Source: Team_Talk
Strachan felt 'calm' in shoot-out
After 120 minutes of Wednesday night's CIS Cup semi-final had passed without a goal, there was the most amazing finale which saw every player taking penalties including both keepers.[LNB]United's on-loan midfielder Willo Flood, expected to join Celtic before the transfer window closes, then missed his second spot-kick to allow Scott McDonald the chance to become the hero with the winner and set up an Old Firm final on March 15.[LNB]Parkhead boss Strachan, who refused to confirm Celtic's interest in Flood saying only "we have made enquires about two or three players," insists he remained cool during the penalties when his players were always under the pressure of taking the second kick.[LNB]He said: "I was quite calm about it. I thought the footballing Gods must be looking down on us because we had done enough.[LNB]"It can happen but I was confident that we had enough there, enough ability and mental strength to take it."[LNB]Strachan admitted a tinge of sympathy for Craig Levein after the United boss lost his second penalty shoot-out in 11 months - but not too much.[LNB]"I would have felt really sorry for myself if my team had got beaten," he said.[LNB]"We have two managers delighted with the performance of their teams.[LNB]"I believe we should have won the game earlier, we hit the bar twice, but I do have sympathy for him because I have been there myself."[LNB]Hampden had not seen as dramatic, and as prolonged a penalty shoot-out since Aberdeen beat Celtic 9-8 on penalties in the 1990 Scottish Cup final.[LNB]Flood, substitute Jon Daly, Warren Feeney, Craig Conway, and Paul Dixon all scored for United as did McDonald, Gary Caldwell, Shunsuke Nakamura and substitutes Barry Robson and Georgios Samaras for Celtic.[LNB]At 5-5 and into sudden death, Morgaro Gomis, Garry Kenneth, David Robertson scored for the Taysiders to be levelled by Lee Naylor, Marc Crosas and Scott Brown.[LNB]United keeper Lee Wilkie had his kick blocked by Artur Boruc, but Celtic defender Glenn Loovens had his saved by Lukasz Zaluska, who will join Celtic in the summer.[LNB]Mihael Kovacevic scored for the Taysiders but United were pegged back level again by Andreas Hinkel before the two Polish keepers scored against each other.[LNB]It was back to the beginning again and Flood clipped the bar then watched as McDonald finished the tie.[LNB]A disappointed Levein, whose side lost on penalties to Rangers in last season's final, had a good-natured dig at Flood, calling him a "useless wee Celtic git" before admitting he had no idea if the Irishman would end up at Parkhead before the transfer window closed.[LNB]"I don't know what is going to happen. I am out of the loop with regards Willo, Cardiff don't need to contact me but I hope he is still here for Saturday," he said.[LNB]"He had a brilliant game and I can understand why he attracts the attention of Celtic and other clubs."[LNB]Levein took as much succour as he could from yet another great display against one of the Old Firm sides.[LNB]He said: "We scored 10 penalties, maybe we have to score 15 or 20 to win.[LNB]"I'm proud as punch of the lads and the way they played.[LNB]"We lost the match but we can take a lot from the game."[LNB][LNB]
