Celtic 2-1 Motherwell

A lacklustre Celtic team overcame a spirited Motherwell side to set up a CIS Insurance Cup final with Dunfermline thanks to a calamity in the Motherwell defence late on. The mediocre Celtic performance was described by Strachan as the "worst performance since I came here, worse even than Artmedia Bratislava", and this confession summed up the feelings of the majority of the Celtic faithful. On a night where Celtic did not win one corner kick, it is remarkable how Celtic progressed through to the final and give Strachan the opportunity to emulate his successor, Martin O'Neill, and make the CIS Cup his first slab of silverware as Celtic manager win his first trophy as a manager, and keep alive our aspirations of a league and cup double.

Celtic began the game in a lethargic manner strewn with amateurish mistakes, and quite staggeringly this was to continue for the majority of the game. SPL leaders Celtic are 28 points better off than Motherwell in the championship and in their last two encounters have a an aggregate advantage of 8-1 but it was the Fir Park team that dominated the first-half at Hampden. And Motherwell got the goal they deserved after eleven minutes following a horrific blunder from Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc. Kevin McBride looped a high cross into the penalty area which seemed to be in the air for an eternity. However, the Polish international stumbled as he came to gather, allowing Foran to head into an unattended goal.

Celtic looked hopelessly out of sorts in the opening period and this was emphasised by a horrendous effort by Maloney from a free-kick in a promising position. However, against the run of play Celtic found themselves level just before the half hour. Maloney showed rare urgency in the midfield before he split the Motherwell defence with an exquisite pass and Zurawski shown great composure to slot the ball into the Motherwell net. The strikers shot deflected off of the advancing Smith but flew off the keeper's legs and into the net.

A misjudgement by McManus at the back allowed Scott McDonald to break in behind the Celtic rearguard but severe pressure from Varga allowed Boruc to block the shot. This was soon followed by a Foran effort but he sent an ambitious volley whizzing over the top. McDonald then missed a golden opportunity when he met Brian McLean's headed pass inside the six yard box but could only steer the ball straight at Boruc. If the Australian striker has got any real purchase on the ball Celtic would have found themselves deservedly behind at the interval.

Celtic started the second half much brighter mood and Smith did well to hold a vicious shot from Shunsuke Nakamura. The Celtic defence had improved from their wretched opening half but Jim Hamilton still found space to warm the hands of Boruc from 25 yards.

To make matters worse for Celtic, John Hartson was guilty of barging into Smith as the keeper gathered the ball on the edge of his area. Television footage shown the Welshman following through with his left foot and this act of petulance resulted in a booking which rules him out of the final on 19 March.

As the game grew increasingly scrappy chances were few and far between. Motherwell's best effort was from a set-piece which saw Boruc at full stretch to beat away a long range free-kick from Brian Kerr.

However, all of Motherwell's good work was undone in the last few minutes when Corrigan committed the ultimate act o suicide as he foolishly stabbed the ball back to Smith under pressure forcing the keeper had to catch in order to prevent an own goal. From the indirect free-kick, Hartson rolled the ball back to Maloney from the six yard line and the Scotland star smashed it through the eleven Motherwell players charging from the goal-line and into the top corner of the net to claim Celtic their place in the final, although in rather fortuitous circumstances.


Celtic: (4-4-2)

Boruc

Virgo Varga McManus Camara

Nakamura Lennon Petrov Maloney

Hartson Zurawski

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Thompson, Keane, Pearson, Dublin


Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Craigan, McLean, Hammell, McBride (O'Donnell 89), McCormack, Kerr, Foran, Scott McDonald, Hamilton (Thermeus 89)

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Fagan, Reynolds.


Attendance: 32,595

Referee: C Thomson