Glasgow, Apr 11: Celtic's Henrik Larsson scored once but had a penalty saved as Portuguese underdogs Boavista held the Scottish champions 1-1 in the first leg of their UEFA Cup semi-final at Celtic Park on Thursday.
With either Italian club Lazio or Porto awaiting the winners in next month's final, Boavista silenced the 60,000 Celtic Park crowd by taking a shock lead three minutes into the second half.


Filipe Anunciacao scampered down the Boavista right and his cross was inadvertently diverted past his own goalkeeper by Celtic defender Joos Valgaeren.



But Celtic, seeking to reach their first European final since 1970, were level within a minute when Larsson fired low into the Boavista net. The Swede, though, was denied a second in the 75th minute when Boavista goalkeeper Ricardo Pereira produced a plunging stop to keep out his penalty kick awarded after Eder's unfortunate handball.



That save meant Boavista finished much the happier of the two sides with their away goal giving them the advantage for the second leg in Oporto in two weeks' time.



So far in their European run, Celtic have scored away goals against FK Suduva, Blackburn Rovers, Celta Vigo, VfB Stuttgart and Liverpool.



Martin O'Neill's side will need to do so again in Portugal to maintain their hopes of reaching the final in Seville on May 21.
There was little to separate the sides in a tight and often tense opening period but Jaime Pacheco's Boavista side were never over-awed.

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Celtic started in a positive mood and Larsson wriggled free from John Hartson's intelligent pass on seven minutes but the Swede's final effort bounced wide. Bureau Report