Celtic keep the pressure on Rangers
Celtic’s Gary Hooper scored two goals to keep the pressure on Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League in their 2-1 victory over Dundee United on Sunday 17 October.
Hooper scored in the 13th minute before the home side equalised through David Goodwillie’s deflected shot. However, Hooper secured the three points after he scored in the 90th minute in a match that became ill tempered and fiercely contested.
Celtic started the match brightly and Georgios Samaras had a great chance to put Celtic into an early lead, but his shot was wild and failed to trouble the Dundee goal.
Celtic did take the lead in the 13th minute after some good work by Anthony Stokes allowed him to find Mark Wilson on the right wing. The defender whipped in a low cross that Hooper met from six yards out to put Celtic into a 1-0 lead.
Samaras should have extended his lead after he ran past two Dundee defenders. However he was forced wide and his shot was cleared off the line by defender Garry Kenneth.
Celtic continued to force Dundee back and it wasn’t until the 20th minute that Scott Severin had two chances from corners. Samaras managed to get a block in on both occasions, while a deflected shot by Dundee’s Prince Buaben went close for the home side.
However, Celtic were soon on top again after Dundee’s brief spell of attacking play. Dusan Pernis was forced to save Stokes’ first time shot and Shaun Maloney went close with a free kick.
Dundee’s equaliser came against the run of play as Goodwillie ran towards the Celtic goal, after Joe Ledley appealed for a Celtic free-kick.
Goodwillie played on and struck a 20 yard shot that hit Celtic defender Glenn Loovens and left Fraser Foster with no chance in goal.
Ledley nearly restored Celtic’s lead with a left footed shot just before half-time, but Pernis managed to claw the ball away.
Buaben had a shot for Dundee as they applied the pressure in the early part of the second half.
Yet, Celtic began to dominate and referee MacDonald awarded Celtic a penalty in the 70th minute after Hooper’s legs were taken from under him by the on rushing Pernis.
However, MacDonald reversed his decision to the disgust of Celtic manager Neil Lennon.
Celtic poured forward in search of a win and Stokes saw a shot saved before Ledley hit the post.
Hooper sealed a Celtic victory as he reacted to Samaras’ flick on and stabbed the ball past Pernis to give Celtic a 2-1 win.
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