Celtic 2-Rangers 0: How Fitting

By: Matt | March 16th, 2009

Apparently Tuesday is the feast of the patron saint of Ireland. Of course, here in the states, these types of holidays are not well known, but from what I hear, the day is a pious day filled with self reflection, restraint,and abstinence. It seems quite fitting then that the two goal scoring heroes for Celtic on Sunday’s CIS Cup Final victory over Rangers Sunday hail from the Republic of Ireland. Darren O’Dea got the breakthrough goal in the 91st minute and the first of extra time. Aiden McGeady then put the cap on the match after converting the penalty he earned in the 30th minute of extra time to push the scoreline to 2-0. While neither side was able to break the scoreline in the first 90 minutes, the match at times was a back and forth affair, with both sides getting good goal scoring chances. There was the typical midfield war of attrition though, with both sides battling in the middle of the pitch for dominance and to try and establish their dominance.

Gordon Strachan sent out a 4-5-1 for Sunday’s final. Glen Loovens got a surprise start at center back, as Gary Caldwell was pulled into midfield duty. Paul Hartley, Aiden McGeady, Scott Brown and Shunsuke Nakamura filled out the rest of the middle, with McGeady pinching up and trying to help out lone striker Scott McDonald. Rangers came out in a 4-1-4-1 formation and it was clear neither side were going to allow the other’s offense to get going. Aiden McGeady and Scott Brown were doing most of the driving for Celtic. After Rangers dominated the first part of the possession in the first half, Celtic settled down and started to create chances. McGeady created havoc for Steven Whittaker. As he skipped past Whittaker, McGeady fired a low cross that found Scott Brown that Brown pushed over the bar midway through the second half. Later on, Brown created his own shot, using some fancy footwork just above the Rangers 18 yard box and got himself free for a shot, but once again put the ball over the cross bar.

McGeady and Brown were not the only Celtic stand-outs of the first half either. Artur Boruc started his route to an eventual clean sheet with a great first half save of Kyle Lafferty. Boruc’s save assured that Celtic would go into the locker room keeping Rangers off the score sheet. Right after the beginning of the second half, a Boruc mistake almost cost Celtic when Stephen McManus sent back a poor back pass that Boruc tried to dribble instead of hoofing. Boruc mistepped and almost left the ball there for Lafferty but the big Pole was able to send the ball into the twelfth row just in time.

Celtic had another goal scoring opportunity, this time from a Shunsuke Nakamura freekick after Aiden McGeady was tripped twenty yards away from goal. Nakamura sent a curler aimed for the back post that Alan McGregor was just able to get a finger on. Scott Brown kept the chances coming when McGregor thwarted another chance after the midfielder turned Kirk Broadfoot six yards away from goal. Ranger midfielder Pedro Mendes also saved what seemed to be a sure goal when Glen Loovens got his head on a corner that Mendes’ thigh on the goal line was able to keep out. Both sides had good chances, but neither could convert in the first 90 minutes.

It would not take long for Celtic to find paydirt in the extra time. Nakamura had a freekick just a minute into the extra period. Naka’s inswinger found the large head of Darren O’Dea and his header lofted over McGregor’s reach and into the back of the net. O’Dea seemed the unlikey hero for the day, but the young Irishman had a solid day at leftback. For the rest of the extra time, Rangers never seemed likely to score and Aiden McGeady put an exclamation point on the day after a run where he went around Kirk Broadfoot with ease and danced into the box, only to have Broadfoot take him down in the box. It was an easy penalty call for the referee who, and I’m surprised I’m saying this, seemed to have a good day. McGeady converted the penalty easily and time soon expired. Celtic had the CIS Cup and defeated Rangers. Winning silverware and beating Rangers certainly qualifies as a good day.

It was by no means a attractive game, but there were many stand outs for Celtic during the day. Aiden McGeady and Scott Brown were the catalysts for most of Celtic’s offensive chances on the day. The previously criticized Glen Loovens played well in a high pressure situation that the usual reserve player might not have been use to, and was almost rewarded with a goal if not for Pedro Mendes thigh. Speaking of oft criticized, other than a slow back pass that Boruc should have probably booted into space rather than trying to dribble the ball, I don’t recall a muck up by Stephen McManus, a feat that may cause many spectators to dance in the streets. Sunday’s cup win is definitely a confidence booster to take into the final title push. Celtic head to Tannadice to take on a tough Dundee United team next weekend, but will hopefully the buoyed by the CIS Cup Final Win.

Gordon Strachan on Darren O’Dea and Aiden McGeady: “I couldn’t be more pleased for Darren and Aiden McGeady. They’re both products of Celtic’s Youth Academy and that’s always a very encouraging sign. Darren was disappointed when he couldn’t get away on loan in January but I felt we needed him at the club. He was upset but he didn’t let it affect his attitude. I think everybody expected a close game and they got it,” he added. “A lot of people would’ve backed extra-time and they got it. From where I was standing, it seemed to be an exciting game. “I had to ask Aiden to play two roles, one as a striker and the other as a wide player and he brought fantastic energy to both. Scott Brown was named Man of the Match but I wouldn’t like to draw attention to individuals after a team display such as that.”

Picture from the Green Brigade’s display before the game: