Hoops’ Cup hopes shattered as Shakhtar master Barca

Celtic 0 AC Milan 0

Another impressive result to hold the Champions League Group F winners was not enough as Shakhtar Donetsk produced the goods to sink Barcelona in the Ukraine.

The final outcome presented more evidence that Martin O’Neill needs to strengthen his squad but with millions of pounds being lost, the chance of shopping big in the winter sales is highly unlikely, which will further frustrate the manager and fans.

After some unconvincing performances of late, the home crowd sensed their heroes needed help and so the atmosphere prior to kick-off was up there with the best at Parkhead.

That certainly inspired the Scottish champions from the start and they carved out a glorious chance after just two minutes.

Brilliant youngster Aiden McGeady left Fabricio Coloccini for dead with a clever trick and then whipped the ball in for Chris Sutton, but his glancing header flew wide of the post.

The youngster again had the crowd on their feet in anticipation moments later when he cut inside on his right-foot before crashing a fierce effort just over the crossbar.

O’Neill kept faith with Magnus Hedman despite a difficult weekend and he had another hesitant moment when he failed to come out and collect a Milan cross. But the Swedish international calmed his nerves in the 12th minute when he saved from Andrei Shevchenko after the world footballer of the year candidate had shrugged off Bobo Balde.

News began to filter through that Donetsk were ahead and it could have been even worse for Celtic in the 17th minute.

Neil Lennon put his side under pressure by needlessly giving the ball away just inside his own half and Shevchenko was inches away from getting to Cristian Brocchi’s cross.

The Italian giants went even closer moments later when Serginho got ahead of Stanislav Varga and blasted the ball past Hedman, but watched as it came back off the crossbar.

Celtic were rattled and Brocchi went close with a right-foot shot before Coloccini headed a corner over the bar from close range.

The Hoops stars did not know it but it became clear they would have to win here with the Ukrainian outfit doubling their lead over La Liga leaders Barcelona.

Celtic would have snatched the lead, two minutes before the break, had it not been for the heroics of Dida.

Jackie McNamara’s cross came to weekend goal hero John Hartson and he swivelled and crashed a shot towards goal, but the goalkeeper acrobatically tipped over the crossbar.

Celtic grew in confidence from that and some desperate defending by Milan kept them at bay with a late goalmouth scramble.

They kept on going after the break with Varga getting on the end of Alan Thompson’s corner at the back post in the 49th minute, but he was unable to keep his header on target.

Sutton was presented with a another good chance in the 51st minute but he did not expect Joos Valgaeren’s free-kick to bounce off Hartson into his path and he flicked the ball wide, to the relief of the Milan defence.

The Englishman was then just inches away from reaching the long ball of countryman Thompson but the ball ran away to Dida.

Milan posed a danger on the break and Shevchenko twisted and turned dangerously in the area before the impressive Balde intervened to take the ball away and clear downfield.

At the other end, Thompson failed to catch a volley properly and Dida comfortably saved his bouncing effort and then a low strike from Sutton from just outside the area.

McGeady had the beating of Coluccini and he sent Valgaeren away down the left, but his cross was cut out by the Brazilian goalkeeper with Sutton waiting to pounce. Carlo Ancelotti replaced Shevchenko with Hernan Crespo in the 63rd minute before O’Neill responded by throwing on a striker in Henri Camara and taking off Valgaeren.

The fans were understandably anxious and Hedman did not help matters when he hesitated to come for a cross and then stretched for McNamara’s goalbound header back.

The Celtic fans were appealing for a penalty in the 79th minute when Varga went crashing to ground under the challenge from Alessandro Costacurta but the referee waved play on. Dida again kept his side on level terms when he threw himself to push McNamara’s long-range drive around the post in the 84th minute.

CELTIC: Hedman, McNamara, Balde, Varga, Valgaeren (Camara 66), Petrov (Juninho Paulista 76), Lennon, Thompson, McGeady, Sutton, Hartson.

AC MILAN: Dida, Coloccini, Nesta, Maldini, Costacurta, Brocchi, Ambrosini, Dhorasoo (Kaka 86), Serginho, Rui Costa (Seedorf 80), Shevchenko (Crespo 63).

Ref: Kyros Vassaras (Greece).