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By Liam McLeod
2257: Well, I feel like I played the game never mind watched it. That was my first text commentary, so thanks for your company and I trust you will wish me luck in my text commentary retirement - that wasn't healthy for anyone.
That's what I get for saying there would be no way it would finish goal-less.
I'm off for a lie down but we'll return for all the weekend's SPL action on Saturday starting with a wee look at St Mirren's new place. Good night!
2256: "Fan-tas-tic penalty shoot-out. Best I've ever seen. Anyway, next Rangers on March 15th in the final. Celtic will take them for the start of a domestic treble. I must admit though, I do feel so sorry for Dundee United. It takes two to put on an entertaining show. Still, well done Celtic!" corkjohnny Join the debate on My Sport
2255: Celtic boss Gordon Strachan tells us fall-guy Lee Wilkie's comeback from horrendous injury problems is the most incredible thing he's seen since returning to Scotland, before suggesting he should be in the reckoning for player of the year. It has of course set-up the first Old Firm final since 2003 - should be another quiet day at the office.
2250: United manager Craig Levein was his usual calm self post-match but Willo Flood and Lee Wilkie will not sleep a wink tonight as the men from the City of Discovery discovered only pain at Hampden Park again.
2243: I have been informed the highlights will be available at this website from midnight tonight if you missed it or simply want to watch the drama unfold again.
2240: Never have I seen a more incredible penalty shoot-out. The standard from 12 yards was superb.
2238: An unbelievable end to an unbelievable, erm goal-less draw. It will be Rangers v Celtic on 15 March in the final but nobody deserved to lose this one.
2235: Celtic 11-10 United - McDonald sends Zaluska the wrong way and it's heartbreak of the highest possible order for Dundee United.
2235: McDonald again to put Celtic into the final against Rangers......
2235: Celtic 10-10 United - Over the bar!
2234: Flood AGAIN!
2234: Wait for this......Celtic 10-10 United
2234: Boruc to keep Celtic in it!
2233: Celtic 9-10 United, Zaluska scores against his future employers.
2233: Just the keepers left! Pole versus Pole!
2233: Celtic 9-9 United
2232: Hinkel for Celtic - MUST score.
2232: Celtic 8-9 United
2232: Kovacevic for United.
2231: Celtic 8-8 United- Zaluska SAVES!!!! This is ridiculous!!
2231: Loovens to put Celtic in final.
2230: Celtic 8-8 United - Boruc saves!
2230: Wilkie for United - heart-broken in last year's final of course.
2230: Celtic 8-8 United
2230: Brown for Celtic.
2230: Celtic 7-8 United
2229: Robertson for United.
2229: Celtic 7-7 United
2229: Crosas for Celtic.
2229: Celtic 6-7 United
2229: Kenneth for United.
2228: Celtic 6-6 United
2228: Naylor for Celtic!
2228: Celtic 5-6 United
2227: SUDDEN DEATH! Gomis for United.
2227: Celtic 5-5 United- incredible!
2227: Samaras MUST score for Celtic!
2226: Celtic 4-5 United
2226: Dixon for United.
2226: Celtic 4-4 United
2226: Robson for Celtic - former United skipper.
2225: Celtic 3-4 United
2225: Conway - missed in THAT final!
2225: Celtic 3-3 United
2224: Nakamura for Celtic - missed v Spartak Moscow.
2224: Celtic 2-3 United - all perfect pens so far.
2224: Feeney for United.
2224: Celtic 2-2 United
2224: Caldwell for Celtic.
2224: Celtic 1-2 United
2223: Daly for United.
2223: Celtic 1-1 United
2223: McDonald for Celtic.
2222: Celtic 0-1 United
2222: United to take first - Willo Flood.
2221: "Celtic will win the shoot-out as they have more natural penalty takers." BBC One Scotland pundit Pat Nevin. They'll be taken at the Mount Florida end where the majority of the United fans are.
