It was one of those classic nights, the SPL title was on the line, failure to beat Rangers (IL) and it would have been the end of the season, Goodnight Vienna and probably Goodbye Gordon as well.
Ten eleven days earlier Celtic Park had been an unhappy place. Losing 1-0 at home to 10 man Motherwell brought things to the boil, the fans and Scott McDonald weren’t happy at a substitution, long before the final whistle there were catcalls and worse directed at Strachan.
After restoring some level of hope with a 4-1 win at Fir Park it was time to host Walter Smith’s UEFA Cup heroes having already lost twice at Ibrox. Two home wins over Rangers (IL) and it was game on but the form book suggested otherwise.
Twenty minutes in and Celtic Park erupted with as good a strike as it’s ever seen- a fierce dipping and swerving effort from Shunsuke Nakmura opened the game up.
After a bizarre request to evacuate the stadium was ignored a half time banner brought laughter to 70% of the stadium, SCOTLAND’S SHAME with an arrow delivered a highly effective message.
Nacho Novo delivered a less pleasant message when he equalised in the 55th minute, when Scott McDonald saw his penalty saved it looked like a long night of frustration as the title was gift wrapped and handed to the visitors.
And then, in stoppage time something magical happened, Caldwell- McDonald- Vennegoor of Hesselink and goal.
A weight was lifted, belief returned, the pressure started to tell on the visitors as they returned 11 days later for more of the same with the winner coming from Barry Robson.
The league flag was won a few weeks later at Tannadice but it would never have been possible if a certain Dutch head hadn’t found the net a month earlier to send Celtic Park wild with excitement.
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