18/01/2010

Memory Match

Tennents Scottish Cup Quarter Final - 08.03.99

Morton 0 -
Celtic 3 - Viduka (9, 83), Larsson (58)

Att: 12,062

Ten years ago the Sky Sports cameras came to Cappielow for Morton versus Celtic in the quarter-final of the Tennents Scottish Cup. Dr. Jozef Venglos' Parkhead side included Henrik Larsson, Mark Viduka and Paul Lambert. In players like Paul Fenwick, John Anderson, Kevin Thomas, and Kevin Twaddle, Morton included some of the most talented professionals to have played at Cappielow in the last 20 years.

Morton made a great start and almost scored after just 30 seconds. John Anderson split the Celtic defence with an excellent through ball to Kevin Twaddle. The big wide man got to the by line but his cut back was inches ahead of Kevin Thomas.



Viduka was making his first start for the Parkhead club (he'd made a sub appearance against Dundee United the previous Saturday) after disappearing with stress shortly after signing from Croatia Zagreb. It took him nine minutes to open both his Celtic account and the scoring. The Australian internationalist picked up a weak header from Derek Anderson and pulled off a silky Cruyff turn that took him past Anderson and Harry Curran (pictured, top) before firing a stunning shot past Ally Maxwell with the outside of his right boot.

The home fans roared in approval when Kevin Twaddle humiliated former St. Mirren midfielder Paul Lambert right in front of the Cowshed. Twaddle was running along the touchline towards his own goal with Lambert in hot pursuit. Just as the European cup winner thought he had Twaddle right where he wanted him Twadds dragged the ball back and flicked it past him on the line before skipping past a couple of toilet rolls and playing the ball into Ross Matheson's feet.


Henrik Larsson showed his goalscoring instincts when he made it 2-0 in the 58th minute. Jonathan Gould's goal kick was knocked down on to Larsson by Viduka. The Swede attempted to flick the ball over Paul Fenwick's head, but the Candian internationalist read the move and attempted to head the ball back to Ally Maxwell. Unfortunately for him, the ball was short and Larsson nipped in ahead of the Ton keeper to flick the ball into the net for his 27th goal of season. Fenwick recovered from the mistake and went on to win Davie Provan's Sky Sports man of the match award (pictured, bottom). To be fair to Paul, Larsson was the top goalscorer in Europe at that point and with a goal ratio of more than a goal a game. A lot better defenders have been made a fool of by Henrik Larsson.



Derek Anderson had a goal ruled out for a debatable offside before Celtic wrapped up the tie in the 83rd minute. Regi Blinker cut the ball back for Larsson who beat Derek Anderson by letting the ball run across his body before drilling a low shot that deflected into the net via the heels of Viduka. This was a lucky deflection rather than an intentional back heel. In fact, Viduka looked as though he was trying to get out of the way of the shot.

In the end Celtic's quality was just too much for a spirited Morton side, but we did, at least, get the last laugh when Mjällby was sent-off for a second bookable offence in the 85th minute.



Morton:

1. Ally Maxwell
2. Stevie Aitken
3. Owen Archdeacon
4. Derek Anderson
5. John Anderson
6. Paul Fenwick
7. Kevin Twaddle (14. Keith Wright - 85 mins)
8. Harry Curran
9. Ross Matheson
10. Kevin Thomas
11. Craig McPherson

Unused Subs:

12. Bryan Slavin
16. Allan Blaikie

Maxwell
Aitken Fenwick D. Anderson Archdeacon
Twaddle J. Anderson Curran McPherson
Matheson
Thomas

Celtic:

1. Jonathan Gould
2. Tom Boyd
3. Stéphane Mahé (18. Tosh McKinlay)
6. Alan Stubbs
7. Henrik Larsson
8. Craig Burley
14. Paul Lambert
20. Regi Blinker
30. Vidar Riseth
35. Johann Mjällby
36. Mark Viduka (9. Harald Brattbakk)

Unused Sub:

21. Stewart Kerr

Sent Off: Mjällby (85)

Gould
Riseth Boyd Stubbs Mjällby Mahé
Burley Lambert Blinker
Larsson Viduka


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