Celtic bow out despite thrilling victory

Glorious failure is not Martin O'Neill's favourite concept but the Celtic manager saw his team exit the Champions League gloriously last night. Inspired by the 36-year-old Lubomir Moravcik, Celtic did what they had to do, overcoming an Alessandro del Piero opener to lead at one stage 4-2 courtesy of two Chris Sutton goals. But the news of Rosenborg's defeat in Oporto means that it is the UEFA Cup now for Celtic.

On this evidence they deserve the consolation. When Del Piero departed David Trezeguet came on to score twice but a Joos Valgaeren header and a Henrik Larsson penalty gave Celtic their third home win. Sadly for them, while nine points was good enough for qualification in other groups, it was not in theirs.

After the heated debate in Scotland about O'Neill's tactics and how his perceived inflexibility contributed to Celtic's defeats in Oporto and Trondheim, the Ulsterman sprang something of a surprise by dropping Stilian Petrov and including Moravcik.

It may have seemed a mere tinkering with O'Neill's preferred system but Moravcik's selection was for creative reasons. Celtic had to win.

Larsson had gone four games without registering a goal, and Juve's comfortable manner in the early exchanges did not suggest a personal breakthrough was imminent for the Swede.

With Pavel Nedved exerting his influence in midfield and Del Piero assured in front of him, Juventus controlled the first 10 minutes and had the lead by the 19th.

Del Piero it was who started the scoring. Having been fouled by a combination of Valgaeren and Moravcik, the striker dusted himself down before curling an exquisite free-kick over the wall and past Robert Douglas.

Parkhead was stunned, perhaps by the beauty, but Celtic's reaction was not one of admiration. Moravcik was on form and in the next Celtic attack he twisted and turned Michele Paramatti three times on the right before delivering a tempting centre that produced a diving header from Valgaeren past Carini.

With Moravcik really twinkling now, Celtic began to flow. A giant dummy from the Slovakian teed up Didier Agathe for a spectacular blast three minutes later and 10 minutes before the interval Larsson missed a free header from six yards.

It was an indication of Moravcik's performance that when Sutton did give Celtic that 2-1 advantage it was from his corner.

There were still two minutes of first-half injury-time left when Agathe rampaged down the right and centred fast and low. A third goal seemed certain but Alessandro Birindelli got there first and though he nearly put the ball in his own net, it slid agonizingly wide.

Instead of it being 3-1 to Celtic, in the 51st minute it was 2-2. Trezeguet had hardly touched the ball but when he did it was with devastating force. A left-foot drive screeched past Douglas.

Celtic's response? More attack. Valgaeren missed another header but by the 56th minute Celtic were ahead again. Sutton was manhandled at a corner by Mark Iuliano and Larsson strode up to convert the penalty kick.

Any notion of resting on their lead, however, disappeared in the next surge.

From it Sutton produced a quite magnificent left-foot volley and it was only a fine save from Carini that stopped a volley from Larsson making it 5-2 60 seconds later before Trezeguet scored his second.

CELTIC: Douglas, Balde, Mjallby, Valgaeren, Agathe, Lennon, Lambert, Moravcik (Petrov 65), Petta, Larsson, Sutton. Subs Not Used: Kharine, Sylla, McNamara, Thompson, Hartson, Tebily. Booked: Moravcik, Valgaeren. Goals: Valgaeren 24, Sutton 45, Larsson 57 pen, Sutton 64.

JUVENTUS: Carini, Iuliano, Ferrara, Zenoni, Paramatti, Birindelli, Nedved, Maresca (Frara 81), Tacchinardi, Del Piero (Trezeguet 45), Amoruso (Pessotto 67). Subs Not Used: Buffon, Davids, Piccolo, Luca Rondinella. Booked: Nedved, Iuliano, Ferrara. Goals: Del Piero 19, Trezeguet 51, 77.

Referee: Giles Veissiere (France).