Post by Admin on Mar 17, 2011 13:33:38 GMT
Scottish Cup: Inverness 1 Celtic 2
Mar 17 2011 James Traynor
Adam Rooney blasted Caley ahead from the spot but Joe Ledley's deadly double sent Celtic through
THE DELAY in getting this tie started seemed to throw Celtic out of their stride but they found just enough impetus and balance to step hesitantly into the semi-finals.
They'll meet Aberdeen at Hampden but last night was anything but impressive.
Celtic lacked flair and intelligence but they had enough to see off Inverness. Terry Butcher's side scored first and of course their fans thought of previous cup triumphs against Celtic but memories are all they have.
Celtic may have had nine ordinary Joes last night but they also had one Ledley. He scored twice and Fraser Forster made a fantastic second-half save from Shane Sutherland.
Had that tremendous effort found the net Inverness might well have added to cup legend but they came up just short.
This quarter-final should of course have been played on Sunday but the weather denied both sides. It was still cold last night and Celtic almost froze.
Perhaps talk of trebles had some players getting ahead of themselves but whatever the reason for widespread lethargy manager Neil Lennon will have to work on his players before Sunday's Old Firm League Cup Final.
Rangers, for all their own faults, won't be as reluctant as Inverness to take advantage.
Georgios Samaras, close to signing a new deal, was preferred over Anthony Stokes as Gary Hooper's strike partner. The big Greek was also favoured to wear the captain's armband.
It wasn't so long ago Celtic fans didn't even consider him a leader of a frontline. Now, here he was, a leader of men.
Lennon also decided to bring Glenn Loovens back into play to help bolster a threadbare defence with Daniel Majstorovic injured and Thomas Rogne relegated to the bench. It was thought the Norwegian had been feeling unwell.
Loovens hadn't started a match since October but maybe if he'd been a bit sharper he would have directed a free header from a Kris Commons corner into the roof of Ryan Esson's net in five minutes instead of into the night sky.
But Loovens' lack of match sharpness would be exposed more fatally just before half-time.
However, Celtic enjoyed decent possession in the early part of the match even though their midfield was also different - Scott Brown was missing through suspension - but Inverness insisted on helping by surrendering possession too easily.
Emilio Izaguirre took advantage of a hesitant opposition and surged down the left flank, cut inside slightly and sent in a tempting delivery that Samaras almost reached. Esson got there first but Celtic kept coming and the pressure on Inverness's defence continued to build.
Commons, as he's done successfully on a couple of occasions already for Celtic since his arrival, cut inside from wide, darted across the opposition's back line, glanced up at goal and let fly. Not this time. The ball zoomed into the dark and might have collided with Loovens' earlier effort as it returned to earth.
But at least Celtic were threatening, which was more than Inverness had done until Sutherland's deep cross from right to left found Richie Foran.
He sent his shot back across Forster but the ball flew wide of the Celtic keeper's left-hand post.
Still, it was a decent effort which brought the Inverness support to life although the home side needed to start doing more in midfield where Celtic had better movement even if they didn't appear too sure of what they were doing.
Eventually, however, Inverness did make a better job of closing space in that area and helped give their defence a breather.
Izaguirre, though, was always a threat down the left. The Honduras international charged down that flank again in 38 minutes but his cross was punched away by Esson who didn't want to take any chances with the catch.
Clearly, Izaguirre represented Celtic's main threat and it was surprising they failed to make better use of that weapon.
Loovens' poor timing almost landed him in trouble a couple of minutes later as he tried to clear but failed to make contact with the ball.
He didn't miss Nick Ross, however, and was lucky to escape punishment as the Inverness player lay on the turf.
The big defender wasn't as fortunate two minutes from half-time when he brought Foran down in the box.
It sounded as though the entire city of Inverness screamed for the penalty but referee Mike Tumilty didn't seem to know which way to call it.
He looked to his assistant Stuart Macauley, who confirmed Loovens' worst fears.
