Sides start nervously in semi-final

Celtic are left flying the flag for the UK in Europe after Manchester United's Champions League exit last night, but both sides started nervously with so much at stake.

But it was the visitors who settled down quicker and Henrik Larsson spun away from Duda in the sixth minute, but he was unable to cut the ball back to a team-mate from the byline.

But the Swede squandered a glorious chance to grab Celtic a crucial away goal just three minutes later.

John Hartson flicked on Alan Thompson’s free-kick and Larsson reacted quicker than the sluggish Boavista defence – but he did not realise how much time he had and flicked his right-foot shot from the edge of the box well wide of the post with just Ricardo to beat.

Boavista’s Pedro Santos went down in agony after a fair challenge from Didier Agathe – only to fully recover moments later.

Celtic were looking for a strong referee in Russian Valentin Ivanov and he waved on the physios moments later after a crunching tackle between Paul Lambert and Silva.

Ricardo gave the visitors renewed hope in the 18th minute when he needlessly punched Agathe’s cross away despite no pressure from the men in yellow.