McDonald is Celtic Cup penalty king
Australian striker Scott McDonald was the hero as his penalty
clinched a place for Celtic in the Scottish League Cup final after a
shootout ended 11-10 against Dundee United at Hampden on Wednesday.
It was McDonald's second penalty of the shootout, after the
semi-final had finished 0-0, and came after Willo Flood sent his second
crashing over Artur Boruc's bar.
Boruc had already saved from Lee Wilkie while Lukasz Zaluska saved
from Glenn Loovens.
Despite the lack of goals during normal play, the match was packed
full of action with both teams playing fast, free-flowing football.
The win sets up an Old Firm final after Rangers defeated Falkirk in
Tuesday's semi-final.
The game started at a frantic pace and Celtic had a chance with less
than a minute gone.
Shunsuke Nakamura's cross from the left was pushed out by Lukasz
Zaluska only as far as Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink but the striker's weak
shot was cleared by Gary Kenneth. Then a minute later Flood, a target
for Celtic in the transfer window, went on a mazy run past several
defenders before he forced Boruc into a good save from a low shot. In
the sixth minute, Nakamura made room for himself in the box and his
cross-cum-shot had to be cleared off the line by Flood.
GLASGOW, Thursday, AFP |