CIS Cup semi-final: Celtic 0 Dundee Utd 0 (Celtic win 11-10 on penalties):After a dazzling display and an exquisite opening penalty, Dubliner Willo Flood hit the bar with his second from the spot, paving the way for Celtic to join Rangers in the CIS Cup final at the expense of Dundee United.
Flood was brilliant throughout and gave the league champions, who are monitoring the young Irishman closely, a torrid time. N
After 90 enthralling minutes and extra-time had passed without a goal, there was an amazing finale which saw every player taking penalties - including both goalkeepers.
Flood, substitute Jon Daly, Warren Feeney, Craig Conway, and Paul Dixon all scored for United as did McDonald, Gary Caldwell, Shunsuke Nakamura and substitutes Barry Robson and Georgios Samaras for Celtic.
In sudden death, Morgaro Gomis, Garry Kenneth and David Robertson scored for the Taysiders to be levelled by Lee Naylor, Marc Crosas and Scott Brown.
United keeper Lee Wilkie had his kick saved by Artur Boruc, but Celtic defender Glenn Loovens was denied by Lukasz Zaluska, who will join Celtic in the summer.
Mihael Kovacevic scored for the Taysiders but United were pegged back level again by Andreas Hinkel before the two Polish keepers scored against each other.
It was back to the beginning again and Flood clipped the bar then watched as McDonald finished the tie and ensured an Old Firm final on March 15th.
It was tough luck on United who lost the final on penalties to Rangers last season.
The game threatened to burst in to life but could not quite manage it, not helped by the much-criticised Hampden pitch which had players nervy in possession.
There were occasional moments of goalmouth excitement. Celtic midfielder Nakamura flicked in a shot past Zaluska which Feeney cleared a yard from goal then the United striker threatened at the other end when he headed Kenneth’s cross wide of the far post.
In the 19th minute, after Celtic had failed to capitalise in a couple of corners in quick successions, the Tannadice side broke quickly and an incisive pass from Feeney put Francisco Sandaza in but his toe-poke lacked the power to beat Boruc.
In the 34th minute Sandaza might have got a better contact on Conway’s free-kick, the Spanish striker heading past from 10 yards out.
Celtic defender Naylor curled in the best cross of the first half which Wilkie did well to avoid putting past Zaluska while Parkhead midfielder Scott Brown finished the 45 minutes with a decent shot from the edge of the box which the United keeper pushed clear.
When Zaluska gratefully palmed an inswinging Nakamura corner over the bar after a minute of the restart, the second half up was up and running.
The breakthrough, though, looked no closer as the hour mark passed and the tension mounted.
In the 66th minute, with United on top, Sandaza volleyed high over the bar after Wilkie had headed down a deep free-kick from Dixon.
United midfielder Prince Buaben came much closer when he drove inches wide from the edge of the box in the 72nd minute, enough of a worry for Hoops’ boss Gordon Strachan to send on Samaras for Vennegoor of Hesselink and then Robson for Aiden McGeady soon afterwards.
The double substitution helped Celtic stem the tide but with seven minutes remaining Robson escaped a booking when he clearly dived inside the United box in attempt to win a penalty.
The Celtic goal survived a couple of scares near the end but there was almost a certain inevitability about the extra-time which followed the final whistle.
As legs grew increasingly tired, a great saving tackle by Wilkie prevented McDonald latching on to a Samaras cross at the near post.
Samaras and Nakamura both hit the side-netting with efforts as Celtic dominated the first period.
When the side turned round, Flood played a one-two with Feeney to take him in to the Celtic box only to screw his effort off-target.
Moments later, Feeney was inches away from reaching a Conway cross while Crosas hit the bar at the other end with a cross-cum shot seconds before Samaras did the same with a close-range header.
But like extra-time, the game seemed destined for penalties and the most dramatic of finishes to a cup tie seen at the national stadium for decades.
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