csconstantine.com

{ Highlights - Aberdeen 0-3 Celtic

Celtic beat Aberdeen for the third time in 10 days and in doing so moved eight points clear of Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

Andrew Considine was sent off within two minutes for fouling Celtic's Scott Brown but Jamie Langfield saved Anthony Stokes' resultant penalty.

Gary Hooper and Stokes combined for two of Celtic's three goals, the former finishing a one-two for the opener.

Mark Wilson headed a 75th-minute second and Hooper fed Stokes for the third.

The match could scarcely have begun more dramatically. Dons boss Craig Brown had just finished shaking hands with his Celtic counterpart Neil Lennon when Hooper picked out Brown making a run into the box.

Hooper's delicious cross-field pass was controlled and nudged towards goal by the Celtic captain in a flowing move, but as Brown shaped to score he was hauled down by Andrew Considine and referee Alan Muir pointed to the spot.

While Stokes grabbed the ball for the penalty, Muir presented the shell-shocked Dons defender with a red card and his involvement was over after 95 seconds.

Considine's foul was apparent but Aberdeen could argue that a yellow card was sufficient as Zander Diamond was racing across to cover.

Jamie Langfield did not have the best of games against Celtic at Hampden in the 4-1 Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final defeat, but he denied Stokes a penalty goal with a dive to his left - an inspirational save.

But Celtic could smell blood and they tore the Reds apart in the 12th minute.

Quick-thinking Hooper worked a one-two with strike partner Stokes, raced past a static Aberdeen defence and slid the ball beyond Langfield for his 11th Scottish Premier League goal.

Worse was to follow for the home side. Ryan Jack had started the match in midfield in favour of Derek Young but had moved into defence with Considine's sending-off.

Soon he was hobbling off injured at the same time as David McNamee, who had switched from right- to left-back, was wincing in pain with a groin injury.

Considine's red card in the second minute set the tone for the Dons' evening

Brown threw on Derek Young and new loan signing Steven Smith for the duo as Aberdeen's decimated defence contemplated a long evening.

Celtic's Kris Commons had looked lively, firing over the bar after 10 minutes, and tested Langfield twice more with his left foot in the first half.

He smacked a first-time shot at the Dons goal that was well saved in 22 minutes, and 10 minutes later the Aberdeen keeper was down smartly to his right to turn the former Derby player's shot round the post.

The pressure on the Dons goal was constant. Brown blasted a shot at goal that Zander Diamond blocked with a combination of head then arm, then Beram Kayal stole into space 25 yards out and curled a powerful shot around Langfield that cracked off the inside of the post.

Aberdeen's Rob Milsom cleared off his goal-line with Stokes ready to pounce before Aberdeen made a late first-half rally.

Nick Blackman had three Celtic players puzzled when he left them in his wake with a 180-degree turn and shot just wide in 38 minutes, then Chris Maguire belted a first-time angled volley that stung Fraser Forster's palms.

Reaching half-time a goal down was an achievement for Aberdeen. They would have been level in 42 minutes had Forster not been alert to a sweet volley by Scott Vernon from eight yards as he connected with a corner.

While Celtic have been consistent in racking up the SPL points, their defence has been shorn of any sort of pattern. Efrain Juarez, Mark Wilson, Charlie Mulgrew and Emilio Izaguirre were in at the back, with Glenn Loovens, Thomas Rogne and Daniel Majstorovic injured and Darren O'Dea and Jos Hooiveld out on loan.

Aberdeen worked hard to limit the chances in the first 20 minutes of the second half; enough, indeed, for Lennon to withdraw Kayal for Paddy McCourt to try to increase Celtic's attacking intent.

In 66 minutes the pacy Commons evaded a desperate challenge by Smith, rounded Langfield then struck the post when he ought to have rolled the ball into the net.

Wilson's last goal was five years ago but it was the defender who eased Celtic's nerves that they may be stung by Aberdeen when he rose to meet Commons' in-swinging corner. His powerful header from six yards gave Langfield no chance at all.

The Dons were three goals down after as many minutes had passed since Wilson's header.

Hooper was running away from goal in the Aberdeen box but managed to find his strike partner Stokes, who cut on to his left foot and shot between Langfield and his near post.

Celtic are unbeaten in 12 league games and are applying pressure to their title rivals.

