01/03/00 Celtic 6 Dundee 2
By Dundeefc.net
April 24 2002
WED 1ST MARCH
Celtic 6 (Johnson 18, 31 ,64, Viduka 36, 45(pen), Petrov 43)
DUNDEE 2(Robetson 58 Grady 77)
Att:56,228
Subs:
Maddison (for van Eijs)
Bayne(for Annand)
Falconer, Langfield, Mair
For the second match in a row Dundee found themselves five goals behind at half time, and facing the prospect of a record SPL defeat. The second half showing by the Dees on this occasion at least restored a little pride as they pulled back a couple of goals and began to defend in a decent manner.
Dundee were under pressure from the off as Celtic pushed forward and the Dees were disadvantaged in nine minutes when Rab' Douglas left the field for stitches after a clash with former Dark Blue Morten Weighorst. Robbie Raeside took the keepers jersey while Douglas was getting attention and survived his seven minutes as custodian without a shot to save. Ironically Douglas had been back on the field for only a couple of minutes when Celtic took the lead Johnson volleying home a McNamara cross.
Dundee were stung into action and had their best spell of the first half in the next twelve minutes pushing forward on a regular basis, although an off target Rae shot was the only strike of any note from the Dees.
The spell ended in dramatic fashion as Celtic surged from their own half in 31 minutes to double the score. Moravcik and Viduka being involved before Johnson finished.
From then to the interval it was all Celtic as the Dundee rearguard were ripped apart at will. Viduka added a third before Petrov got on the scoresheet, despite blatantly handling the ball before netting. The injury time added on for the keeper's injury brought more misery as van Eijs brought down Mahe and Viduka made it five from the spot.
With the Celtic support baying for their team to outdo Rangers against Dundee there was a real fear that much more was to follow, but the half time interval took the edge off Celtic and brought some heart to Dundee.
It was evident from the start of the second period that Dundee were better organised and they restricted Celtic to far fewer chances than before the interval. Thirteen minutes into the period Hugh Robertson ignored the call of his strikers for a pass and lashed a thunderbolt past Kharin from 25 yards to reduce the deficit.
This seemed to sting Celtic into action again and Johnson completed his hat-trick in 64 minutes when he latched onto a short back pass before netting.
Dundee stuck to their task, hopeless as it was, and pushed forward whenever possible. They gained their reward in 77 minutes when Grady's neat header from Boyack's cross found the net, leading to bizarre sound of Dundee's support at 6-2 down goading the many departing home fans with a prolonged chant of 'Cheerio, Cheerio, Cheerio'.
Lee Maddison came on for van Eijs with five minutes to go, making a welcome return to the first team for the Englishman, but that was one of the few bright spots of another awful evening - although the second half did at least show that some hope remains.