Celtic win CIS Cup
Sunday, 18 March 2001 17:57Henrik Larsson scored a magnificent hat trick to give Celtic a 3-0 win over Kilmarnock in the CIS Cup final, and secure Martin O Neill his first trophy as Celtic manager at Hampden Park today. Larsson brought his goal tally for the season to 47 as Celtic overcame the sending off of Chris Sutton to keep their treble challenge on track.
After a scoreless first half, Celtic came out with all guns blazing in the second, and it took just 3 minutes for Larsson to open the Bhoys account, when he hooked the ball to the net from six yards, after Ramon Vega had chested on a Moravcik corner. Moravcik also set up the second for Larsson fifteen minutes later, who ran on to the Slovak's pass to drive the ball past Gordon Marshall with the aid of a deflection.
The Swedish international saved the best for last however. After running from inside his own half he dummied Marshall, before taking the ball around the helpless keeper and slotting it into the empty net, securing the title for Celtic with ten minutes remaining.
It was a triumph for Martin O Neill and the Celtic fans, who must have to pinch themselves to believe that this is the same team who failed so miserably to deliver under John Barnes and Kenny Dalglish last season.
The one black spot on the day for the Celts was the sending off of Chris Sutton, after he clattered into Gary Holt, a tackle that led to a straight red card from referee Hugh Dallas.
An ecstatic Martin O Neill said afterwards that he felt fantastic and added, " The players were absolutely magnificent from start to finish. It's been a long, hard season for them. They have been leading the league for months and months and it was difficult for them today, but they were fantastic".
Hat-trick hero Larsson added, " Obviously I'm pleased. They made it very hard for us today. The second goal was important after Chris had been sent off and once we got three the game was finished."
Filed by Donal Moriarty
