Camara clicks with two goals at Paradise
By Patience Magill September 13 2004
Henri Camara scored twice in a 3-0 home victory over Dundee which was technically finished as a contest by half-time. Celtic's 100 per cent SPL record plus points dropped by their three rivals left the club clear at the top by six points after just five league games.
By Patience Magill September 13 2004
Henri Camara scored twice in a 3-0 home victory over Dundee which was technically finished as a contest by half-time. Celtic's 100 per cent SPL record plus points dropped by their three rivals left the club clear at the top by six points after just five league games.
Dundee came to Parkhead to frustrate their hosts, but Celtic threatened to rout the Tayside team with a first-half display of clever passing football and two excellent goals.
The breakthrough came when Henri Camara latched on to a Valgaeren pass, drew out the keeper and slotted it in to the net. The Senegal international celebrated his first Celtic league goal in great fashion with supporters in the Lisbon Lions stand.
Soon afterwards, Thompson collected a Camara pass to sweep the ball in from the left, leaving John Hartson to score with a straightforward 6-yarder. It was - nearly - game over well short of the half-time whistle.
The Welsh internationalist had had the ball in the net previously, but referee Underhill judged that the striker had pushed a defender on his way to score.
By this time Celtic were showing off their skills. Some nice touches from Juninho inspired some good running and crosses from McNamara and Thompson as Dundee struggled to keep the Hoops away from their goal. Another fine Camara run ended with a shot hitting the base of the visitors' far post.
The mood changed in the second half, which threatened to trickle to a halt as Dundee tried to re-enter the contest and Celtic continued to pass the ball around. Manager Martin O'Neill commented later that some of the players may have become complacent or even started thinking about the coming Champions League home clash with Barcelona.
Indeed O'Neill may have been thinking the same himself as he took off Juninho, Varga and Hartson, no doubt with the big game in mind.
Dundee played some clever stuff midway through the second half, John Sutton - brother of Celt striker Chris - looking promising, as did Lovell and Hernandez. Anderson had a good run across the Celtic area and his left-foot shot blasted the underside of the home team's goal, galvanizing Celtic to try and kill off the game.
When it was killed off, Celtic's third goal - and Camara's second - was sweet. Gathering the ball to the left, the speedy African glided past a couple of defenders before switching to his right foot and blasting the ball low and just inside the post.
Game over for Celtic. With second placed Aberdeen drawing and Rangers and Hearts fighting out a dour 0-0 game at Tynecastle on Sunday, the Celts are six points clear of the next-placed team, and seven ahead of their Old Firm rivals.
Man of the Match: Jackie McNamara.
The breakthrough came when Henri Camara latched on to a Valgaeren pass, drew out the keeper and slotted it in to the net. The Senegal international celebrated his first Celtic league goal in great fashion with supporters in the Lisbon Lions stand.
Soon afterwards, Thompson collected a Camara pass to sweep the ball in from the left, leaving John Hartson to score with a straightforward 6-yarder. It was - nearly - game over well short of the half-time whistle.
The Welsh internationalist had had the ball in the net previously, but referee Underhill judged that the striker had pushed a defender on his way to score.
By this time Celtic were showing off their skills. Some nice touches from Juninho inspired some good running and crosses from McNamara and Thompson as Dundee struggled to keep the Hoops away from their goal. Another fine Camara run ended with a shot hitting the base of the visitors' far post.
The mood changed in the second half, which threatened to trickle to a halt as Dundee tried to re-enter the contest and Celtic continued to pass the ball around. Manager Martin O'Neill commented later that some of the players may have become complacent or even started thinking about the coming Champions League home clash with Barcelona.
Indeed O'Neill may have been thinking the same himself as he took off Juninho, Varga and Hartson, no doubt with the big game in mind.
Dundee played some clever stuff midway through the second half, John Sutton - brother of Celt striker Chris - looking promising, as did Lovell and Hernandez. Anderson had a good run across the Celtic area and his left-foot shot blasted the underside of the home team's goal, galvanizing Celtic to try and kill off the game.
When it was killed off, Celtic's third goal - and Camara's second - was sweet. Gathering the ball to the left, the speedy African glided past a couple of defenders before switching to his right foot and blasting the ball low and just inside the post.
Game over for Celtic. With second placed Aberdeen drawing and Rangers and Hearts fighting out a dour 0-0 game at Tynecastle on Sunday, the Celts are six points clear of the next-placed team, and seven ahead of their Old Firm rivals.
Man of the Match: Jackie McNamara.
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