Alan Stubbs's dramatic late free-kick kept Celtic's UEFA Cup hopes alive after an earlier fitness gamble on Stephane Mahe looked to have put them out of the competition. Frenchman Mahe, suffering before the game with an ankle injury, was twice exposed by the brilliance of Christian Mayrleb cutting inside in both the 22nd and 28th minutes to put the Austrians 2-0 up.
Head coach Wim Jansen replaced Mahe with Jackie McNamara at the interval and Celtic were at once a more controlled outfit. They then stepped up pressure on Tirol as the home side appeared to settle for their advantage. However, it seemed Celtic's efforts would be in vain and their progress into the competition proper doubtful until former Bolton defender Stubbs' late intervention. His 84th-minute free kick appeared to take a deflection which left Tirol's Russian keeper Stanislav Tchertchessov stranded.
Celtic preferred Jonathan Gould, a recent capture from Bradford, to Gordon Marshall in goal with first choice Stewart Kerr still injured. The son of Welsh manager Bobby impressed late on with a series of saves which ensured Celtic have every chance of overturning a one-goal deficit at Parkhead in a fortnight's time.
FC Tirol Innsbruck: Tchertchessov, Tangen, Kirchler, Bulic (Crinner 60), Sebereyns (Yilmaz 72), Brzeczek, Prudlo, Knavs, Mayrleb (Jochum 86), Marasek, Abou-El-Dhab. Subs Not Used: Weber, Wazinger, Baur, Aichner. Goals: Mayrleb 22, 28.
Celtic: Gould, Boyd, McKinlay, MacKay, Stubbs, Larsson, Burley, Thom, Jackson (Donnelly 82), Mahe (McNamara 45), Wieghorst (Hannah 72). Subs Not Used: Marshall, Gray, O'Donnell, Grant. Booked: Boyd. Goals: Stubbs 84. Referee: Rofoel Liunge (Netherlands).
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