Big John Hartson was the match winner as Paul McStay’s Maestro side defeated a Rio Ferdinand XI 3-2 in the friendliest of friendlies at Celtic Park.
Ferdinand’s side raced into a 2-0 lead at half time but the hoops fired back after the break with goals from Frank McAvennie and James McAvoy leveling before Hartson scored the winner.
After some lengthy pre-match formalities, including possibly the largest ever huddle the ‘action’ kicked off in slow motion to the liking of the stars on show.
With Tommy Johnson joining Tom Boyd in the centre of defence Jackie McNamara was adding some pace to the hoops defence while the midfield trio of McStay, Stan Petrov and Lubo Moravcik would find a place in most post-Lisbon Celtic XI’s.
Every touch from One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson was greeted in equal measure by screams and booing with the One Direction star enjoying the leisurely pace without crunching challenges from Gabby Agbonlahor.
The first goal of the game came in the 20th minute when Andy Cole squeezed a shot past Rab Douglas which signaled the departure of McStay to a fantastic ovation as Simon Donnelly, looking exactly like he did in 1994 replacing the legend.
Shortly afterwards Petrov and John Hartson were replaced by the slightly more mobile duo of Bobby Petta and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.
There weren’t too many chances inbetween the substitutions but on the half hour mark Vennegoor of Hesselink hit the side netting from a quickly taken corner from Moravcik.
Five minutes from half-time Hararld Brattbakk replaced Moravcik as memories of an incredible day in May 1998 came rushing back although a goal from Jordan Stephens doused any immediate hopes of a hoops comeback.
Johny Gould, Davie Farrell Raymond McStay and Mark Burchill were among the half-time substitutes but it was Frank McAvennie who brought the fans to their feet with a great volley that shocked Tomasz Kuszczak as it flew into the net from eight yards out.
There was more to hear about on the hour mark when James McAvoy smashed a penalty high into the net after Lubo had invited Tomlinson into a a foul in the box.
The pace of Burchill certainly made a difference with Rio’s side missing the composure of their patron in the middle of defence.
With ten minutes left the hoops comeback continued when Hartson netted from close range after Kuszczak palmed a Moravcik cross into the Welshman’s path.
With time running out Willie McStay, Ray McStay John McStay and the Maestro all came onto the park with four members of the same family on the holy ground for the first time.
MAESTRO XI Rab Douglas; Jackie McNamara, Tom Boyd, Tommy Johnson, Tosh McKinlay; Martin Compston, Paul McStay, Stiliyan Petrov, James McAvoy, Lubo Moravcik, John Hartson.
SUBS: Gould, Petta, Greig McHugh, McAvennie, Brattbakk, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Davie Farrell, Burchill, R McStay, J McStay
RIO XI: Tomasz Kuszczak, Louis Tomlinson, Rio Ferdinand, Philip Neville, Ralf Little, Joey Barton, Paul Scholes, Jody Morris, Gianfranco Zola, Dwight Yorke, Andrew Cole.
