Celtic 3-2 Aberdeen


A stunning goal from Craig Bellamy completed a wonderful comeback from the reigning champions at Celtic Park.


The home side were quickly out the blocks as they were keen to avoid another surprise defeat.

Craig Bellamy was quick to make an impact after firing a dangerous low cross into the six-yard box but Kevin McNaughton was in the right place at the right time to clear.

However, just like Hearts a fortnight ago, Aberdeen stunned the SPL leaders by snatching the lead against the run of play in the 11th minute.

McNaughton played the ball out to Scott Severin and his cross found Zander Diamond, who swivelled just inside the box to fire home a right-foot shot through a crowded penalty box and past the despairing hand of David Marshall.

In a carbon copy of the last home match, Aberdeen ruthlessly took full advantage of some terrible defending by Celtic to extend their shock advantage juts three minutes later.

Heikkinen did brilliantly to play Muirhead away down the left flank and he looked up to pick out Darren Mackie in the centre with an even better ball and the striker left Stanislav Varga for dead to plant his right-foot shot past Marshall from close range.


The home side stepped up the pressure in the 26th minute when Jackie McNamara almost dragged them back into the match with a speculative right-foot shot from 28 yards which Esson had to scurry back quickly to tip over the crossbar.

A minute later the shell-shocked home fans were celebrating as Varga stooped to head McGeady's cross into the top corner from six yards to raise the temperature.

Celtic made a whirlwind start to the second half and Bellamy should have equalised in the 51st minute when McGeady played him clean through, but Esson came racing off his line to save his weak effort.

However, Aberdeen failed to clear and Agathe pounced on a loose ball and picked out Hartson to blast a right-foot shot past the keeper from eight yards for his 28th goal of the campaign.

Despite the setback, Aberdeen were still causing the home defence plenty of concern as McNaughton curled a left-foot shot over the top from the edge of the area.

Craig Bellamy produced a moment of genius to send the champions into the lead in stunning fashion after 57 minutes.

Thompson's corner flew all the way to the opposite side of the box and the Wales international drove an unstoppable right-foot volley across Esson and into the top corner.

Celtic were fuming in the 62nd minute when they were denied a penalty after Bellamy had been sent sprawling in the area by Byrne's barge in the back.

The on-loan striker could have added a second in the dying seconds but he screwed his right-foot shot wide.

This result puts Celtic 5 points clear of Rangers at the top of the table. Rangers play Dunfermline tomorrow.





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Celtic: Marshall, McNamara, Balde, Varga, Valgaeren (Agathe 31), McGeady (Sutton 56), Petrov, Lennon, Thompson, Hartson, Bellamy, Agathe (Henchoz 85). Subs Not Used: Douglas, Lambert, Maloney, Beattie.

Goals: Varga 27, Hartson 51, Bellamy 57.

Aberdeen: Esson, McNaughton (Winter 88), Diamond, Severin, Muirhead, Hart, Heikkinen, Mackie, Clark, Byrne (McGuire 72), Blaha (Foster 60). Subs Not Used: Preece, Kristjansson, Dempsey, Considine.

Booked: Byrne, Blaha.

Goals: Diamond 11, Mackie 14.

Att: 59,998

Ref: C Thomson


P W D L F A W D L F A GD pts
1 Celtic 33 14 0 3 38 12 13 2 1 39 16 49 83
2 Rangers 32 13 2 1 41 8 11 4 1 25 9 49 78
3 Hibernian 33 9 3 4 29 21 8 2 7 27 28 7 56
4 Aberdeen 33 7 4 5 19 14 8 3 6 19 19 5 52
5 Hearts 33 9 3 5 24 13 4 6 6 15 20 6 48
6 Motherwell 33 7 3 6 25 18 5 4 8 16 23 0 43
7 Inverness CT 33 7 4 6 22 20 4 5 7 17 22 -3 42
8 Kilmarnock 33 7 2 7 25 20 4 1 12 14 33 -14 36
9 Dundee 33 7 3 7 19 21 1 4 11 15 40 -27 31
10 Dundee Utd 33 4 5 7 20 25 2 5 10 16 30 -19 28
11 Dunfermline 32 4 8 4 18 18 2 1 13 10 35 -25 27
12 Livingston 33 4 3 10 19 33 3 3 10 10 24 -28 27