2220: Artur Boruc puts his gloves back on, can the Polish keeper atone for recent errors?
2218: United, remember, were left devastated last March when Lee Wilkie, Craig Conway and David Robertson all missed against Rangers in their last shoot-out at Hampden - all three may get the chance for redemption tonight.
2217: Everyone OK? Of course you're not. Even as a neutral, this is nerve shredding stuff.
2215: FULL-TIME in EXTRA TIME: Celtic 0-0 Dundee United - PENALTY SHOOT-OUT
2213: Samaras cracks the bar with a header - two minutes to go. "Stunning, absolutely stunning finish." BBC Radio Scotland commentator Richard Gordon.
2212: McDonald gets on the end of a hanging Nakamura cross, it's deflected wide. Crosas hits the bar from the resultant corner....United hanging on!!!!
2211: Five minutes to penalties....it's beginning to look like it. "This is one of the best 0-0s I've seen." BBC Radio Scotland pundit Allan Preston.
2209: I'm following the live text from South Africa, Robertson to get the winner! Come on, United!" Paul & Mo by email. Have Paul McStay and Mo Johnston changed allegiances?
2208: "I think Celtic should look at bringing on Paul Hartley with penalties in mind." BBC Radio Scotland pundit and Brechin City manager Jim Duffy
2206: A shattered Feeney tries and tries to reach a Conway cross wide on the left with an outstretched leg and missed it, he was in acres of space and United have found some extra fuel from somewhere.
2204: Flood tears past Loovens and Caldwell but flashes his shot wide across the bows of Boruc and wide. Another chance slips through the fingers.
2203: No sign of it letting up pace-wise but Celtic are giving possession away very cheaply - it's gripping stuff - like an episode of Eastenders, only a wee bit better.
2201: No break though, we're off again - 15 minutes of drama ahead - hold onto your hats.......
2200: HALF-TIME in EXTRA TIME: Celtic 0-0 Dundee United
2159: Celtic are getting closer - Nakamura this time swerves a shot past the same post his Greek team-mate did a moment ago. "United are hanging on a bit now." BBC Radio Scotland pundit and Brechin City manager Jim Duffy.
2158: Nearly at the end of the first period of extra-time as Samaras blasts wide from about 10 yards out.
2157: If you're listening to our radio coverage via your computer, refresh the link at 2200 to continue listening to a pulsating semi-final.
2156: Celtic have another free-kick - Robson again brought down this time by Conway - Robson himself takes it but United get it clear.
2155: Danny Swanson will be with us soon according to Mr Charles Young trackside.
2152: Zaluska clutches a Nakamura long-ranger with no problem - the problem United have is they are stuck in their own half.
2151: Samaras hits the byeline and finds McDonald six yards out but United skipper Wilkie makes a timely tackle.
2149: "Extra-time has been all Celtic." BBC Radio Scotland commentator Richard Gordon.
2148: Celtic have a fourth extra-time corner in just four minutes as Dixon sliced it high and wide. Nakamura's delivery is cleared.
2147: A chance for Celtic from a free-kick wide on the right - Gomis on Robson. Nakamura delivers but Daly heads it away.
2146: Buaben left the fray just before the final whistle - David Robertson replaced him - he loves a goal from midfield.
2145: Celtic get extra time underway, attacking the Mount Florida end.
2144: "I'm a United fan in San Jose, California. C'mon the Arabs!" Thanks for your email, Russell Brady. And hello to Stuart Cameron in Delaware, who has been in touch.
2143: With memories of last season's League Cup final still fresh, those in tangerine will be hoping this is decided before the dreaded kicks from the penalty spot.
2142: OK, I was right about extra-time even if I ruined that prediction by saying: "There's no way this is ending goal-less is there?"
