CELTIC 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 0 November 11 2006
EDWIN VAN DER SAR, the 6ft 6in keeper of Manchester United, couldn’t say he hadn’t been warned.
Shunsuke Nakamura had left the skyscraper Dutchman befuddled with a glorious free-kick at Old Trafford on the evening of September 13 2006. Unfortunately, Gordon Strachan’s side lost 3-2.
The return match against Sir Alex Ferguson’s side was played in front of 60,632 spectators at Parkhead the following month.
FREEWAY TO SUCCESS…Shunsuke Nakamura fires in his unstoppable long-range free-kick for Celtic’s winner over Manchester United during a dramatic euro night at Parkhead.
It was goalless until the 81st minute when the lavishly-gifted Japanese playmaker lined up to take a free-kick from 35 yards. The beanpole United custodian stood on guard as Nakamura ambled forward to take his kick. The ball exploded from his left boot with an almighty swoosh and arrowed straight into the startled keeper’s top left-hand corner.
In the fading moments, United were awarded a penalty-kick, but they were denied an equaliser when Artur Boruc plunged to his right to beat away Louis Saha’s drive.
The triumph carried Celtic through to the Champions League knock-out stages for the first time.
*TOMORROW: Don’t miss CLASSIC CELTIC: Part Ten – only in your champion CQN.
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