Erik Pedersen's injury-time own goal put Celtic into the Scottish Cup
semi-finals to complete an eventful afternoon for the Dundee United defender.
It had looked a perfect day for the Norwegian as his wife Beate delivered a
baby boy at lunchtime.
But with 90 minutes on the clock Harald Brattbakk broke through the middle and
released Henrik Larsson, whose low cross was put through his own net virtually
on the goalline by Pedersen at the far post.
That was after Morten Wieghorst had already struck a vital leveller to ensure
a Kjell Olofsson double did not end Celtic's treble chance at Tannadice.
It proved an entertaining match and much more of a well-matched tussle than
the Coca-Cola Cup final on November 30 when Celtic won 3-0 at Ibrox.
Brattbakk put Celtic ahead after 11 minutes to keep up his record of scoring
in every round of this tournament, but Olofsson took only seven minutes to
cancel that out.
After 52 minutes Robbie Winters, who had created that first goal, repeated the
dose and Olofsson produced another clinical finish.
Celtic might have buckled but it was United who struggled to hold their nerve
and their lead, Wieghorst netting just three minutes later which made a replay
likely until Pedersen's late misery.
Jackie McNamara failed a late fitness test on a persistent knee problem for
Celtic, Simon Donnelly stepping in on the right-hand side of midfield as the
natural replacement.
For United, Olofsson was a surprise inclusion in the starting line-up a mere
fortnight after a cartilage operation, but Gary McSwegan's hamstring kept him
out.
After nine minutes a fierce Maurice Malpas header struck the angle of post and
bar from Andy McLaren's corner with Celtic goalkeeper Gould well beaten by the
effort.
Two minutes later United suffered further misfortune when Larsson timed his
pass and Brattbakk his run to perfection, the Norwegian rounding keeper Sieb
Dykstra and keeping his composure to open the scoring.
The home team appealed frantically for offside but though Larsson did dwell on
the ball before releasing Brattbakk, Pedersen was playing his compatriot on.
But after 18 minutes United were level when Winters' floated cross picked out
Olofsson, whose effort struck the woodwork then Gould before going in.
That might have been the cue for tempers to ease, but instead home manager
Tommy McLean issued the officials with a reminder of what he saw as the
injustice of the opening goal.
His outburst led referee Kenny Clark to order him away from the dug-out to
endure the rest of the contest from the stand.
After 22 minutes Olofsson's powerful drive from a free-kick went just past the
upright as United more than matched visitors who are some 27 league points ahead
of them in the Premier Division.
A low Alan Stubbs strike from distance was close after 33 minutes, but as if
to emphasise the parity of the opening half, Jamie Dolan responded with a
similar shot from United in their next attack.
Olofsson combined well with Winters after 48 minutes for the latter player to
deliver a snap shot which Gould held well.
The United attacking duo combined to more decisive effect four minutes later
with Winters this time seizing on Tom Boyd's hesitation to set up Olofsson, who
beat Gould convincingly.
The lead was only to last three minutes, however, as Celtic capitalised on
United's immediate decision to attempt to sit back on their advantage.
Their depth of defence enabled Brattbakk to hold the ball onside in the area
and feed Donnelly, who in turn found Wieghorst who struck a close-range effort
past Dykstra.
On the hour mark Craig Burley's superb curled strike prompted a save from
Dykstra, the Dutchman tipping the ball onto and over his own crossbar to prevent
a certain goal.
Both Wieghorst and Stubbs unleashed long-range drives just wide for Celtic,
but it was visiting keeper Gould in real action next with a flying save to deny
Lars Zetterlund.
With four minutes left another excellent Gould stop denied comeback star
Olofsson a hat-trick from another free-kick.
But it was to be Celtic who triumphed for the fifth time this term over United
courtesy of Pedersen's mixed fortunes on a memorable day.
Teams
Dundee Utd: Dykstra, Bowman, Malpas, Pressley (Skoldmark 46),
Perry, Pedersen, Olofsson, Zetterlund, Winters,
Dolan (Easton 82), McLaren (Omoyinimi 72).
Booked: Bowman, Malpas.
Goals: Olofsson 18, 52.
Celtic: Gould, Boyd, Mahe, Donnelly, Rieper, Stubbs, Larsson,
Burley, Brattbakk, Lambert, Wieghorst.
Subs Not Used: O'Donnell, Hannah, Annoni.
Booked: Burley, Lambert, Wieghorst.
Goals: Brattbakk 11, Wieghorst 55, Pedersen 90 og.
Att: 12,640
Ref: K Clark (Paisley).
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