2141: "I am watching the semi at an Irish bar in Toronto. Massive snowstorm. For once let us be lucky at Hampden. And lastly, Robson you are a disgrace!" Derek Macrae by email to [email protected]
2140: FULL-TIME: Celtic 0-0 Dundee United
Lee Wilkie almost nods in in the last seconds as the final whistle goes - Extra time it is.
2139: Conway hits the byeline but his cross doesn't beat the first man. Corner United!
2138: "I'd like another half an hour of this." BBC Radio Scotland pundit Allan Preston. Well Biscuits, it looks like you're going to get it. Two minutes of stoppage time!
2137: "It's the last 10 minutes... Why do I hate the last 10 minutes against Celtic in cup games?" hotlantaarab on My Sport. Yes, they do have a habit of kicking you in the tender areas around about this time of a match.
2136: Extra time looming larger than a recession now as Caldwell blooters the ball clear.
2135: The Tangerine machine clear and try to break but find no way through, suddenly it's end to end again.
2134: Desperate defending from United forces another corner.
2133: Substitution when defending a corner? United have done, Sandaza off, Daly on.
2132: Five minutes to go as United prepare to make a change themselves. Samaras goes walkies with the ball, all the way to the byeline but it goes out for a corner.
2131: "It looks like a goal now will win it."BBC Radio Scotland pundit Allan Preston.
2130: Referee Murray says goal kick - TV proves there was nothing in it, no penalty, no booking.
2129: Into the closing stages and Celtic are crunching through the gears and are looking more like themselves. Robson goes down in the box after a trip from Morgaro Gomis............
2128: And the attendance is in: 19,258 - would they have fitted into Tynecastle? Hmmm.
2127: So, 10 minutes to go as Dixon goes into the book for a challenge on Robson. Decent area for the aformentioned Aberdonian to flight in a free-kick on the near-side touchline.
2122: Celtic bring on Samaras and former United captain Barry Robson for Vennegoor of Hesselink and McGeady as Buaben is yellow carded for a challenge on Crosas.
2121: Next up, a tremendous idea from rob by email to [email protected] . "Maybe the radio commentators should be wearing motor bike helmets with mics so as you can block out the stadium tannoy. It's really loud and annoying. You could open the visors on the helmets during the game."
2119: The Celtic defence is looking a wee bit like a rabbit in the headlights as Buaben goes just wide with a low drive just outside the box. Remember last night when Falkirk didn't take advantage of being on top early on? Can United take their next chance with just 18 minutes of normal time to go? It's all them right now.
2118: Thanks for the email, Fraser, over in Baltimore. A keen United fan, he's following our live text and has a message for Old Firm fans - "cheer up and try following a team through thick and thin!"
2114: News from trackside - Georgios Samaras is about to enter the fray for Celtic, Chick reckons for Vennegoor of Hesselink.
2113: And no sooner has Duff said that and Sandaza swivels and volleys just over.
2112: "Sandaza's been excellent for United tonight."BBC Radio Scotland pundit and Brechin City manager Jim Duffy.
2111: We're in a bit of a lull just now as we wait for the deadlock to be broken, remember this is decided tonight so extra-time and penalties may be needed.
2108: "If there's a better Scottish left-back than Paul Dixon playing just now I have yet to see him." BBC Radio Scotland pundit Allan Preston.
2104: Caldwell heads over a Nakamura corner - the chances are falling to the wrong people.
2102: Still interested in some pitch talk? "They'd probably have been better playing the game on Glencoe!" A suggestion for a smoother playing surface from Big Mark by text to 80295.
2101: Prince Buaben blasts a shot over the bar from 20 yards - Conway can score from there, Buaben generally does not.
2059: Sandaza sand dances into the Celtic box but it gets away from him and the Parkhead side scramble it clear. What a cup-tie.
2058: Never mind the Beechgrove Garden, this is more like Formula One coverage as Scott McDonald fails to bring the ball down on the break when he could have been in on goal.
