McGeady Strikes In Celtic Win Over Benfica!

UEFA Champions League – Group D
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC…1
(McGeady 45)

BENFICA…0

CELTIC (4-4-2) Boruc; Caldwell, Kennedy, McManus, Naylor; McGeady, S.Brown (Sno 88), Hartley, Jarosik (Donati 65); Vennegoor of Hesselink (Killen 65), McDonald

Subs not used: M.Brown, O’Dea, Riordan, Zurawski

BENFICA (4-5-1) Quim; Luis Filipe, Luisao, Edcarlos, Leo; Maxi Pereira (Di Maria 61), Rui Costa (Bergessio 77), Binya, Katsouranis, Rodriguez; Cardozo (Nuno Gomes 77)

Subs not used: Butt, Zoro, Nuno Assis, Adu

AIDEN McGEADY produced a match-winning performance as Celtic kept their last 16 dreams alive with a vital UEFA Champions League victory over Benfica.

The 21-year-old topped off an outstanding individual display with the winning goal in a compelling Celtic Park showdown. The Portuguese side finished with 10 men after Augustin Binya was sent off for an x-rated challenge on Scott Brown.

In the other Group D match, AC Milan beat Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0. The Italians now top the table on nine points, with Celtic locked on six points with the Ukrainians. The two sides meet at Celtic Park on November 28 in what is sure to be a pivotal match.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan elected to stick with the same side that beat Kilmarnock 2-1 on Saturday. Shunsuke Nakamura was ruled out through injury, but McGeady more than made up for his absence.

Make no mistake, this was a huge match for Celtic. Beaten 1-0 by a late Benfica goal in Estadio da Luz last month, the Hoops were out for revenge and, urged on by the phenomenal Celtic fans, they knew how much was at stake.

However, it was Benfica who fashioned the first chance in seven minutes. Oscar Cardozo, who scored the winning goal in Lisbon, spun into space in the box and sent a fierce left-foot drive towards goal. Artur Boruc, springing to his right, saved superbly.

TomC