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22 November 2006, by Sean Gillen

Nakamura stunner punishes profligate United

Celtic 1-0 Manchester United

Manchester United lost for the second consecutive Champions League match, after a late Shunzuke Nakamura free-kick saw Celtic qualify for the knockout phase. Louis Saha missed a last minute penalty for the Red Devils as the Scottish champions earned a flattering victory.

After speculation that he may rest players ahead of Sunday’s match with Chelsea, United boss Alex Ferguson made just the one adjustment to the side that has performed so impressively recently, with Gabriel Heinze replacing Patrice Evra at left-back.

The home support greeted the sides with a deafening reception at kick-off, but United’s domination of possession and control of the match soon reduced the crowd’s volume. Excellent passing in midfield and superb movement off the ball saw the visitors completely outclass their opponents for the opening half hour.

Louis Saha registered United’s first effort on goal on three minutes, with the Frenchman’s low shot comfortably saved by Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc. Wayne Rooney then found Gary Neville at the back post with a wonderful ball, but the United captain’s header went wide.

Celtic constantly gave away possession, and Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick kept the ball well in midfielder as all the football was being played inside the Celtic half. Ryan Giggs then floated a corner to the edge of the area for Rooney to volley wide as United struggled to turn their dominance into clear-cut opportunities.

Ronaldo chance

The best chance of the half fell to Cristiano Ronaldo, after the Portuguese winger robbed Celtic’s Bobo Balde and raced in on goal, only to shot straight at Artur Boruc under pressure from the recovering Guinean defender. Although they struggled at times to find that killer instinct in the final third, United must have gone into the interval wondering how they hadn’t scored.

It was more even after the break, with Celtic looking slightly more composed. The Hoops’ best chance of the game came when Zurawski crossed to the back post for Gravesen, and the Dane headed across goal but narrowly missed the far corner.

Although United’s passing and movement was less fluid in the second period, Ronaldo looked their biggest attacking threat. The Portuguese made several scintillating runs down the right flank but – as happened throughout the game – United were careless with the final ball.

Saha headed wide from a Giggs corner and nice build-up play from Celtic resulted in Nakamura making a mess of a good chance on the edge of the box. Ronaldo then drove at the Celtic defence, before firing a shot just wide of Boruc’s post.

With the game appearing to drift towards a draw, Celtic were awarded a dubious free-kick 25 metres from goal, and just as was the case in the team’s meeting at Old Trafford Japanese midfielder Nakamura beat van Der Sar with an exquisite curling left foot shot.

Despite the setback, United still had two golden opportunities to salvage the point that would have taken them through. Louis Saha received a ball from Rooney in a great position inside the Celtic penalty area but – thinking he was offside – carelessly flicked the ball towards the onrushing Boruc, allowing the Pole to make the save and causing the Frenchman great embarrassment.

United and Saha were then given a lifeline, after the referee awarded them a last-minute penalty for handball when Shaun Maloney blocked a Ronaldo free-kick with his arm. The Frenchman took a short run up, and his torrid evening was sealed when Boruc stopped his spot kick with an excellent save low to his right.

The result leaves United and Portuguese giants Benfica fighting it out to join Celtic in the next round. The two meet at Old Trafford in a fortnight, with United needing a point to secure passage to the next phase.

Alex Ferguson, Manchester United manager:

“I am in shock. To be honest, losing this game is very hard to take. Celtic at home, with the support they have, are difficult to play against but we’ve thrown it away. We got behind them but the finishing was disappointing.”

“Doing it the hard way is historic with us. We enjoy that. We have to do it the hard way. We have to take a point off Benfica. Our home form has been very good, so there are no worries from that score. We need to get that edge to our game.”

Gordon Strachan, Celtic manager:

“I would only give us five out of ten for that performance. In the first half we weren’t that great. We didn’t get to grips with the ball in the first half but we didn’t give away too many chances. I just hope people forget the first half and remember the second. What we achieved is down to the players.”

“People keep telling me we’ve qualified, but I can’t believe it. I keep thinking there must be a rule that we haven’t qualified. I’ll wake up in the morning and check on Teletext. It’s been an emotional day.”

Celtic:
Boruc, Telfer, Balde, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura (Miller 85), Gravesen, Lennon, Sno (Jarosik 46), Vennegoor of Hesselink, Zurawski (Maloney 46)
Yellow Cards: McManus (33), Gravesen (90), Lennon (90)

Man Utd:
Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze (Evra 87), Ronaldo, Carrick (O'Shea 87), Scholes, Giggs, Saha, Rooney
Yellow Cards: Scholes (49)

Goals:
[1-0] Nakamura, 81