Hartson the hero as Bhoys progress - report

John Hartson hit the crucial away goal to make sure Celtic stay in Europe after the new year for the first time in 23 years.

Jesuli had levelled the aggregate score for crack Spanish outfit Celta Vigo tonight following the 1-0 victory for Martin O‘Neill‘s men at Parkhead.

But Hartson‘s vital strike, an unstoppable right-footed shot in the 36th minute, sent the teams in at the interval level on the night – and despite Celta threatening to add more than just Benni McCarthy‘s second-half goal, Celtic held on to reach the fourth round of the UEFA Cup.

The Scottish champions had also made club history by knocking out Spanish opposition for the first time.

The Glasgow giants were looking to recover quickly from losing their place at the top of the Scottish Premier League with a painful defeat to their arch-rivals Rangers at Ibrox.

Manager O’Neill was in the dug-out after being given a reprieve by UEFA following his sending-off in the first leg and he made one change from Saturday, with Alan Thompson coming in for winger Steve Guppy and Chris Sutton staying in midfield.

Celtic were hoping for the same kind of display which they produced at Ewood Park against Blackburn Rovers in the last round, but Celta Vigo are in third place in La Liga.

The visitors were looking for that killer early goal from the start and it almost came in the very first minute.

Henrik Larsson broke free in the box and tried to pull the ball back for strike partner Hartson, but Fernando Gabriel Caceras made a vital interception to put the ball wide.

Celtic’s giant defender Bobo Balde also looked determined and Edu was on the receiving end of a shuddering challenge a minute later.

The home side looked rattled and the visitors carved out another great chance in the sixth minute.

Didier Agathe avoided a challenge from Juan Fran and he pulled the ball back into the path of Chris Sutton, but his shot was blocked by Eduardo Berizzo.

The home side, spurred on by their passionate supporters, took some time to get going but they gave Celtic a warning in the 10th minute.

Joos Valgaeren gave away a free-kick after a foul on Gustavo Lopez and from the resulting set-piece he teed the ball up for McCarthy, but the South African international struck his right-footed shot wide.

Stilian Petrov then almost got on the end of Larsson’s knock-down from Agathe’s cross to the far post, but Jose Manuel Punto reacted quickly to jump on the loose ball.

Lopez looked a real threat and he fired a dangerous right-footed ball across the face of goal, but his team-mates were unable to convert the chance.

The visitors needed the heroics of Robert Douglas to deny the Spaniards in the 22nd minute.

McCarthy pulled the ball back into the path of Jesuli and his right-footed shot was turned around the post by the Scotland number one.

But there was little he could do to prevent Celta Vigo levelling the tie a minute later in a move almost identical to their last chance.

McCarthy pulled the ball back for his team-mate again and this time Jesuli dummied and took the ball on to give himself a better angle but his shot took a wicked deflection of Ulrik Laursen and flew past Douglas.

Valgaeren lost his cool as was booked for a bad tackle before Pinto produced a great moment of agility to push Petrov’s corner over the crossbar.

But with the game finely poised, Hartson sent the travelling fans into raptures when he scored the vital away goal for Celtic. His unstoppable right-footed shot into the bottom corner levelled the scores on the night and put Celtic in front on aggregate

The Welsh international was booked shortly afterwards after a late challenge on Peter Luccin.

O‘Neill‘s men were in the driving seat by the interval, but Celta began the second period brightly and McCarthy gave them a lifeline in the 53rd minute when he converted Lopez’ cross at the near post to put the hosts ahead again on the night.

However, the tie was still level and Celtic had the crucial away goal.

Jesuli could have put Celta 3-1 ahead on the night, and 3-2 ahead overall, in the 58th minute when McCarthy pulled the ball into his path, but he missed his kick and the chance went begging.

Celtic manager O’Neill tried to steady the ship and changed to a flat back four by replacing goal hero Hartson with Jackie McNamara.

His side, whoever, remained under the cosh and McCarthy almost got a telling touch on Lopez’s cross.