Juventus steal a late victory

Juventus stole victory from Celtic in the dying minutes of this dramatic tie in the most cruel fashion when Nicola Amoruso was adjudged to have been tripped in the penalty area.

Martin O'Neill, the Celtic manager, was furious and roared at the match officials before being ordered from the touchline as Amoruso buried the kick. "The boys were fantastic, the performance was fantastic, but I simply cannot believe the penalty," said O'Neill, who was sent to the stands by referee Hellmut Krug.

"I had turned away ready for the next attack. If it was remotely close it would not be a problem, but not a person in the stadium saw anything. It was simply not a penalty. Even the Juventus players had turned back waiting for the goal-kick." Asked about his dismissal O'Neill said: "That is not important. The only important thing is that we leave here feeling we've been robbed."

Earlier David Trezeguet had scored two goals either side of half-time, the second a brilliant header which appeared to seal the tie for Juventus. But there was drama in the 75th minute when Edgar Davids was sent off for a second bookable offence. The offence was a foul on Neil Lennon and the second was on Henrik Larsson.

The Celtic manager had stressed the importance of not being intimidated by the occasion and the way Larsson, Stilian Petrov and Paul Lambert were stoking the ball around told that they had listened to O'Neill.

In the 26th minute Alan Thompson went into the book for a skidding tackle on Alessio Pacchnardi.

From the resulting free-kick Alessandro del Piero worried Robert Douglas. It was already Del Piero's third effort. But Douglas had not made a save, indeed the first goalkeeping action came at the other end five minutes later when Chris Sutton rose to power a Lennon cross low to Gian Luigi Buffon's right. The most expensive keeper in the world scampered across to block.

Juventus retaliated. Two minutes before half-time, Marcelo Salas, at full speed, twisted and turned Valgaeren and sent in a cross from the byline that Trezeguet poked in from three yards. Valgaeren looked dejected but it was great skill from Salas.

The prospect of a quick equaliser was then extinguished by some more fleet footwork by one of Juventus' gifted strikers close to the touch line, Del Piero swivelled and delivered a peach of a centre from a nowhere angle. Waiting in the middle unmarked was Trezeguet and the young Frenchman managed to direct a magnificent header into the corner. Douglas had no chance.

With enormous credit Celtic fought back. In the 67th minute they got their bold reward, Petrov's 25-yard free-kick being deflected past Buffon following a short touch from Larsson.

And then Larsson levelled the score from a penalty, the referee pointing to the spot after Sutton tumbled. The joy was short-lived, however, as Amoruso controversially snatched victory just before the final whistle.

JUVENTUS: Buffon, Montero, Thuram, Pessotto (Birindelli 63), Iuliano, Zenoni, Tacchinardi, Davids, Salas (O'Neill 69), Trezeguet, Del Piero (Amoruso 87). Subs Not Used: Carini, Ferrara, Paramatti, Maresca.

CELTIC: Douglas, Valgaeren, Balde, Thompson (Petta 58), Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Mjallby, Agathe, Sutton, Larsson. Subs Not Used: Kharine, Sylla, McNamara, Hartson, Tebily, Guppy.

Referee: H Krug (Germany).