Makaay robs Celtic of dream start

SOCCER/Bayern Munich 2 Celtic 1: The Dutch striker Roy Makaay ruined Celtic's night with two vital goals in this third Scotland v Germany duel in recent weeks following the international and Tuesday night's Champions League opener between Rangers and Stuttgart.

Celtic set about proving last season's UEFA Cup run was no fluke, but after Alan Thompson had given them the lead their hopes of taking home something positive from Munich disappeared when Makaay's speculative cross eluded everyone for Bayern's winner.

But it was, nonetheless, a tremendous effort from Martin O'Neill's team, who after two straightforward qualifying ties against FBK Kaunas and MTK Hungaria always knew this was going to be a huge test.

Yet, even the Scots - without players of the calibre of Paul Lambert, Johan Mjallby, Ulrik Laursen and Stephen Crainey - must have been surprised to find no early storm to weather against a Bayern team for whom their pre-match doubts - Michael Ballack, Ze Roberto, Willy Sagnol and Claudio Pizarro - were all in their usual places.

But there was a strange lack of urgency from the German champions in an opening spell that more resembled a chess match with the participants feeling their way.

It all made for a satisfactory start for Celtic, but less so for the home crowd that failed to come close to filling the impressive stadium and most of the early noise came from the 5,000 travelling supporters.

They were certainly in good voice when Didier Agathe moved into overdrive to leave World Cup winner Bixente Lizarazu treading water, and again when a Henrik Larsson run set up Stilian Petrov for a shot that was deflected wide.

After 24 minutes, too, Chris Sutton might have been better placed going on his own as he moved into the penalty area, but the striker elected to cross for John Hartson and his pass was hopelessly high even for the big Welshman.

But these incursions were generating more and more confidence within the Scottish ranks - even though only Jackie McNamara can claim to be native born - and a cheeky Neil Lennon nutmeg on Ballack showed a healthy lack of respect for the Bundesliga team.

The way Bayern started the second half indicated there had been some harsh words spoken during the interval, and in two early attacks went close through Makaay, who should have done better than send a free header wide, and Ze Roberto.

But, after 56 minutes, Celtic - with a stunning goal - made their hosts pay for their profligacy. Larsson nicked the ball away from Lizarazu to Agathe, whose deep cross was missed by Hartson, but not by Thompson and his firm header exploded past Oliver Kahn.

It succeeded in provoking a reaction from the strangely listless Germans, but Celtic, with Ireland's Liam Miller replacing Hartson after 65 minutes, generally held firm.

So it was relatively comfortable for the visitors until the 73rd minute when Bayern equalised. Sagnol's long ball into the area was headed out by Stanislav Varga directly to the lethal right foot of Makaay, whose low drive beat Magnus Hedman at the base of the post.

Further Bayern pressure then paid off after 85 minutes when Makaay's cross from the right slipped past everyone, including an astonished Hedman, to give the Germans a win they scarcely deserved.

Guardian Service

BAYERN MUNICH: Kahn, Sagnol, Lizarazu (Rau 74), Kovac, Makaay, Ze Roberto, Ballack, Pizarro, Salihamidzic (Santa Cruz 74), Hargreaves, Linke. Subs Not Used: Schlosser, Kuffour, Demichelis, Schweinsteiger, Trochowski. Goals: Makaay 73, 86.

CELTIC: Hedman, McNamara, Balde, Varga, Agathe, Thompson, Petrov, Lennon, Sutton, Hartson (Miller 66), Larsson. Subs Not Used: Douglas, Gray, Sylla, Petta, Maloney, Kennedy. Booked: Sutton. Goals: Thompson 56.

Referee: M De Santis (Italy).