Larsson saves Celtic's unbeaten run

Celtic 1 Villarreal 1

Henrik Larsson again came to Celtic’s rescue at Parkhead tonight with a second-half equaliser to save their unbeaten home record and UEFA Cup dream.

Josico’ contentious first-half goal put Villarreal in control of the UEFA Cup quarter-final going into what will be a nervy return leg in Spain next week.

But the improving La Liga side would have been cruising had it not been for the prolific Swede, who recently came off the bench against Motherwell to increase their home run.

Celtic stretched their unbeaten record at Parkhead to 77 games after Greek referee Kyros Vassaras and Villarreal had threatened to destroy their hopes of a Gothenburg final.

The Spanish side weathered the expected early storm and did what Hearts did at the weekend by snatching the opening goal.

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

But Villarreal swept down the opposite end to go ahead when Roger Garcia crossed from the left flank and Josico got ahead of Bobo Balde to head into the corner of the net.

The visitors continued to look dangerous on the break and Juan Riquelme headed wide from Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s deep cross, with Varga caught out.

Celtic looked stunned as Villarreal went close again in the 15th minute when Sonny Anderson fired just past the upright from just outside the box.

Petrov was given the perfect opportunity to cancel out that earlier decision and grab the equaliser in the 20th minute.

Chris Sutton, who along with Alan Thompson signed contract extensions yesterday, 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 Stephen Pearson when Josico went down theatrically from his challenge.

Petrov went close a minute later as Reina touched his volley, from Sutton’s cross, behind off the upright – but Vassaras awarded a goalkick.

Josico took retribution against Pearson and was booked for a foul in the 36th minute before the Spanish side 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.

Celtic found themselves under more pressure immediately after the break but Larsson should have pulled his side back on level terms in the 48th minute.

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.

But Riquelme presented Anderson with a glorious chance to put his side into an even stronger position in the 52nd minute.

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

Larsson thought he had grabbed the equaliser in the 55th minute and wheeled away to celebrate with the fans – but the linesman flagged for a handball after he he blocked a clearance by the goalkeeper.

Martin O’Neill was raging at this point and had to be spoken to by the referee after the fourth official had complained about the Northern Irishman’s behaviour.

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

But justice was done in the 63rd minute when Celtic grabbed a deserved leveller and it was a surprise to see the referee pointing to the centre spot when the ball hit the net.

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.

But the home side continued their assault on the Villarreal goal and Larsson should have put his side ahead in the 70th minute.

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

Thompson needlessly put himself out of the return leg in Spain with a frustrated challenge on Mari which earned him a booking.

Celtic did not let that bother them and would have been ahead but for three top-class saves of 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 ruled the effort out.