Vennegoor denies Boro victory
by Chris Stanton, 22 July 2008
A stoppage-time goal from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink earned Celtic a 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough in a pre-season friendly at Estadio Algarve.
Jeremie Aliadiere gave Boro a deserved lead 20 minutes from time and they appeared on course for victory until a stooping header from Dutch striker Vennegoor.
Building their players’ fitness was the predominant concern of Gareth Southgate and Gordon Strachan, nonetheless an entertaining contest ensued.
Aiden McGeady showed why he is continually linked with a move to The Premier League. Twice in the first half he got the better of Luke Young down the right but on each occasion Georgios Samaras failed to direct a header with any purpose.
Boro’s brightest spark was summer signing Marvin Emnes who exhibited a pacey threat down the right.
However Hoops goalkeeper Mark Brown was tested only from distance.
Josh Walker’s shot was repelled by Brown, while Mohamed Shawky’s strike from the edge of the box arrowed wide of goal.
Second-half substitute Aliadiere tested Brown again from outside the area, while, at the other end, Barry Robson’s free kick brought a sprawling save from Ross Turnbull.
Aliadiere poached the game’s opener after Darren O’Dea’s backpass to Brown was woefully short and the Frenchman nipped in to deflect the goalkeeper's attempted clearance into the net to claim a goal against the team whom he played for briefly while on loan from Arsenal.
The lead plundered, Middlesbrough retained possession well but, as the match entered stoppage time, Vennegoor squeezed home a header through the legs of Adam Johnson on the line after Bobo Balde’s header back across goal had caught Boro at sixes and sevens.