Celtic progressed to the play-off stage of the Champions League qualifiers after a thrilling 2-0 victory over Dinamo Moscow in the Arena Khimki last night, overturning the 1-0 first leg defeat at Celtic Park. Scott McDonald scored with a header just before half-time to cancel out Dinamo's aggregate lead and Georgios Samaras, a late second half substitute for goalscorer Skippy, clinched the tie with a terrific solo effort in injury time. Samaras, however, played down his own part in the victory over the Russians. 
'It's just a goal." said Sami. "Just one goal to help my team to the next stage. It's not a special one. You are a striker and it is your job to put the ball in the net. If you score against Rangers or Hamilton, it's the same. It could be worth a lot of money to the club, but I don't care about that. That's business and I'm a football player. Honestly, I'm not a hero."
Socceroos striker Scott McDonald was more effusive after the game. "That is me officially off the mark and that is nice." he said "It seems we like playing in Russia, it looks as if we would like to play here all of the time away from home in Europe. But it was a fantastic result, especially considering not a lot of people expected us to do that. That goal is big, it's up there. It's hard to put into context until I see if we get through the next round. But, yes, it could be massive."
"Both times were great times to score." said Celtic's number seven. "The first goal hurt them because it meant they had to come out a little more. I felt they played the same way in both legs. They almost went to five at the back and it was difficult to break through. The whole first half was frustrating but we got that one chance. It was the first time we really got the ball down and played, and we took it. That was the difference. It put Dynamo on the back foot and, bar a 10-minute period at the start of the second half we dominated."
The Scottish media seem to have taken great delight in highlighting the team's poor away record in Europe but McDonald claims that the players themselves never gave it much thought at all. "The away record has never been in the players' minds." he said. "We just go and do our own thing. We would have been very disappointed to lose, but it's not relief that we are through. Belief would be a better word. We always believe we can do it. It's nice to hear that the manager has faith in your ability and it makes you feel good."
Celtic now enter into tomorrow's final qualifying-round draw knowing that they will face an even tougher challenge in this final hurdle to the Champions League proper. The calibre of opponent notches up a gear with sides such as Lyon, Arsenal and Panathinaikos waiting in the wings and McDonald insists that getting through this round would be right up there with Celtic's previous Champions League achievements. Europa League football is guaranteed should the team falter but McDonald maintains that the players will only concentrate on winning
"I've seen the teams in the next round." said Skippy. "But if we do get through to the group stages this season it will be as good as getting through to the last 16 in the past. In the number of games I have played in Europe for Celtic we have always gone out to win. The old manager was the same. It worked for us here and it is fantastic. Everyone will say it is down to the new manager and we'll say that, too. Fresh ideas and a new start for everyone."