Larsson lifeline for frustrated Celts

Celtic 1 Villarreal 1

Celtic almost carved out a chance after 40 seconds. Stanislav Varga lifted the ball over the top of the Villarreal defence and although Henrik Larsson got behind them he took his eye off the ball and Jose Reina gathered.

The noise inside Parkhead swept Celtic forward and Thompson curled a left-foot effort over the bar, from the edge of the box, after Fabricio Coloccini had clattered the Swede.

Then referee Kyros Vassaras waved play on after Sebastian Battaglia seemed to foul Stilian Petrov just outside the area in the ninth minute.

Villarreal swept down the opposite end to go ahead when Garcia Roger crossed from the left flank and Moreno Josico's glancing header flew into the corner of the net.

The visitors continued to look dangerous on the break and Juan Riquelme headed wide after Rodolfo Arruabarrena's deep cross had gone over the head of Varga.

Villarreal went close again in the 15th minute when Anderson fired just past the upright from outside the box.

In the 20th minute, Petrov had an opportunity to equalise when Sutton crossed from the left of the box but the Bulgarian skipper headed over from just six yards out.

The referee incensed the Celtic crowd again on the half-hour when he booked Pearson when Josico went down theatrically from his challenge.

Petrov again went close a minute later as Reina touched his volley, from Sutton's cross, behind off the upright but Vassaras and his assistant never saw it and awarded a goal-kick.

Josico took retribution against Pearson and was booked in the 36th minute before Villarreal squandered a glorious chance to stretch their lead.

The Celtic defence were caught out as Mari found himself clean through on goal but he blasted high over the top from 22 yards.

Larsson and Sutton combined in the dying seconds of the half to give the Englishman a sight on goal but his shot was saved low by Reina.

Larsson should have pulled his side back on level terms in the 48th minute when Thompson's chip into the box fell kindly for the Swede but he failed to get a shot away and Arruabarrena got back to make a timely challenge.

The referee continued to frustrate the home side with some strange decisions which had O'Neill throwing his arms about on the sideline.

Riquelme presented Anderson with a glorious chance in the 52nd minute.

He threaded the ball through a stretched Celtic defence but as in the Nou Camp, Marshall came off his line to save his team-mates.

Larsson thought he had grabbed the equaliser in the 55th minute but, as he wheeled away to celebrate, the linesman flagged for what appeared to be handball.

O'Neill was raging at this point and had to be spoken to by the referee after the fourth official complained about the his behaviour.

Moments later, Varga's appeals for a penalty were rejected after his header seemed to strike a Villarreal hand before Petrov fired wide.

But justice was done in the 63rd minute when Celtic grabbed a deserved equaliser.

Pearson chipped the ball out to Agathe and he whipped an inviting cross into the box for Larsson to get ahead of Reina to head into the empty net from eight yards.

The pressure and noise inside the ground did not cool Villarreal's menace on the break and Anderson's shot was deflected wide.

The drama continued as Roger received a yellow card for bringing down Petrov before Larsson also went into the book.

The home side continued their assault and Larsson should have put his side ahead in the 70th minute.

Sutton did well on the touchline to pull the back into his path but he fired over the top with Reina struggling to make up the ground in the goal.

O'Neill brought Liam Miller on for Pearson in the 78th minute and Thompson then needlessly put himself out of the return leg in Spain with a frustrated challenge on Mari.

Celtic did not let that bother them and would have been ahead but for three top-class saves by Reina from Agathe, Varga and Sutton late on.

There was more drama in the dying seconds as Reina pushed Larsson's free-kick away and Sutton was unable to turn in the rebound before the referee again blew his whistle.

CELTIC: Marshall, Agathe, Balde, Varga, McNamara, Petrov, Lennon, Pearson, Thompson, Larsson, Sutton.

VILLARREAL: Reina, Javi Venta, Ballesteros, Coloccini, Arruabarrena, Josico, Riquelme, Roger, Battaglia, Jose Mari, Anderson.

Referee: Kyros Vassaras (Greece).