Celtic go top after deserved Old Firm victory
Saturday, 4 October 2003 15:03
An own goal by Zurab Khizanishvili brought Rangers' perfect start to the season to an end as Celtic took the points in the first Old Firm clash of the season. A 1-0 win at Ibrox was enough to lift Martin O'Neill's side above their oldest rivals for the first time this season, completing a memorable week after Wednesday's 2-0 Champions League win over Lyon.
It was a deserved victory for Celtic, who had enjoyed the better chances in a typically frantic derby encounter. But there was a freakish element to the goal which secured the victory. It came just 20 seconds after the restart and there seemed seemed little danger when John Hartson received a return pass from Henrik Larsson on the right side of the box. It was unclear whether the Welsh striker was attempting a cross or a shot but the ball took a deflection off Georgian defender Khizanishvili that left the otherwise outstanding Stefan Klos beaten at his near post. From then on Celtic were able to control the game and Rangers never seriously looked like getting back on level terms.
Celtic had enjoyed the better chances in the first half with Rangers' German goalkeeper Klos forced to produce good stops to deny Alan Thompson and then Hartson. A mistake by Rangers skipper Craig Moore gave Thompson his chance after ten minutes. Moore miscontrolled a ball near the left touchline and was dispossessed by Henrik Larsson, who made his way into the box and squared the ball to Thompson. The English midfielder's effort was struck sweetly and with real venom but Klos was able to block it and the ball was scrambled away to safety.
Stilian Petrov then went close with a rasping first-time effort from 20 yards that flew inches over the bar. The Bulgarian then set up Hartson to shoot from just behind the penalty spot but Klos did well to touch his low drive away. Rangers responded with Peter Lovenkrands firing just wide after a well-worked free kick and Celtic had to cling on desperately in the minutes before the interval.
Moore, who had played only a game and a half since recovering from a six-week lay-off because of a hamstring injury, was replaced by Maurice Ross at the break and the new defence found itself breached almost immediately.
Filed by James Boylan
