Season: 2012/13
Group Match - Match Day 6
CELTIC 2 SPARTAK MOSCOW 1
Scorers: Hooper, Commons(pen); Ari
Celtic progressed from a difficult group after a very tense night at Celtic park against Russian side Spartak. Celtic reached a remarkable total of 10 points from their six group matches.
On the night a mistake from the Spartak defence gifted Gary Hooper the chance to score the opener and he did not pass it up, striking the ball home from outside the box. Late in the first half Spartak got their reward for some good attacking play when Ari chipped in an equaliser.
In the second half Celtic enjoyed more possession but their efforts where thwarted by the post and the Russian keeper before the ref, who from a Celtic's point of view had a great game, pointed to the spot with ten minutes to go after Samaras was slightly pushed in the box. Commons took responsibility and fired his shot high off the under side of the crossbar and into the net to give Celtic the lead that they needed. Benfica could only draw in the Nou Camp against an under strength Barcelona side which meant Celtic qualified for the knock-out stage of the Champions League for the third time in six years.
Aiden McGeady made a welcome return to Celtic Park. As in the previous visit in 2007 Spartak were reduced to 10 men with five minutes remaining.
Celtic
- 01 Forster
- 03 Izaguirre
- 04 Ambrose
- 06 Wilson
- 21 Mulgrew
- 23 Lustig (Matthews - 71' )
- 08 Brown (Ledley - 84' )
- 15 Commons
- 33 Kayal (Nouioui - 73' )
- 09 Samaras
- 88 Hooper
Spartak Moscow
- 30 Pesiakov
- 02 Insaurralde
- 17 Suchy
- 06 Rafael Carioca
- 07 Kombarov
- 19 Jurado
- 21 Kallstrom
- 23 Kombarov
- 09 Ari (McGeady - 61')
- 10 Dzjuba
- 29 Emenike
Personal note:
Spartak Moscow become the 100th club that I have seen on more the one occasion.