Hartson strike keeps dream alive

SOCCER/UEFA CUP - Celta Vigo ... 2 Celtic ... 1 (2-2on agg, Celtic win on away goals): John Hartson hit the crucial away goal to make sure Celtic stay in Europe after the New Year for the first time in 23 years.

Jesuli had levelled the aggregate score for Celta Vigo following the 1-0 victory for Martin O'Neill's men at Parkhead. But Hartson's vital strike, an unstoppable right-footed shot in the 36th minute, sent the teams in at the interval level on the night - and despite Celta threatening to add more than just Benni McCarthy's second-half goal, Celtic held.

Manager O'Neill was in the dug-out after being given a reprieve by UEFA following his sending-off in the first leg and he made one change from Saturday, with Alan Thompson coming in for winger Steve Guppy and Chris Sutton staying in midfield.

The visitors were looking for that killer early goal from the start and it almost came in the very first minute.

Henrik Larsson broke free in the box and tried to pull the ball back for strike partner Hartson, but Fernando Gabriel Caceras made a vital interception to put the ball wide.

The home side looked rattled and the visitors carved out another great chance in the sixth minute. Didier Agathe avoided a challenge from Juanfran and he pulled the ball back into the path of Chris Sutton, but his shot was blocked by Eduardo Berizzo.

The home side gave Celtic a warning in the 10th minute. Joos Valgaeren gave away a free-kick after a foul on Gustavo Lopez and from the resulting set-piece he teed the ball up for McCarthy, but the South African international struck his shot wide.

The visitors needed the heroics of Robert Douglas to deny the Spaniards in the 22nd minute. McCarthy pulled the ball back into the path of Jesuli and his shot was turned around the post by the Scotland number one.

But there was little he could do to prevent Celta Vigo levelling the tie a minute later in a move almost identical to their last chance.

McCarthy pulled the ball back for Jesuli who dummied and took the ball on to give himself a better angle, but his shot took a wicked deflection off Ulrik Laursen and flew past Douglas.

Valgaeren was booked for a bad tackle before Pinto produced a great moment of agility to push Petrov's corner over the bar.

But with the game finely poised, Hartson scored the vital away goal for Celtic. His unstoppable right-footed shot into the bottom corner levelled the scores on the night and put Celtic in front on aggregate

The Welsh international was booked shortly afterwards after a late challenge on Peter Luccin.

O`Neill,s men were in the driving seat by the interval, but Celta began the second period brightly and McCarthy gave them a lifeline in the 53rd minute when he converted Lopez' cross at the near post to put the hosts ahead again on the night.

However, the tie was still level and Celtic had the crucial away goal.

Jesuli could have put Celta 3-1 ahead on the night in the 58th minute when McCarthy pulled the ball into his path, but he missed his kick and the chance went begging.

Celtic remained under the cosh and McCarthy almost got a telling touch on Lopez's cross just before the end.

CELTA VIGO: Pinto, Caceres, Berizzo, Mendez (Vagner 60), Juanfran, Edu, Jose Ignacio, Lopez, Luccin, McCarthy, Jesuli. Subs Not Used: Cavallero, Silvinho, Giovanella, Jandro, Coira, Coudet. Booked: McCarthy, Caceres. Goals: Jesuli 24, McCarthy 54.

CELTIC: Douglas, Balde, Laursen, Valgaeren, Agathe, Lennon (Lambert 56), Petrov, Sutton, Thompson, Hartson (McNamara 62), Larsson. Subs Not Used: Guppy, Gould, Maloney, Fernandez, Sylla. Booked: Valgaeren, Hartson. Goals: Hartson 37.

Referee: Claus Bo-Larsen (Denmark).