Sport

Hartley gives Celtic control

Spartak Moscow 1 Celtic 1: Celtic's mission to Moscow yielded a valuable draw and an away goal as they put themselves in a healthy…

Thu Aug 16 2007 - 01:00

Spartak Moscow 1 Celtic 1:Celtic's mission to Moscow yielded a valuable draw and an away goal as they put themselves in a healthy position in a tricky Champions League qualifier.

Gordon Strachan's side adapted well to Spartak's artificial turf and threatened an unlikely victory when Paul Hartley headed them ahead after 21 minutes. But Spartak ensured the return leg in a fortnight's time will be a Parkhead thriller when Roman Pavlyuchenko equalised for the hosts three minutes before half-time.

Summer signing Scott Brown had a terrific chance to hit a late winner and repay a chunk of his £4.4 million (€6.5 million) fee, but the Scotland midfielder failed to convert from close range, while Spartak hit the bar in the last minute of the third qualifying round tie.

Scott McDonald made his competitive debut for Celtic. The Australian striker missed the first two Premier League games of the season through suspension but replaced the injured Kenny Miller and started in attack with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.

READ MORE

Spartak striker Pavlyuchenko, who broke a bone in his right hand against Krylya Sovetov at the weekend, started for the home side who looked inspired from the first whistle, forcing a startled looking Celtic side back on to the back foot.

The tie was turned on its head in the 21st minute when Celtic took the lead with their first effort on goal. McDonald looked offside when he collected a Shunsuke Nakamura pass down the right but the little striker crossed a delightful ball to Hartley, who bulleted a header from 10 yards past Stipe Pletikosa.

But three minutes before the break the home side were level. Roman Shishkin's cross from the right was met by Pavlyuchenko and although his close-range header was parried by Mark Brown, the ball escaped over the line.

SPARTAK MOSCOW:Pletikosa, Shishkin, Kovac, Stranzl, Soava, Mozart, Torbinsky, Bystrov (Kalinichenko 76), Titov, Pavluchenko, Welliton. Subs Not Used: Homich, Boyarintsev, Dedura, Dzjuba, Sabitov, Rebko. Booked: Stranzl. Goals: Pavluchenko 42.

CELTIC:Mark Brown, Wilson, McManus, Kennedy, Naylor, Hartley, Scott Brown, Nakamura, Donati (Sno 74), McDonald (Caldwell 79), Vennegoor of Hesselink (McGeady 82). Subs Not Used: McGovern, Killen, Zurawski, Pressley. Booked: Naylor, Scott Brown. Goals: Hartley 21. Att: 67,000.

Referee:H Fandel (Germany).