Tumilty pointed to the spot and Rooney placed the ball, took a few backward steps, stopped, ran forward then blasted a shot low into the right-hand corner of Forster's net. But Celtic didn't waste time feeling sorry for themselves and seconds before the break took full advantage of woeful defending by Inverness.
Ledley got the ball, spun and thumped in the equaliser.
If nothing else Rooney's goal should have been Celtic's wake-up call and their own rapid equaliser should have given them greater impetus.
But it was Inverness who started the second half sharply and for the first time Celtic's fans fell silent.
In 51 minutes they held their breath as a free-kick dropped to Foran who knocked down to Sutherland and he belted a terrific shot towards the right-hand corner of Forster's goal. But somehow the big keeper stretched and palmed the ball away.
Celtic were rattled and Inverness, who had ventured into the Parkhead side's half more in 10 minutes of the second half than they had in the entire first period, sensed they could capitalise.
Their confidence grew when Charlie Mulgrew and Forster almost collided trying to clear the ball with Foran lurking. Celtic coach Alan Thompson turned and looked up to the stand. Direction was required from the manager and that was also what was lacking when Commons' free-kick hurtled narrowly wide of Esson's goal.
That was Commons' last contribution. He was taken off, James Forrest took over, but before he could do anything on the right Stuart Duff brought Izaguirre down on the other side.
Duff was booked, Ki Sung-Yueng took the free-kick and Ledley was there to head home his second goal.
Ross almost scored a minute later but his shot squirted just wide and then, in 72 minutes, Sutherland was taken off and Jonny Hayes sent on. Time was now running out on Inverness but Celtic were looking leg weary and lacking the spirit and spark that has marked many of their performances this season.
They were edging towards a semi-final against Aberdeen but were doing so without flair.
Despite having looked lively and eager at the start their form had degenerated. It was sloppy and far from convincing and had Celtic's entire backroom staff on their feet, apart from Lennon of course.
He could only sit helpless in the stand, no doubt thinking of ways to revitalise his team before Sunday's final.
Inverness made another change, taking off Ross and sending on Aaron Doran, but Celtic made it to the end without further mishap.
Mar 17 2011 James Traynor
Adam Rooney blasted Caley ahead from the spot but Joe Ledley's deadly double sent Celtic through
THE DELAY in getting this tie started seemed to throw Celtic out of their stride but they found just enough impetus and balance to step hesitantly into the semi-finals.
They'll meet Aberdeen at Hampden but last night was anything but impressive.
Celtic lacked flair and intelligence but they had enough to see off Inverness. Terry Butcher's side scored first and of course their fans thought of previous cup triumphs against Celtic but memories are all they have.
Celtic may have had nine ordinary Joes last night but they also had one Ledley. He scored twice and Fraser Forster made a fantastic second-half save from Shane Sutherland.
Had that tremendous effort found the net Inverness might well have added to cup legend but they came up just short.
This quarter-final should of course have been played on Sunday but the weather denied both sides. It was still cold last night and Celtic almost froze.
Perhaps talk of trebles had some players getting ahead of themselves but whatever the reason for widespread lethargy manager Neil Lennon will have to work on his players before Sunday's Old Firm League Cup Final.
Rangers, for all their own faults, won't be as reluctant as Inverness to take advantage.
Georgios Samaras, close to signing a new deal, was preferred over Anthony Stokes as Gary Hooper's strike partner. The big Greek was also favoured to wear the captain's armband.
It wasn't so long ago Celtic fans didn't even consider him a leader of a frontline. Now, here he was, a leader of men.
Lennon also decided to bring Glenn Loovens back into play to help bolster a threadbare defence with Daniel Majstorovic injured and Thomas Rogne relegated to the bench. It was thought the Norwegian had been feeling unwell.
Loovens hadn't started a match since October but maybe if he'd been a bit sharper he would have directed a free header from a Kris Commons corner into the roof of Ryan Esson's net in five minutes instead of into the night sky.
But Loovens' lack of match sharpness would be exposed more fatally just before half-time.
