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Celtic v Dundee United

Highlights - Celtic v Dundee United

Celtic 1 - 1 Dundee Utd

Celtic and 10-man Dundee United played out a thrilling draw in the Scottish Premier League.

David Goodwillie upset the hosts in the sixth minute with a fine close-range strike past Artur Boruc high into the back of the net.

A Scott McDonald header levelled the scores 11 minutes later after Danny Fox flighted in a searching free-kick.

United's Scott Robertson was sent off late in the match for a careless challenge on Georgios Samaras.

Niall McGinn made his Celtic debut in place of the suspended Aiden McGeady as Tony Mowbray's side aimed to take up the top spot in the SPL.

Dundee United defender Andy Webster recovered from a groin problem to leave the visitors unchanged.

With barely six minutes played, Goodwillie opened the scoring from six yards out, firing high into the back of the net past Boruc from a Morgaro Gomis pass to give United an early lead.

Celtic's first major threat arrived from a corner 10 minutes later, but Shaun Maloney blasted the final ball wildly over the bar.

The scores were levelled in the 17th minute when Fox whipped in a disputed free-kick from wide on the right and McDonald was allowed to stoop low and head home unchallenged from four yards out.

Scott Brown's claims for a penalty shortly after the half-hour were waved away by referee Steve Conroy as United weathered a wave of Celtic pressure.

United's Prince Buaben broke free in the middle of the pitch and slotted a neat pass to Danny Cadamarteri out on the right, but the former Huddersfield man blasted his shot straight into the hands of Boruc.

Moments later, Maloney sprinted down the left wing and crossed in for McDonald to strike from 10 yards out, but the Australian's shot was deflected over the United bar for a corner.

Celtic lived dangerously as the break approached with a goalmouth scramble that ended when Boruc parried the ball clear, then Maloney sent a 45th-minute free kick wide of United keeper Nicky Weaver's right-hand post.

Goodwillie looked dangerous after the restart when he lined up a shot inside the Celtic penalty area, but Fox cleared the danger.

Danny Swanson got on the end of a United counter-attack in the 53rd minute and shaved Boruc's left-hand post with a powerful strike from 16 yards.

Substitute Samaras had the ball in the back of the net with a close-range header in the 59th minute, but was ruled offside, much to the dismay of the home support.

Moments later, McGinn crashed a shot across the face of the United goal as Celtic piled on the pressure.

A Fox free-kick from the edge of the United box warmed the hands of Weaver before the visitors mounted a counter-attack that snuffed out in the final third.

Cadamarteri could have put United ahead with eight minutes left to play, but Fox threw himself in front of the Englishman's shot and Celtic breathed easy.

Robertson was dismissed in the dying minutes of the match for a careless challenge on Samaras on the edge of the United penalty area.

Maloney stepped up to take the resulting free-kick and curved in a powerful strike which was deflected wide for a goal-kick.

A double penalty claim by Celtic was waved away in injury time when Gary Kenneth and Darren Dods both appeared to handle the ball in quick succession.

A late Cadamarteri shot failed to trouble Boruc as the sides had to make do with a share of the points.

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray:

"I think they're a decent side. They have good athleticism and energy in their team.

"We always knew it was going to be a difficult game. We've had 15 players away all across the world, they haven't a single player away and they've had two weeks to prepare for it.

"So it was always going to be a tough day for us.

"I thought the players showed a fantastic attitude and kept going right to the death.

"Samaras's goal looks like a good goal, and a handball that mystified the whole stadium - but there you go, that's football."

Dundee United manager Craig Levein:

"It was a bit nerve-wracking at times, but I was really pleased with the way the players applied themselves.

"I was pleased the way they showed composure in possession. They looked like they belonged here.

"That's the most important thing, if you come to places like this and expect to get points.

"I thought the free-kick was never an intentional handball. Every single week I watch the TV and see these things, and nowadays we play on.

"Okay, we didn't defend it properly. We made a decision to defend the free-kick as a corner and that was the mistake we made.

"They got a free header in an area that the goalkeeper should have come for the ball, but he can't because the free-kick was so far out from the bye-line.

"It's an error on our part, but I'm not interested in talking about mistakes. I would rather compliment the players on the way they stood up to Celtic and the way they played."

Live text and stats

Saturday, 12 September 2009

Scottish Premier

Home Team Score Away Team Time
Celtic 1-1 Dundee Utd FT
(HT 1-1)
McDonald 17 Goodwillie 6

CELTIC

DUNDEE UTD

Possession

Attempts on target

Attempts off target

Corners

Fouls

Live text and data provided by The Press Association.