RUB OF THE GREEN; We got lucky says Andy.
Handy Andy Thom pulled off a last-gasp stunner to fire Celtic into the cup semis - then admitted they're LUCKY to be there.In a Parkhead live TV thriller, shaky Celts needed a double from Thom and Pierre van Hooijdonk in the last 90 SECONDS to dump First Division Dundee United.
And after the nerve-wracking 2-1 win German saviour Thom admitted: "We were lucky to score two goals in the last two minutes.
"It was very difficult and we're just happy to have got through. All over the world it is tough when you are playing teams a division below you.
"Some people expect you to win easily, but United played very well.
"I remember winning a German cup medal with Leverkusen in 1993 and it was a fantastic experience.
"Now I'm just looking forward to next Sunday's game against Rangers. The last one ended 3-3 and I scored and hopefully this match will be just as entertaining."
Beaming Celts chief Tommy Burns hailed his foreign strike duo as the heroes of a clash that gripped the whole country.
He said: "You live or die by these guys. That's what makes them different from everyone else.
"They are capable of anything and that illustrates perfectly what having foreign players can do for you.
"I don't think we ever deserved to lose and that's taking nothing away from United. We got our reward in the end.
"The thing about Celtic is that we always try to play football and I felt Paul McStay and Peter Grant were magnificent in the middle of the park.
"I'm delighted, not just for the team, but also for our fans who were magnificent." But the dramatic last- minute turnaround left United shattered.
The Tannadice side had led through a first half Owen Coyle strike and were cruising to the shock result of their season when disaster struck.
Boss Billy Kirkwood sighed: "It's United who should be in the semis, not Celtic. To say we are disappointed is the under-statement of the year.
"It's sore to go out like this. From the neutral point of view it was an excellent game, although Celtic carried a wee bit of luck. Unfortunately my lads just switched off.
"However, the show must go on." United's gutted stars couldn't believe they'd blown their chances of last four glory.
Midfield dynamo Dave Bowman said: "To lose those goals was an abso-lute nightmare. It was sickening for all of us.
"But it's Celtic who are in the semis and not us and now our main aim will be the championship." Goal hero Coyle - who scored with a rebound after missing a penalty - was sick at coming so close to dumping his heroes.
The self-confessed Celtic nut sighed: "The lads are all shattered, but we can take heart from this." Meanwhile, Celtic could know today if the Jorge Cadete transfer saga is over.
Boss Burns admitted: "Hopefully there will be some concrete news on Monday."
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| Title Annotation: | Sport |
|---|---|
| Author: | Docherty, John |
| Publication: | Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland) |
| Date: | Mar 11, 1996 |
| Words: | 491 |
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