Celtic4–2Inverness CT

Another night to remember for Caley Thistle fans at Celtic Park - an excellent display but no upset. The visitors were hit by an early blow when Didier Agathe took a long ball from Bobo Balde on the right wing and his cross was touched home by Shaun Maloney. The 3000 travelling fans raised the roof in 10 minutes when Paul Ritchie equalised with a low shot from the edge of the box. Celtic went in front ten minutes later when John Hartson turned in a low cross from David Fernandez while the defence froze. Referee Mike McCurry incurred the wrath of the visitors in 43 minutes when he awarded what appeared to be a soft free kick on the right corner of the box after Maloney went down. Thompson’s kick was deflected in for Celtic’s third goal. It seemed all over at half time and even more so when Hartson hit the fourth on the hour mark with a back post volley. Just two minutes earlier Grant Munro had come close with a header which was deflected for a corner. Caley Thistle did not give up and a Bobby Mann free kick in 65 minutes went low and past. They came right back into it in 71 minutes when Dennis Wyness headed home a Barry Robson cross despite Rab Douglas getting a touch. The arrival of substitutes Charlie Christie (playing in his 50th cup match for the club) and Tony Low added new life and they were closely followed onto the pitch by ex-Celt Liam Keogh anxious to make his mark. Keogh’s first touch was a header past the post. After strong Caley Thistle pressure the referee was again the subject of strong criticism from the visiting fans two minutes from full time when Keogh had the ball at his feet in the box and a clear sight of goal. He went down but play was waved on. Into added time a Bobby Mann header was cleared off the line. Hartson should have completed his hat trick when a Celtic breakaway left him racing upfield with most of the Caley Thistle defence caught upfield. His shot was touched for a corner by Stuart Golabek and the final whistle blew. Celtic gained their revenge for February 2000 and the Caley Thistle players left the field with heads deservedly held high.