Celtic beats Dundee [Archive] - Soccer Fans Network Forums

Toke-E-Yo

08-08-2005, 10:16 AM

GLASGOW – Shunsuke Nakamura made a sensational start to his Celtic career as the Japan international helped inspire his new teammates to a 2-0 win against Dundee United at the weekend - their first league victory of the season.

Bhoys boss Gordon Strachan handed Nakamura his much-anticipated debut after the 27-year-old had missed both Celtic’s opening day Scottish Premier League 4-4 draw with Motherwell and the midweek UEFA Champions League 5-4 aggregate defeat at the hands of Slovakian outfit Artmedia Bratislava.

Not surprisingly, the former Coventry City and Southampton manager was delighted with the midfielder’s performance.

“That was as good a debut as I’ve seen in a long, long time,” an ecstatic Strachan told reporters after the game.

“There was a lot of pressure on him – not just here but back in his own country where he is a big star.

“I just said to him enjoy the game and the atmosphere. The people of Japan will be wanting to know how he got on and you can tell the Japanese people that he did very well,” he added.

Nakamura, who joined the Glasgow giants in a 2.75 million pound (US$4.8 million) deal from Serie A side Reggina, was in magnificent form throughout the game at Celtic Park and could have registered his first goal in the famous green and white of Celtic as early as the first minute.

Having played a neat pass out wide to Maciej Zurawski, Nakamura raced onto the Pole’s delightful cross only to see his glancing header turned off the line by United’s Stuart Duff.

The Asian Cup 2004 Most Valuable Player returned the favour on 18 minutes when his pinpoint pass put Zurawski through on goal but Derek Stillie in the visiting goal blocked the Polish striker’s effort.

Welsh marksman John Hartson’s cool finish gave Celtic the lead before the half-time break and, with United seemingly devoid of attacking ideas, the home side continued to dominate after the interval.

Hartson saw two headers rebound off the United crossbar before Nakamura’s fizzing free-kick was acrobatically turned away by Stillie.

The 56,532 spectators at Celtic Park gave Nakamura, clearly revelling in his playmaking role, a standing ovation when substitute Craig Beattie eventually replaced him after 84 minutes.

Celtic duly sealed their win when Beattie lashed home a superb volley two minutes later.

Meanwhile, Gordon Strachan is hopeful that China international Du Wei will return to Scotland after the defender impressed during a two-day trial with the Glasgow giants.

The 23-year-old recently returned home after a brief but successful stay in Britain and Strachan has admitted that he is keen to have another look at the Shanghai Shenhua star.

“He was here for just a couple of days and played in a close-door game. There’s something there but I can’t commit myself after two days,” Strachan told the BBC.

“I spoke to the player and he loved it here and we will try to make an arrangement to keep it ongoing.

“I don’t think there will be too much problem in getting a work permit,” added the former Manchester United and Leeds United star.

Should the 800,000 pound (US$1.4 million) move get the go-ahead Du, who was tipped for greater things by Diego Maradona after impressing at the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship in Argentina, would become the second Chinese player to ply his trade in Scotland following former AFC Player of the Year Fan Zhiyi’s move to Dundee in 2001.

He was really close wit that free kick!