It took 45 minutes and an on-form Aiden McGeady to sink Benfica and keep alive Celtic's hopes of reaching the last 16 of the Champions League. The winger went for goal on the edge of the box and his shot took a deflection spinning past Joaquim Quim in the Benfica goal scoring his first UEFA Champions League goal.
Throughout but mainly in the first half of the game Benfica's Oscar Cardozo was a constant threat exposing Celtic's defensive frailties and testing the holy goalie

However, the main man had to be Brown who controlled the midfield closing down attacks and making breaks forward
Benfica's frustrations were evident when Binya was shown a straight red card for a horrendous tackle on Brown on the 85th minute.
A tackle that Brown later described as
'It's shocking. I don't think the guy should ever have done that. He obviously tried to do me as harm as possible.'
After the game the normally verbose Gordon Strachan when asked by a reporter how he felt after McGeady's goal had taken Celtic into joint second place alongside Shakhtar Donetsk in Group D, replied:
"I can't tell you. I can't explain how I feel and you can't know, because you're not me. "I just hope you enjoyed the game as much as everyone who saw it, that you conveyed to your listeners how great it was, how brave it was and what a terrific achievement it was."

Celtic: Boruc, Naylor, Caldwell, Kennedy, McManus, Scott Brown (Sno 89), Hartley, Jarosik (Donati 66), McGeady, Vennegoor of Hesselink (Killen 66), McDonald. Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Zurawski, Riordan, O'Dea.

Goals: McGeady 45.

Benfica: Quim, Luis Felipe, Edcarlos, Luisao, Leo, Katsouranis, Rui Costa (Bergessio 77), Pereira (Di Maria 61), Binya, Rodriguez, Cardozo (Nuno Gomes 77). Subs Not Used: Butt, Zoro, Nuno Assis, Adu.

Sent Off: Binya (85).

Booked: Pereira.

Att: 52,000

Ref: Martin Hansson (Sweden).

Following AC Milan's 3-0 victory away to Shakhtar Donetsk, Celtic are now level with the team from Ukraine on six points, while the Italians are on nine and Benfica are on three.

Our next game in Group D at home to Donetsk on Wednesday, November 28, could now be the decider on who goes through.