This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport1/hi/football/europe/6054824.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Celtic 3-0 Benfica | Celtic 3-0 Benfica |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Two-goal Kenny Miller inspired Celtic to a fine victory over Benfica in the Champions League in Glasgow. | Two-goal Kenny Miller inspired Celtic to a fine victory over Benfica in the Champions League in Glasgow. |
| Benfica goalkeeper Quim had to pull out a superb save to prevent Shaun Maloney scoring with an overhead kick early on. | Benfica goalkeeper Quim had to pull out a superb save to prevent Shaun Maloney scoring with an overhead kick early on. |
| But Miller poked the opener home from six yards and then fired past Quim after a swift counter-attack. | But Miller poked the opener home from six yards and then fired past Quim after a swift counter-attack. |
| And Miller set up Shunsuke Nakamura for a stinging drive pushed out by Quim but finished off by sub Stephen Pearson to give Celtic a thoroughly deserved win. | And Miller set up Shunsuke Nakamura for a stinging drive pushed out by Quim but finished off by sub Stephen Pearson to give Celtic a thoroughly deserved win. |
| News conference: Celtic manager Gordon Strachan | |
| Miller had been on the bench on Saturday against Dundee United, but Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's failed fitness test ensured the Scot's starting place. | Miller had been on the bench on Saturday against Dundee United, but Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's failed fitness test ensured the Scot's starting place. |
| Maciej Zurawski came in as his striking partner, with Maloney dropping into midfield at the expense of Jiri Jarosik. | Maciej Zurawski came in as his striking partner, with Maloney dropping into midfield at the expense of Jiri Jarosik. |
| Teenager Evander Sno was given his Champions League debut in the continued absence of Aiden McGeady and Thomas Gravesen. | Teenager Evander Sno was given his Champions League debut in the continued absence of Aiden McGeady and Thomas Gravesen. |
| Have Your Say on 606: Give your thoughts on the match | Have Your Say on 606: Give your thoughts on the match |
| And Celtic began confidently, with great tempo, almost taking the lead in their first attack against a Benfica side without the influential Rui Costa along with Paulo Jorge and Georgios Karagounis. | And Celtic began confidently, with great tempo, almost taking the lead in their first attack against a Benfica side without the influential Rui Costa along with Paulo Jorge and Georgios Karagounis. |
| A Paul Telfer throw-in was flicked on by Zurawski and Maloney's acrobatic overhead kick was turned over the crossbar by goalkeeper Quim. | A Paul Telfer throw-in was flicked on by Zurawski and Maloney's acrobatic overhead kick was turned over the crossbar by goalkeeper Quim. |
| With Maloney, Miller and Nakamura probing, Benfica were on the back foot and defending desperately. | With Maloney, Miller and Nakamura probing, Benfica were on the back foot and defending desperately. |
| But the visitors started to look more dangerous on the break. | But the visitors started to look more dangerous on the break. |
| Stephen Pearson added Celtic's third goal | Stephen Pearson added Celtic's third goal |
| And, when Fabrizio Miccoli beat the offside trap, Artur Boruc was just quick enough off his line to intercept just inside his penalty box. | And, when Fabrizio Miccoli beat the offside trap, Artur Boruc was just quick enough off his line to intercept just inside his penalty box. |
| Leo played in a superb cross to the back post and Konstantinos Katsouranis ought to have done better than head over the crossbar from eight yards out. | Leo played in a superb cross to the back post and Konstantinos Katsouranis ought to have done better than head over the crossbar from eight yards out. |
| Benfica made the better start to the second half and Simao sent a free-kick a couple of feet wide from 18 yards. | Benfica made the better start to the second half and Simao sent a free-kick a couple of feet wide from 18 yards. |
| But, just as the visitors appeared to have doused Celtic's fire, the Glasgow side took the lead after 55 minutes. | But, just as the visitors appeared to have doused Celtic's fire, the Glasgow side took the lead after 55 minutes. |
| Nakamura's attempt to steer a Lee Naylor cross towards goal was going wide until Miller stretched out to poke the ball home from eight yards. | Nakamura's attempt to steer a Lee Naylor cross towards goal was going wide until Miller stretched out to poke the ball home from eight yards. |
| Benfica responded immediately and a Nuno Assis drive from 25 yards crashed off the crossbar. | Benfica responded immediately and a Nuno Assis drive from 25 yards crashed off the crossbar. |
| But Celtic made sure of the three points with an incisive break, started and finished by Miller. | But Celtic made sure of the three points with an incisive break, started and finished by Miller. |
| He played the ball to Maloney and, after pulling wide of his marker, collected the inch-perfect return before deftly curling the ball past Quim from 16 yards. | He played the ball to Maloney and, after pulling wide of his marker, collected the inch-perfect return before deftly curling the ball past Quim from 16 yards. |
| Leo flashed a drive just wide of the Celtic post before Pearson ended Benfica's hopes after a move appropriately set-up by a lovely back-heel from man-of-the-match Miller. | Leo flashed a drive just wide of the Celtic post before Pearson ended Benfica's hopes after a move appropriately set-up by a lovely back-heel from man-of-the-match Miller. |
| Celtic: Boruc, Telfer, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Lennon, Sno (Pearson 87), Maloney, Zurawski (Jarosik 84), Miller. Subs Not Used: Marshall, Balde, Thompson, Riordan, O'Dea. | Celtic: Boruc, Telfer, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Lennon, Sno (Pearson 87), Maloney, Zurawski (Jarosik 84), Miller. Subs Not Used: Marshall, Balde, Thompson, Riordan, O'Dea. |
| Booked: Sno. | Booked: Sno. |
| Goals: Miller 56, 66, Pearson 90. | Goals: Miller 56, 66, Pearson 90. |
| Benfica: Quim, Alcides, Luisao, Ricardo Rocha, Leo, Katsouranis (Nelson 72), Nuno Assis, Petit, Simao, Miccoli, Nuno Gomes (Fonseca 78). Subs Not Used: Moreira, Anderson, Miguelito, Beto, Karyaka. | Benfica: Quim, Alcides, Luisao, Ricardo Rocha, Leo, Katsouranis (Nelson 72), Nuno Assis, Petit, Simao, Miccoli, Nuno Gomes (Fonseca 78). Subs Not Used: Moreira, Anderson, Miguelito, Beto, Karyaka. |
| Booked: Katsouranis. | Booked: Katsouranis. |
| Att: 58,313 | Att: 58,313 |
| Ref: Eric Braamhaar (Netherlands) | Ref: Eric Braamhaar (Netherlands) |