Dundee United 1 Celtic 1

Nine-man Dundee United earned a replay at Celtic Park after an incredible performance in a pulsating battle at Tannadice. By Michael Blackley. A high-tempo, high-energy performance denied Celtic despite United playing for much of the second half with only nine men after Paul Paton and Paul Dixon both saw red in controversial circumstances. Nadir Ciftci had given United a lead on the stroke of half time but Celtic piled on the pressure in the second half and eventually found a way past the resilient home side when Leigh Griffiths equalised. But United were not to be denied and a dogged and determined battling display ground out a replay. It means these two sides will play each other for four consecutive matches in a row in three different competitions – and the recriminations of the key incidents in the match are sure to go on well into this week. After last week’s poor performance against Partick Thistle, manager Jackie McNamara made three changes to his line-up, with Calum Butcher, John Rankin and Aidan Connolly coming into the side for Chris Erskine, Charlie Telfer and Blair Spittal. He seemed to want an energetic and determined performance and he was not to be disappointed in what turned into a thrilling match. It was clear from the kick off that both sides were well up for a battle and the feisty start exploded into mayhem after 10 minutes when both were dramatically reduced to 10 men. Paul Paton seemed to be caught very late by Scott Brown after doing well to win a ball in midfield and set up an attack.  The incident sparked an almighty melee between around 12 players near the halfway line, which referee Craig Thomson rushed to sort out.  After a lengthy consultation with his assistant referee, Thomson opted to send off both Virgil Van Dijk and Paul Paton – despite the United midfielder insisting that he had been the victim of mistaken identity. That drama really raised the tempo as Tannadice was gripped by a real cup tie atmosphere. While Celtic had a lot of possession in and around the United penalty area, Craig Gordon was the first goalkeeper to be tested when Ryan Dow sprinted clear on a long ball only to send a fairly tame effort goalwards, which the Scotland international easily collected. United then nearly took the lead twice within a minute in another frantic spell of action.  Aidan Connolly raced into the box and went down under a challenge from Scott Brown. With Thomson waving away the penalty shouts, Butcher was then fouled by Brown right on the edge of the 18-yard box. Nadir Ciftci stepped up and fired in the free kick just wide of Gordon’s post, after three United players had cleverly joined the Celtic wall, leaving a space for the Turkish striker to shoot. Sean Dillon came to United’s rescue on the half hour mark when he stepped in to halt Anthony Stokes after he was released on the left, when he looked like he was through on goal. Celtic had a spell of pressure as the game neared half time with a series of corners which tested United, none more so than when Paul Dixon had to bravely clear under serious pressure right in front of goal. But a match that had already been a spicy cup tie really exploded into life in a remarkable last few minutes of the first half. First Stefan Johannsen had Celtic’s best chance of the half when he tested Cierzniak with a long-range effort which the Pole had to divert beyond the post for a corner.  Then both sides struck the woodwork, with Calum Butcher sending through Dow, who saw his strike hit the outside of the post. Then, right on the stroke of half time, United took a sensational lead from the penalty spot.  The penalty was earned from skilful winger Aidan Connolly, who confidently strode into the Celtic box and evaded one challenge before going down under a tackle from Anthony Stokes. Craig Thomson had no doubt that the tricky wide player had been fouled and immediately pointed to the spot. Under huge pressure, Nadir Ciftci cooly tucked home the penalty to give United an invaluable lead and send Tannadice wild right on the stroke of half time. The second half had to do a lot to live up to an explosive first 45 minutes. It didn’t take long to do so – and more. Cierzniak saved from Johansen under a challenge from Dillon only 10 yards out.  But another huge moment of controversy saw United reduced to nine men and Celtic win a penalty. Paul Dixon threw himself in front of a Leigh Griffiths shot but the referee judged that he had used his hand and pointed to the spot and flashed a red card at the left back.  But Radoslaw Cierzniak became the United hero as he dived to his left to make a first class stop to deny Griffiths’ penalty. United were now truly up against it and McNamara had to sacrifice the impressive Connolly for John Souttar as his depleted side desperately tried to hold on to their hard-fought lead. Griffiths nodded an Izaguirre cross narrowly over as the drama continued, then Cierzniak parried a deflected cross behind. United were now lined up with two solid blocks of four as they tried to keep the Scottish champions at bay but the Parkhead side was looking more and more dangerous by the minute. James Forrest, suddenly finding himself with space, released Stokes, whose firm low drive was brilliantly saved by Cierzniak. The home side somehow managed to fashion a counter attack when Erskine, on for Dow, raced away and released Calum Butcher, who did well to get a shot in which Gordon saved. Celtic striker John Guidetti, who had replaced Stokes, then nearly notched an equaliser at the other end when Johansen brilliantly set him up only for Cierzniak to once again come to United’s rescue. With only 20 minutes left to play, though, United’s resistance was finally broken when the increasingly influential Johanssen curled in a perfect ball to Griffiths, who diverted the ball beyond Cierzniak. Cierzniak then had to bravely collect in the penalty area when Celtic quickly countered a poor Souttar free kick. United were trying to break whenever they could, helped by the hard-working efforts of substitute Chris Erskine, but were being penned back at times and Bitton was next to ping in an effort from the edge of the box, which fizzed past the post. With the clock running down, Guidetti was then released in the box but poked an effort over the bar. In the final minute, Cierzniak came to United’s rescue yet again as he spread himself brilliantly to make an incredible stop from Guidetti as he bore down on goal. Deep into injury time, Celtic again tried to fashion a way past United’s resilient defence but theyw were again denied despite a huge scramble as United somehow held on. But the brave nine men left on the park managed to hold out despite five minutes of injury time to set up another cup cracker against Celtic. The replay takes place on March 18 – but these sides have the small matter of next Sunday’s League Cup Final to contest first. Man of the match: Radoslaw Cierzniak. No shortage of contenders, from Sean Dillon, who defended doggedly throughout, to the incredibly energetic midfield pairing of Calum Butcher and John Rankin. But the keeper deserves it for one of his finest ever performances in a United jersey. Time and time again he came to his side’s rescue as they struggled to cope with the numerical disadvantage. UNITED: Cierzniak; Dillon, Dixon, Fojut, McGowan; Paton, Butcher, Rankin; Dow (Erskine, 64), Connolly (Souttar, 53), Ciftci. Subs not used: Szromnik, Spittal, Telfer, Bilate, Anier CELTIC: Gordon; Bitton (Fisher, 90), Izaguirre, Van Dijk, Ambrose; Brown, Denayer; Stokes (Guidetti, 64), Johansen, Forrest; Griffiths (Scepovic, 87). Subs not used: Zaluska, Wakaso, McGregor, Henderson