2056: Glenn Loovens goes into the book for an almost last-man challenge on Feeney. Looked accidental but the foul was given. United waste the free-kick as Conway dinks it out for a goal-kick rather than have a pop, he was looking for a team-mate.
2054: Zaluska tips over a Nakamura free-kick for a corner as the second-half starts at a frenetic pace.
2052: And we're back underway - Chick was right, no changes.
2049: As the radio boys continue to vie for Jim McColl's job on the Beechgrove Garden, our Chick reckons there will be no changes from either side at the interval. Mr Young also manages to play the Carole Baxter role in the BBC's Horticultural extravaganza. "It will not improve until we start playing football in the summer, there's no growth in the grass. That won't happen for another month." Now you know.
2048: "Marc Crosas hasn't been in the game so Id be looking at getting Barry Robson on at some point." BBC Radio Scotland pundit and Brechin City manager Jim Duffy.
2038: "I said before the game that Craig's ploy will be to stay in the game as long as possible and learn from two weeks ago and, so far, his formation is working well." BBC One Scotland pundit and Motherwell captain Stephen Craigan.
2036: This season in the SPL, Dundee United 1-1 Celtic and Celtic 2-2 Dundee United. We knew it'd be tight.
2035: So as an excellent, if goal-less, first half ends, the current score is about right.
2034: HALF-TIME: Celtic 0-0 Dundee United
2030: United cry foul as Paul Dixon is upended by McDonald but Celtic play on and Scott Brown races towards the edge of the box before drawing a spectacular save out of Zaluska.
2028: Wilkie has resumed his defensive duties but is moving gingerly around the ever-muddier pitch.
2026: But the SPL leaders cannot take advantage as the ball's cleared, it's worked back out to the Japanese international Nakamura whose cross is headed over by Loovens.
2025: United are temporarily down to 10 men with Wilkie off receiving treatment, Celtic corner.
2023: Lee Wilkie and Vennegoor of Hesselink clash on the edge of the United box. The Tangerines' captain was blocking the Dutchman's route to goal and has taken a knock to his ankle but gets onto his feet. He'll be back.
2022: Up the other end, Craig Conway on the left wing finds the Spaniard Sandaza in the Celtic box but his glancing header drifts wide.
2020: Another cross results in another near-thing as Lee Naylor this time swings it in towards the near post but Scott McDonald can't get his bonce on the end of it.
2018: Even-Stevens so far as Celtic boss Gordon Strachan prowls the rather large Hampden technical area.
2014: Lennon's frustration must have actually made it out onto the pitch as Gary Caldwell lays into Boruc after a misunderstanding at the back. The Scotland defender is furious that Boruc didn't claim the ball and so he had to hoof it out the pitch to clear the danger as United pressed.
2013: "Neil Lennon is almost on the pitch!" Sportsound commentator Richard Gordon notices that the Celtic coach is getting rather exasperated at his team's play. I think someone wished they were out there playing.
2010: Here's an interesting idea: "I live in Tampa, Florida and I'm sure that the local Buccaneers Stadium could accommodate the crowds that would turn out for a Scottish League Cup tie if it was held here. After all, the Buccaneers will play in London in October so why not send a couple of Scottish sides out here to Florida to entertain the tourists and baffle the locals." James Miller by email to [email protected]
James, I like your thinking.
2006: Francisco Sandaza runs onto a Feeney through ball but cannot get the connection he needs to poke it past Boruc. It's a pulsating semi-final as both teams go for each others throats. Blood and snotters I think is the term.
2005: "Honestly, the pitch is just a nightmare and is causing all sorts of problems." BBC One Scotland pundit Billy Dodds.
2004: It's calmed down slightly but there's still chances as Vennegoor of Hesselink gets the merest of touches onto a Nakamura corner as it comes off a United defender last for a corner at the other side.
1959: Warren Feeney - a two goal hero at the weekend - was inches from connecting with a 'Ronaldo' Kenneth cross from the right. Garry what were you doing in that area of the park anyway?
