brought him a frustrated kicking in the 36th but Paul Quinn fortunately could not get near him with a reckless swipe which escaped a booking.
The second half started as uninspiring as the first and Clarkson summed up the action with a shot which flashed wide of the post from Burns' pass.
So bad was the game that the Motherwell supporters turned their attentions to annoying the stewards with a beachball.
But the match finally came to life when Miller lunged at Martyn Corrigan late with two feet and earned the midfielder a deserved yellow card.
But Motherwell snatched a controversial lead in the 64th minute through Clarkson despite a big suggestion of offside.
Burns ran onto Quinn's through-ball and as the Celtic defence stood expecting the flag to go up he played the ball across goal for the youngster to steer the ball home.
McGeady did not want to be outdone and he pushed his long-range effort around the post before unconvincingly keeping his corner out at the near post.
The same player should have pulled the champions level in the 73rd minute after Beattie had nodded Wallace's cross into his path but he snatched at it and blazed over the bar.
Lennon was booked for upsetting Rowbotham moments later before Clarkson missed a glorious chance to kill Celtic off in the 77th minute.
Marshall kept Craigan's header out, from Jason Dair's corner, but the youngster blazed over from under the crossbar.
That proved costly, however, as Celtic drew themselves level in the 79th minute when Beattie arrived at the near post to head Smith's corner across the goalline.
McManus was booked late on for a foul on Kenny Wright before Burns headed straight at Marshall from eight yards.
Teams
Motherwell: Corr, Quinn, Craigan, Corrigan, Hammell, Lasley, Fagan (Fitzpatrick 69), Burns, Dair, Scott McDonald (Wright 84), Clarkson (Kevin McDonald 86).
Subs Not Used: Higgins, Reid.
Goals: Clarkson 64.
Celtic: Marshall, Mjallby, Lennon, McManus, Smith, Miller, Lambert, Pearson, Wallace, McGeady, Beattie.
Subs Not Used: McNamara, Balde, Douglas, Varga, McBride.
Booked: Miller, Lennon, McManus.
Goals: Beattie 79.
Att: 7,749
Ref: J Rowbotham (Scotland).
Celtic v Rangers
Saturday 8th May 2004
Celtic round off season of slaughter with win over Rangers lambs
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Chris Sutton's dramatic injury-time winner inflicted the ultimate humiliation on Alex McLeish's trophyless side with an Old Firm whitewash at Parkhead Saturday.
All-conquering Celtic were looking to rub salt into their arch-rivals' already weeping wounds by becoming the first side since 1964 to win five Glasgow derby games in a season and collect a clean sweep of victories, which has not been done since 1972.
It looked beyond them when the fourth official signalled two extra minutes before the Englishman scored with a stunning injury-time chip.
Before that dramatic winner this game was going to be remembered more for the six yellow cards in a bad-tempered end-of-season showdown and the brave display of Stefan Klos and his defence to keep out Henrik Larsson and Co.
The Swede failed to finish off his seven-year Old Firm career with a goal despite a hatful of chances but it was his strike partner and Footballers' Player of the Year who pounced with the goal to bring their first victory at Parkhead since beating Barcelona on March 11.
But Celtic were still 13 points clear of the Ibrox side.
The atmosphere was as hostile as any Old Firm meeting this season but the Celtic fans were celebrating prematurely after just two minutes.
Stanislav Varga steered Alan Thompson's free-kick past Klos, after Didier Agathe had been pulled back by Paolo Vanoli, but referee Hugh Dallas spotted a foul by Larsson.
Rangers were understandably desperate to avoid five straight Glasgow derby defeats in the same season and enjoyed some good early pressure.
But in the 16th minute Frank de Boer tripped Stephen Pearson but Larsson's low free-kick from 20 yards was comfortably saved by Klos.
The German needed to palm Larsson's flick-on away from under his post with Sutton pressuring him.
Thompson was pelted with missiles as he attempted to take a corner in the 21st minute but Bobo Balde was unable to connect with his cross.
Rangers continued to break with intent and Stephen Hughes' strike was deflected over the top in the 26th minute.
Referee Dallas harshly penalised Vanoli for a challenge on Larsson but justice was done when Varga headed Thompson's free-kick over the crossbar from six yards.
Neil Lennon was incensed a minute later when he spoken to by Dallas for a full-blooded challenge with Fernando Ricksen even though the Dutchman went over the top.
Hughes saw another shot deflected over but Rangers would have snatched the lead in the 38th minute but for a great save from David Marshall.
Mikel Arteta swung in an excellent cross and de Boer's glancing header looked destined for the back of the net but the teenager flung himself and diverted his effort away from goal.
But Marshall breathed a sigh of relief moments later when he failed to hold Michael Mols' fierce shot but Steven Thompson was unable to keep the rebound down.
Chris Burke was Rangers' best hope but his brilliant run and ball across the face of goal was not rewarded as no team-mate was in support.
Balde then did superbly well with a vital last-ditch tackle in the box to prevent Mols from getting a shot on goal.
But it would not be an Old Firm game without a yellow card for Ricksen and that soon followed for another poor challenge.
Celtic were clearly angered and Petrov should have done better in the 59th minute but his weak left-foot effort was pushed around the post by Klos with Pearson overlapping.
The Bulgarian thought that he had finally broken the deadlock two minutes later but he fired Larsson's cross into the side netting.
Petrov was looking for a penalty in the 64th minute when he charged into the box to control Larsson's ball but he fell easily under the challenge of Vanoli.
Pearson was booked for a mis-timed tackle on Burke before Agathe then fired into the side of the net following a frightening burst of pace.
Sutton then swivelled onto Pearson's header but failed to get enough power to beat Klos before Hughes was booked for a foul on Pearson.
Klos showed just why he was Rangers' player of the season as he pulled off a brilliant save from Sutton before a great double stop to deny Larsson.
The Englishman was the next man shown a yellow card for a foul on Ricksen before Larsson squandered another glorious chance to sign off in style.
With seven minutes remaining Petrov teed the Swede up but he tamely fired straight at the German goalkeeper and Sutton copied him soon after.
Martin O'Neill brought on Aiden McGeady in the 85th minute for Pearson but it was Sutton who stole the show with a cool and calculated lob over Klos in injury time.
Teams
Celtic Marshal