Tuesday, 1 February 2011

Scottish Premier

Hooper 12Wilson 75Stokes 78Final Result Full Time 90:00+2:13 The referee ends the match. 90:00+1:53 Scott Vernon takes a shot. Save by Fraser Forster. 90:00+1:03 Unfair challenge on Kris Commons by Paul Hartley results in a free kick. Mark Wilson takes the free kick. 90:00+0:09 Scott Vernon sends in a cross. 88:17 Charlie Mulgrew produces a right-footed shot from 35 yards and missed to the left of the goal. 87:41 Foul by Chris Maguire on Charlie Mulgrew, free kick awarded. Fraser Forster restarts play with the free kick. 86:41 Corner taken by Chris Maguire from the left by-line, clearance by Mark Wilson. 86:41 Booking The referee shows Charlie Mulgrew a yellow card for unsporting behaviour. 84:08 Substitution Lewis Toshney on for Scott Brown. 82:15 The ball is swung over by Daryl Murphy, Zander Diamond makes a clearance. 81:42 Unfair challenge on Scott Brown by Chris Maguire results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Efrain Juarez. 78:55 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Kris Commons, Scott Vernon makes a clearance. 78:55 Substitution Daryl Murphy comes on in place of Anthony Stokes. 77:23 Gary Hooper provided the assist for the goal. 77:23 GOAL - Anthony Stokes:Aberdeen 0 - 3 Celtic Anthony Stokes grabs a goal from just inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Aberdeen 0-3 Celtic. 76:27 A cross is delivered by Nick Blackman, Mark Wilson makes a clearance. Paul Hartley produces a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that goes harmlessly over the target. 76:27 Substitution Lukasz Zaluska joins the action as a substitute, replacing Joe Ledley. Correction - 76:06 The ball is crossed by Nick Blackman, clearance made by Mark Wilson. Shot from just outside the box by Paul Hartley goes over the bar. 74:37 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Kris Commons from the right by-line, assist by Kris Commons. 74:37 GOAL - Mark Wilson:Aberdeen 0 - 2 Celtic Goal scored by Mark Wilson from inside the six-yard box to the top right corner of the goal. Aberdeen 0-2 Celtic. 71:45 The ball is delivered by Emilio Izaguirre, clearance by Zander Diamond. Short corner worked by Scott Brown. Patrick McCourt produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the target. 69:53 Emilio Izaguirre gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chris Maguire. Free kick taken by Chris Maguire. 68:22 Joe Ledley fouled by Paul Hartley, the ref awards a free kick. Kris Commons crosses the ball in from the free kick, Rory McArdle manages to make a clearance. 66:05 Kris Commons takes a shot from inside the six-yard box that strikes the post. 63:25 Chris Maguire gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mark Wilson. Free kick crossed by Charlie Mulgrew, comfortable save by Jamie Langfield. 63:25 Substitution Patrick McCourt joins the action as a substitute, replacing Beram Kayal. 63:25 Booking Chris Maguire booked. 60:58 Robert Milsom produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target. 60:21 Chris Maguire fouled by Scott Brown, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Steven Smith. 58:54 Foul by Scott Vernon on Emilio Izaguirre, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew. 58:54 Booking Scott Vernon goes into the book for unsporting behaviour. 57:15 Chris Maguire concedes a free kick for a foul on Mark Wilson. Free kick crossed left-footed by Kris Commons, clearance by Steven Smith. 56:13 Unfair challenge on Joe Ledley by Scott Vernon results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Emilio Izaguirre. 55:52 Steven Smith sends in a cross, clearance by Mark Wilson. 55:07 Mark Wilson concedes a free kick for a foul on Chris Maguire. Direct free kick taken by Steven Smith. 54:02 Chris Maguire is caught offside. Fraser Forster takes the free kick. 53:34 Kris Commons delivers the ball. 52:41 Effort from deep inside the area by Kris Commons misses to the left of the goal. 51:02 A cross is delivered by Emilio Izaguirre. 49:55 Unfair challenge on Paul Hartley by Emilio Izaguirre results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jamie Langfield. 49:19 Inswinging corner taken by Kris Commons from the right by-line. 47:26 Paul Hartley gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Efrain Juarez. Fraser Forster takes the direct free kick. 47:26 Booking Booking for Paul Hartley for dissent. 46:43 Inswinging corner taken by Chris Maguire from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance by Mark Wilson. 