1957: Problems outside the ground according to one texter tonight: "Up to 2000 united fans still outside. Only a few turnstiles open and all buses were turned away from bus park despite having passes." Mike from Dundee by text 80295.
1955: There's no way this is ending goal-less is there?
1953: Nakamura's causing United all kinds of problems, and his cross to the back post is cleared by Flood.
1950: Celtic target Willo Flood's mazy run into the box ends with a low shot which forces a save from Artur Boruc. What a start!
1949: First minute - first chance. United keeper Lukasz Zaluska - Celtic's in the summer - is forced to punch away a Shunsuke Nakamura cross before Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's shot was blocked and eventually cleared by Garry Kenneth.
1948: We're a couple of minutes late but referee Calum Murray checks with his assistants, blows the first whistle and we're off!
1943: The teams are in the tunnel - the tension's building. My prediction? Extra-time's a certainty tonight isn't it?
1940: "As a stay at home Arab due to uni work, I've got a feeling I'm gonna miss a 2-0 United win. You heard it here first!" kevmacmeh. Join the debate on My Sport
1937: Poor Allan Preston has woken the beast - BBC Radio Scotland's Chick Young has taken exception to his moving the semis away from the National Stadium. Maybe United would agree, they thumped Aberdeen 4-1 at Tynecastle to make last year's final.
1935: There's plenty debate out there: "It appears the Old Firm fans treat the League Cup with disdain unless they meet in the tournament! The authorities need to have a word with themselves. Playing semi finals at Hampden and midweek in January - no wonder they toil for sponsorship. However, let's hope for an exciting attacking game." Mick by email to [email protected]
1930: "I think these games should be played somewhere like Tynecastle - the crowd tonight is going to be poor compared to the semi-finals in England which are always sold-out." BBC Radio Scotland pundit Allan Preston.
1927: A Sportsound listener would like to take issue with our pundit Allan Preston's high praise of the Dundee United manager: "If Craig Levien is such a 'Tactical Genius', then why was he sacked at Leicester City? I can assure you, having seen one of his Leicester sides, there wasn't much evidence of tactical genius on show. All of a sudden, a few half decent results in Scotland, and hey presto, you're a genius." Andrew in Fraserburgh by text 80295.
1925: TEAM NEWS:
And here they are - let us know what you make of the line-ups.
Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, Loovens, Naylor, Nakamura, Scott Brown, Crosas, McGeady, McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink. Subs: Mark Brown, Samaras, Robson, Hartley, O'Dea.
1920: We now know the reason for the poor pitch - last midweek's Scottish Cup replay between Queens Park and Peterhead which was played in the pouring rain - that's according to stadium manager David Kells.
1918: So, without any further delay to what could be a long night on the bobbly Hampden turf, tonight's team news.
Celtic captain Stephen McManus' knee injury keeps him out and his place goes to Glenn Loovens in the only change from the win over Hibernian.
United include Celtic target Willo Flood in their midfield engine room and Levein has made two changes to the side that defeated St Mirren late on Saturday with Mihael Kovacevic and Francisco Sandaza replacing Sean Dillon and Jon Daly.
Full teams coming forthwith.
1915: Good evening and welcome to another night of last four Co-operative Insurance Cup action as Dundee United take on Celtic, with Craig Levein's men looking to prevent an Old Firm cup final and set-up a revenge re-match with Rangers.
But, despite not losing to either of the Glasgow two this term, United have not beaten Celtic since Craig Easton and Billy Dodds got the goals in a 2-1 win in August 1999 - it's not a bad time to change that particular stat.
As well as keeping up-to-date right here, the match is live on Sportsound, BBC Radio Scotland 810 medium wave and on Sportscene, BBC1 Scotland - both will be available at this website in the UK only.
Stay with us all the way and send in your comments via: My Sport and text on 80295.
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