When Celtic and Dundee United failed to score during the 120 minutes of their Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final last week it was time for the goalkeepers to take centre stage for the penalty shoot-out. No-one expected the goalmouth custodians would have to join the ranks of the penalty takers but with the score tied at 9-9 after all 10 outfield players from both sides had taken their kicks it was time for Artur and his fellow countryman and soon-to-be team-mate Lukasz Zaluska to get their shooting boots on.
The keepers have been close friends for years and Boruc admitted that he had tried to set up a deal with his buddy as they went head-to-head "Just before Lukasz took his penalty, I smiled at him and said, 'Big man, don't be silly. You tell me which side and I'll dive the other way, then you do the same for me!'" said the Holy Goalie. advertisement
"He didn't hear what I said because of the crowd but I was obviously joking anyway. It was fine, but a bit strange to be hitting a penalty into Luka, seeing as he's a friend. I found the whole thing quite funny. I'd scored before in a game for Legia Warsaw but that was different. This time, it was a shoot-out so it wasn't the same. But I'd still like to score for Celtic during an actual game."
Strangely enough the big keeper wasn't too nervous about taking the kick although his latest practice session with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink in goals hadn't been a great one "I was quite confident," said Artur. "To be honest, I didn't mean it to go so far into the top corner. I was concentrating on hitting the target and I suppose I was lucky that the ball went where it did. I'm glad I scored but the most important thing was the team going through. We didn't win because of me, it was a team thing."
"I do practise taking penalties in training but I can assure you I've never scored a penalty like that in my life." he added "We practised the day before the game and Jan saved three out of five from me. That was quite embarrassing for me but the game was different. I'd never been involved in a shoot-out like that. Both teams hit a total of 24 penalties and 21 of them went in. For Lukasz and myself, that was a bit embarrassing but the main thing is we won."
He's had his fair share of bad times so far this term both off and on the pitch but he's beginning to look more like his old self these days and now that we are approaching the business end of the season with all three domestic trophies still in our sights Artur Boruc would love nothing better than to bring them all home to Celtic Park for the first time since Martin O'Neill's all-conquering side won the Treble in 2001 "It's good to still be in all three tournaments." said Artur "We're doing well in the league, we're still in the Scottish Cup and we have a final to look forward to in the League Cup. I hope it can be a successful season. I've also never played against Rangers in a cup final so it will be something special for me."