However, Celtic enjoyed decent possession in the early part of the match even though their midfield was also different - Scott Brown was missing through suspension - but Inverness insisted on helping by surrendering possession too easily.
Emilio Izaguirre took advantage of a hesitant opposition and surged down the left flank, cut inside slightly and sent in a tempting delivery that Samaras almost reached. Esson got there first but Celtic kept coming and the pressure on Inverness's defence continued to build.
Commons, as he's done successfully on a couple of occasions already for Celtic since his arrival, cut inside from wide, darted across the opposition's back line, glanced up at goal and let fly. Not this time. The ball zoomed into the dark and might have collided with Loovens' earlier effort as it returned to earth.
But at least Celtic were threatening, which was more than Inverness had done until Sutherland's deep cross from right to left found Richie Foran.
He sent his shot back across Forster but the ball flew wide of the Celtic keeper's left-hand post.
Still, it was a decent effort which brought the Inverness support to life although the home side needed to start doing more in midfield where Celtic had better movement even if they didn't appear too sure of what they were doing.
Eventually, however, Inverness did make a better job of closing space in that area and helped give their defence a breather.
Izaguirre, though, was always a threat down the left. The Honduras international charged down that flank again in 38 minutes but his cross was punched away by Esson who didn't want to take any chances with the catch.
Clearly, Izaguirre represented Celtic's main threat and it was surprising they failed to make better use of that weapon.
Loovens' poor timing almost landed him in trouble a couple of minutes later as he tried to clear but failed to make contact with the ball.
He didn't miss Nick Ross, however, and was lucky to escape punishment as the Inverness player lay on the turf.
The big defender wasn't as fortunate two minutes from half-time when he brought Foran down in the box.
It sounded as though the entire city of Inverness screamed for the penalty but referee Mike Tumilty didn't seem to know which way to call it.
He looked to his assistant Stuart Macauley, who confirmed Loovens' worst fears.
Tumilty pointed to the spot and Rooney placed the ball, took a few backward steps, stopped, ran forward then blasted a shot low into the right-hand corner of Forster's net. But Celtic didn't waste time feeling sorry for themselves and seconds before the break took full advantage of woeful defending by Inverness.
Ledley got the ball, spun and thumped in the equaliser.
If nothing else Rooney's goal should have been Celtic's wake-up call and their own rapid equaliser should have given them greater impetus.
But it was Inverness who started the second half sharply and for the first time Celtic's fans fell silent.
In 51 minutes they held their breath as a free-kick dropped to Foran who knocked down to Sutherland and he belted a terrific shot towards the right-hand corner of Forster's goal. But somehow the big keeper stretched and palmed the ball away.
Celtic were rattled and Inverness, who had ventured into the Parkhead side's half more in 10 minutes of the second half than they had in the entire first period, sensed they could capitalise.
Their confidence grew when Charlie Mulgrew and Forster almost collided trying to clear the ball with Foran lurking. Celtic coach Alan Thompson turned and looked up to the stand. Direction was required from the manager and that was also what was lacking when Commons' free-kick hurtled narrowly wide of Esson's goal.
That was Commons' last contribution. He was taken off, James Forrest took over, but before he could do anything on the right Stuart Duff brought Izaguirre down on the other side.
Duff was booked, Ki Sung-Yueng took the free-kick and Ledley was there to head home his second goal.
Ross almost scored a minute later but his shot squirted just wide and then, in 72 minutes, Sutherland was taken off and Jonny Hayes sent on. Time was now running out on Inverness but Celtic were looking leg weary and lacking the spirit and spark that has marked many of their performances this season.
They were edging towards a semi-final against Aberdeen but were doing so without flair.
Despite having looked lively and eager at the start their form had degenerated. It was sloppy and far from convincing and had Celtic's entire backroom staff on their feet, apart from Lennon of course.
He could only sit helpless in the stand, no doubt thinking of ways to revitalise his team before Sunday's final.
Inverness made another change, taking off Ross and sending on Aaron Doran, but Celtic made it to the end without further mishap.