Match reviews

Celtic 1-0 Inverness

Scottish giants Celtic bounced back from their midweek European disappointment to beat Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1-0 at home and increase their lead over second placed Rangers to seven points in the SPL. The game was a quiet affair, with winger Shaun Maloney scoring what was to be the winner in the 29th minute.

Celtic’s exit from Europe at the hands of Danish side Aalborg last Tuesday means we will not see a single Scottish side in either the UEFA Cup or the Champions League, with Motherwell, Queen of the South and Rangers already knocked out.

Maloney- Goal scorer in Celtic's 12th consecutive SPL victory
Maloney- Goal scorer in Celtic's 12th consecutive SPL victory

Inverness tried their best to find an equaliser, but Celtic were not to be denied three points.

Maloney’s goal was created by Japanese midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura, whose reverse pass was expertly controlled by the former Aston Villa winger and fired past Inverness keeper Ryan Esson.

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Hearts 2-1 Rangers

Hearts handed Rangers their second away defeat of the season when they beat Walter Smith’s Rangers 2-1 at Tynecastle. All the three goals came in a six minute period in the first half ( 20′-26′). Marius Zaliukas and Laryea Kingston were on target for Hearts, with Christos Karipidis heading into his own net from a Charlie Adam set piece.

Kingston celebrated his return from injury with a match winning performance for Hearts
Kingston celebrated his return from injury with a match winning performance for Hearts

The result reduces the gap between 2nd placed Rangers and 3rd placed Hearts to seven points. It is also Hearts’ fifth successive win in the SPL. Celtic however have the chance to go seven clear at the top when they visit Inverness later this afternoon.

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Columbus Crew win MLS Cup 2008

The Columbus Crew won their first ever MLS Cup by beating the New York Red Bulls 3-1 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. Guillermo Barros Schelotto had three assists to his name- a record for a MLS Cup final. Schelotto, also became the third player after Tony Meola (2000) and Carlos Ruiz (2002) to win the MVP award in both the regular season and the MLS Cup in the same year. It was a sweet return to the Home Center for Crew boss Sigi Schmid, who had been sacked as Galaxy coach in August 2004. Crew are also the first winners of the newly designed Philip F.Anshcutz Trophy.

Columbus Crew are the first winners of the Philip F. Anschutz trophy
Columbus Crew are the first winners of the Philip F. Anschutz trophy

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