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The long-awaited debut of former Ireland national team and "Man Utd" defender Roy Keane at the club ended disastrously - on Sunday in the third round of the Scottish Cup, the defending champions and current leaders in the country's championship, Glasgow, lost 1-2 to the lower league Clyde team and withdrew from the tournament.
34-year-old R. Keane started the match in the starting lineup for Celtic, which included practically all the main players. Nevertheless, at the beginning of the match, the initiative belonged to the well-playing Clyde players - in the first half-hour, the hosts twice sent the ball into Celtic's goal, but the match referee did not count the goals.
However, Clyde continued to attack persistently and in the 33rd minute, they rightfully took the lead when Craig Bryson headed in the ball after goalkeeper Artur Boruc failed to secure it. Soon after, a penalty kick was awarded to the visitors, but Stephen O'Donnell failed to convert it.
But that was not all in the first half - in the 37th minute, Eddie Malone scored accurately after a corner kick. After the break, Clyde continued to storm Celtic's goal and initially a couple of shots were off target, but later O'Donnell's header hit the crossbar.
After an hour of play, a good opportunity was wasted by Aiden McGeady, who found himself one on one with the goalkeeper after a precise pass from R. Keane, and with eight minutes left, the Glasgow club's deficit was reduced by a strike from 20 meters by the Pole Maciej Zurawski. But the goal did not save Celtic from defeat, and Clyde celebrated a memorable victory.
After the draw for the next stage, it was revealed that only two Premier League clubs would be left in the fifth round, as four of them, including both Edinburgh teams, will face each other in the fourth round - "Hearts" will play at home against "Aberdeen," while "Rangers" will play at their stadium against "Hibernian."
Scottish Cup Fourth Round Draw
"Inverness CT"/"Ayr Utd" - "Partick Thistle" "Spartans" - "St Mirren" "Queen of the South"/"Hamilton" - "Alloa Ath"/ "Livingston" "Hearts" - Aberdeen" "Airdrie United" - "Dundee" "Falkirk" - "Ross County" "Rangers" - "Hibernian" "Clyde" - "Gretna"