45:59 Unfair challenge on Zander Diamond by Gary Hooper results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Jamie Langfield. 45:01 The second half begins. Half Time 45:00+2:16 The ref blows to end the first period. 45:00+1:17 The assistant referee signals for offside against Anthony Stokes. Jamie Langfield restarts play with the free kick. 45:00+0:43 Unfair challenge on Scott Brown by Robert Milsom results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Mark Wilson. 44:01 Zander Diamond concedes a free kick for a foul on Anthony Stokes. Anthony Stokes has a direct shot on goal from the free kick. 41:59 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Rory McArdle by Gary Hooper. Rory McArdle takes the direct free kick. 40:49 Corner taken by Robert Milsom from the right by-line, Rory McArdle takes a shot from 6 yards. Mark Wilson gets a block in. 39:39 Nick Blackman gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Joe Ledley. Charlie Mulgrew takes the direct free kick. 38:49 Shot from 18 yards by Chris Maguire. Save by Fraser Forster. 37:55 Effort from outside the penalty area by Nick Blackman goes wide left of the goal. 37:15 Zander Diamond fouled by Anthony Stokes, the ref awards a free kick. Jamie Langfield takes the direct free kick. 36:28 Beram Kayal takes a shot from a long way out and strikes the post. 31:59 Kris Commons takes a shot. Fantastic save by Jamie Langfield. Corner taken by Kris Commons played to the near post, Zander Diamond makes a clearance. Shot from long range by Emilio Izaguirre goes wide of the left-hand post. 31:08 Chris Maguire fouled by Emilio Izaguirre, the ref awards a free kick. Robert Milsom crosses the ball in from the free kick, save by Fraser Forster. 29:51 Kris Commons fouled by Derek Young, the ref awards a free kick. Charlie Mulgrew takes the free kick. 29:51 Booking The referee shows Derek Young a yellow card. 27:03 Free kick awarded for a foul by Paul Hartley on Beram Kayal. Free kick taken by Mark Wilson. 26:18 Foul by Efrain Juarez on Robert Milsom, free kick awarded. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Paul Hartley from left channel, Charlie Mulgrew manages to make a clearance. 25:29 Foul by Zander Diamond on Anthony Stokes, free kick awarded. Efrain Juarez takes the free kick. 24:53 Centre by Beram Kayal, save made by Jamie Langfield. 23:48 Effort on goal by Scott Brown from 18 yards. Save by Jamie Langfield. 21:30 Scott Brown takes the outswinging corner, Rory McArdle manages to make a clearance. Kris Commons has a drilled shot. Save made by Jamie Langfield. 19:44 Nick Blackman sends in a cross. 18:37 Inswinging corner taken by Kris Commons from the right by-line, Zander Diamond makes a clearance. The offside flag is raised against Anthony Stokes. Free kick taken by Jamie Langfield. 17:29 Substitution David McNamee leaves the field to be replaced by Steven Smith. 16:40 Joe Ledley is caught offside. Jamie Langfield takes the free kick. 15:35 Chris Maguire concedes a free kick for a foul on Kris Commons. Fraser Forster takes the free kick. 15:35 Substitution Derek Young is brought on as a substitute for Ryan Jack. 15:07 Scott Vernon is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Mark Wilson. 14:39 The assistant referee signals for offside against Anthony Stokes. Jamie Langfield takes the free kick. 11:52 Assist on the goal came from Anthony Stokes. 11:52 GOAL - Gary Hooper:Aberdeen 0 - 1 Celtic Gary Hooper scores a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Aberdeen 0-1 Celtic. 10:49 A cross is delivered by Paul Hartley. 9:39 Kris Commons has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand post. Correction - 6:28 Joe Ledley challenges Scott Vernon unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jamie Langfield takes the direct free kick. 6:28 Joe Ledley challenges Scott Vernon unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jamie Langfield takes the free kick. 5:53 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joe Ledley by Ryan Jack. Mark Wilson takes the free kick. 4:34 Paul Hartley has a volleyed shot. Blocked by Mark Wilson. 4:08 Centre by Ryan Jack, clearance by Mark Wilson. 2:32 Kris Commons takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Zander Diamond makes a clearance. 2:32 A save by Jamie Langfield from penalty by Anthony Stokes. Aberdeen 0-0 Celtic. 1:35 Andrew Considine gives away a Penalty for an unfair challenge on Scott Brown. 1:35 Sent off Andrew Considine sent from the field by the ref for professional foul. 0:00 The game begins. Live text and data provided by The Press Association.

Agences de presses

Labels: Aberdeen, Celtic, Sport