Martin O'Neill's men must conjure up the magic of Anfield again in a
fortnight's time if they are to scale the heights of the Lisbon Lions in 1967
after being held to a controversial but action-packed draw in the UEFA Cup
semi-final first leg.
Johan Mjallby jockeys with Duda. (AdamDavy/Empics)
Henrik Larsson gave Celtic hope with his 37th goal of the season a minute
after Joos Valgaeren's own goal had undeservedly put the Portuguese side ahead.
But the Swede went from hero to villain by failing to score from the spot
after the home side were eventually awarded a penalty after two solid appeals
had been turned down.
That spoiled the biggest game for the club in 29 years having failed to reach
this stage since being knocked out of the European Cup by Atletico Madrid in the
1973-74 season.
Celtic seemed to find the tag of favourites uncomfortable early on having sent
Liverpool, Stuttgart, Celta Vigo and Blackburn tumbling en route to the last
four.
But the home side almost carved out an opening in the seventh minute when John
Hartson and Larsson combined well on the edge of the area.
Boavista goalkeeper Ricardo, however, was alert and quick off his line to
prevent Stilian Petrov getting on the end of the Swede's clever throughball.
But Celtic were raging when they were denied a definite penalty in the ninth
minute.
Didier Agathe breezed past Filipe Anunciacao in the box, but the Boavista man
stuck out his arm to stop the ball from getting past him.
Frank de Bleeckere waved away protests and the referee rejected more loud
claims from the home crowd moments later when Martelinho handled the ball
following Larsson's flick.
Boavista, however, had a glorious chance to add insult to injury in the 18th
minute when Pedrosa got away down the left and crossed to Luiz Claudio.
He directed the ball back into the path of Duda, whose shot deflected off Bobo
Balde and spun wide from just eight yards out.
The Celtic crowd were again appealing for a penalty in the 43rd minute after
accusing Eder of handling Agathe's cross, but de Bleeckere again looked
disinterested.
Boavista coach Jaime Pacheco made a change at the break with Cafu coming on
for Claudio and that brought a dangerous response from the visitors.
Mjallby headed Pedrosa's corner straight to Duda on the edge of the box and he
cut inside, but shot well wide of the mark.
Celtic failed to heed that warning and Boavista stunned the home crowd in the
48th minute by taking the lead in fortunate circumstances.
Martelinho fired in a hopeful cross from the right flank and Valgaeren left
Douglas flat-footed by slicing the ball into his own net.
The home side responded in the best possible fashion by hitting the equaliser
less than a minute later.
Thompson and Petrov combined to find Larsson in the area and he stabbed the
ball past Ricardo from nine yards to send the supporters into ecstasy.
The yellow cards soon followed for Boavista as they looked to stand up to the
inevitable barrage - with the Parkhead crowd again spurring their heroes on.
Lennon had a nightmare in the 56th minute as Duda seized on his poor backpass.
It was two against one as he played the ball infield to Erivan - and Lennon
bundled him over from behind to earn a booking.
From the resulting free-kick Douglas pulled off a fine save by his left post
from Pedrosa's shot which somehow squeezed through the wall and then gathered.
Celtic were calling for another spot-kick moments later when Hartson looked to
be fouled in the box by Avalos before Martelinho was booked for a foul on
Petrov.
The match was alight now and Ricardo did well to hold on to Larsson's
free-kick with a dive to his left.
The man with the mask Turra could not hide though moments later when he was
booked for a reckless challenge on Larsson before Celtic turned the screw.
Hartson could have put the home side ahead in the 73rd minute when the ball
somehow made its way through to him, but Ricardo saved from just four yards.
Celtic were finally awarded a penalty in the 75th minute after Eder had
handled Thompson's deflected free-kick - but Ricardo guessed right and saved
Larsson's effort by his right-hand post.
Thompson could not recreate his free-kick from Anfield and fired straight into
the wall with seven minutes left.
Turra then thwarted a late Celtic goal by clearing Hartson's goalbound effort
off the line to put Boavista in the driving seat for a trip to Seville.
But Liverpool will tell them that the result is far from a foregone
conclusion.
