Since 2010, Celtic have won 8 league trophies, 5 Scottish Cups and 5 League Cups in what will be referred back to in history as the ‘Decade of Dominance’. With lots of glorious memories over the last 10 years, at A Celtic State of Mind we have decided to pull together an awards ceremony highlighting some of the best and worst of the last 10 years of Celtic.
Over the next few weeks we will be posting a new daily poll and article looking for you to vote on your favourite goal, game, jersey, player and much more as we celebrate the Decade of Dominance.
To start us off we’re looking for your favourite goal since 2010. With hundreds of goals during that time, it was very hard to narrow it down, and therefore we have 3 semi-finals, with the top goal going forward to the final where we will put these 3 up against a goal which we may have missed out, going on the feedback from you!
Today we have the second semi-final, with some very important goals from the invincible season, Europe and some players you wouldn’t expect…
Semi Final 2
Goal 1 – Tom Rogic v Motherwell
This was a massively important game in the invincible season, as Celtic headed through to Fir Park early in December 2016 looking to continue their impressive start to the season.
Things didn’t start well for the Hoops, as within three minutes they found themselves behind to a strike from Louis Moult, who peeled away from Kolo Toure and volleyed home over the head of Craig Gordon. It was a fantastic strike, it has to be said.
Moult doubled Well’s lead in almost similar fashion, this time volleying home from close range at the back post. A second half revival was needed and Callum McGregor answered that call, working some neat passes around the Well penalty box before slotting home. Celtic then equalised after Patrick Roberts nodded home a Stuart Armstrong header. This was the first goal in a three-minute flurry which saw Motherwell score almost instantly through Lionel Ainsworth before Celtic then found a reply straight from kick-off through Stuart Armstrong.
The game looked to be heading for a draw – a result that no one could have grudged either side – before Tom Rogic, the man who doesn’t score normal goals, picked the ball up on the left-hand side after being given space by the Motherwell defence. The big Aussie shifted the ball on to his right foot, before curling a stike into the bottom right-hand corner to secure all three points for the Bhoys.
Goal 2 – Scott Brown v Rangers
A Scottish Cup tie took Celtic back to Ibrox for the second time in a matter of weeks following the league game which is now known as Samaras Sunday!
Barely two minutes were on the clock when a Rangers corner was cleared, only as far as Jamie Ness, who fired an absolute thunderbolt past Fraser Forster in the Celtic net to give Rangers the lead.
Kris Commons equalised for Celtic from a Joe Ledley cutback just after the 15-minute mark. Fraser Forster was then sent off after bringing down Steven Naismith with only a few minutes of the half remaining. Zaluska replaced goalscorer Kris Commons and could do nothing as Whittaker slotted home the penalty.
Into the second half and, despite having 10 men, Celtic started to work their way back into the match. A well worked play resulted in a cross from Izaguirre which found Mark Wilson at the back post. Wilson then cut it back to the captain Scott Brown, who took a touch on his right before firing a left-footed curler past Allan McGregor in the Rangers net.
It was at that moment ‘The Broony” was born. Standing arms aloft in front of El Hadji Diouf, Brown had earned his side a replay, which we went on to win thanks to a strike from Mark Wilson.
Goal 3 – Tom Rogic v Aberdeen
Just days after the 50th anniversary of the greatest moment in the club’s history, Celtic took to the Hampden pitch looking to create even more history – the first ever invincible treble!
Under the slippy conditions, The Bhoys fell behind to a Jonny Hayes strike from a corner, but equalised almost instantly through a fantastic strike from Stuart Armstong.
Chances were few and far between and Aberdeen really should have taken the lead when Jonny Hayes dispossessed Callum McGregor from a Celtic corner and was left 2v1 charging into the Celtic box. Fortunately for Celtic, his cutback was just behind Kenny McLean who would have had a tap in to put Aberdeen 2-1 up.
Once again, however, cometh the hour, cometh the man… up stepped Tom Rogic.
A 27th minute substitute for the injured Kieran Tierney, Rogic picked up the ball 35 yards from goal, danced past the non-existent tackles from O’Connor and Considine and into the penalty box before slotting a right-footed effort past Joe Lewis.
A moment that will go down in the annals of Celtic memory, the image of Craig Gordon collapsing to his knees to celebrate is an image that will be up there alongside Billy McNeill lifting the European Cup, and Henrik Larsson’s celebration after chipping Stefan Klos.
Goal 4 – Olivier Ntcham v Lazio
A game that was marred before kick-off thanks to the antics of the fascist Lazio Ultras, who were ironically banned from this match due to their antics in previous European matches. This actually turned into a night that will never be forgotten for the 8,000-strong travelling support.
Following Christopher Jullien’s last-minute winner in the home fixture, spirits were high as the Celts made the journey across to the Italian capital.
As usual, despite all the warnings, the Celtic fans travelled in their large numbers, taking in the sights of what is a beautiful city as well as taking time to visit the Holy Land of the Vatican City.
As the game kicked off, Lazio started on the front foot and, after only 7 minutes, Serie A top scorer Ciro Immobile put the home side in front, connecting at the back post, unmarked, from a stunning cross.
As the half went on, Celtic grew more and more into the game and managed to get a deserved equaliser just before half-time when James Forrest fired past Strakosha in the Lazio net.
The second half started extremely well for Celtic and the chances were coming, but as the half went on, Lazio grew more and more into the game. Fraser Forster was in his element once again with save after save to keep the Bhoys in the game before the moment arrived.
A sloppy pass from substitute Berisha landed at the feet of Odsonne Edouard who drove towards the box and found the advancing Olivier Ntcham, who recovered his first touch before lofting the ball over Strakosha which eventually, after what seemed like forever, landed in the back of the Lazio net.
Celtic’s first ever win in Italy, a Scottish team’s first ever win in Italy and a night that those 8,000 fans in Rome will never forget! Iconic!
Colin Watt
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