Celtic dream alive with win against Shakhtar's nine

Celtic 1 Shakhtar Donetsk 0

Celtic's luck in the Champions League finally came in with the last throw of the dice as they resurrected their European dream, holding on for victory at Parkhead tonight.

Nobody seemed to know why referee French referee Eric Poulat penalised Donetsk goalkeeper Jan Lastuvka in the first half, awarding Celtic a free-kick just inside the area.

But Alan Thompson took advantage of that by slamming home Stilian Petrov’s ball for the winner which kept them in the hunt for at least a UEFA Cup place.

The French ref did Celtic further favours by flashing Anatoliy Tymoshchuk a straight red before Cosmin Barcauan also went off for two bookings.

Celtic felt that they have had no fortune with defeats to Barcelona, AC Milan and Donetsk in the Ukraine a fortnight ago which left them with no points at the foot of Group F.

But with Bobo Balde missing the game through injury and having conceded 12 goals in their last four they were perhaps due a good night.

Martin O’Neill’s men made an encouraging start with a brilliant bit of football to present Camara, who came back after injury for Juninho, with a chance after just 40 seconds.

Irish international Aiden McGeady, Thompson and John Hartson all made quick passes to give the Senegal international a sight of goal but he screwed his left-foot shot past the post.

Shakhtar looked shaky at the back and Joos Valgaeren should have done better in the fifth minute.

Stilian Petrov flicked the ball to him but he headed straight at Lastuvka from just seven yards.

But the best early chance fell to Shakhtar and Celtic had teenage goalkeeper David Marshall to thank for keeping them on level terms.

Julius Aghahowa chested the ball into the path of Francelino Matuzalem, who scored twice in the Ukraine a fortnight ago, and he let fly with a fierce right-foot volley from 20 yards which the youngster did well to dive to his left and push it away.

Like the 3-0 result in the Ukraine there were chances for both sides and Petrov went close at the other end by launching a right-foot shot just past the upright from nine yards.

Camara was too eager to make an impression on the grand stage and he fired two long-range efforts into the crowd much to the frustration of the home fans and his team-mates.

Shakhtar survived a scary goalmouth scramble in the 22nd minute but Didier Agathe or Hartson could not lash home the loose ball.

But Poulat gave Celtic a bizarre free-kick, just inside the Donetsk area, a minute later as the goalkeeper held the ball for longer than the 10 second rule.

Petrov rolled the ball to Thompson to crash it through the ruck of players and into the back of the net.

The visitors were under more pressure in the 34rd minute after McGeady had left Vladimir Stoican for dead with a deft step-over leaving him no choice but to pull him down.

From the resulting free-kick Lastuvka looked far from convincing as he punched Thompson’s cross away from under his bar.

But Shakhtar continued to look a real threat at the other end when Tymoshchuk’s deflected effort flew just past the upright.

Varga also went close to doubling Celtic’s lead in the 41st minute when he headed Thompson’s free-kick just wide after Barcauan had been booked for dissent.

But Celtic's task was eased three minutes before the break, as Tymoshchuk was sent off for cutting down Camara on the edge of the box.

After the break, Lastuvka was a busy man and he had to save from Hartson and Petrov before Shakhtar were dramatically reduced to nine men.

Barcauan received his second yellow for tripping the Bulgarian and Mircea Lucescu moved quickly by bringing on Tomas Hubschman for Zvonimir Vukic.

Despite being two men short, Andriy Vorobyey tried to resuscitate his side with a long-range effort which flew just wide.

Valgaeren was booked for bringing down Marica before Darijo Srna shot wide to give the home side a wake-up call.

O’Neill brought on Ross Wallace for the impressive McGeady in the 80th minute and moments later weekend goal hero Craig Beattie came on for Camara.

Celtic’s hearts were in their mouths in the 85th minute when Mariusz Lewandowski appeared in their box but headed straight at Marshall from close range in an anxious finale.

The Glasgow side are still bottom of Group F but now they have of chance of staying in Europe beyond Christmas with games against AC Milan and Barcelona to come.