Keane lifts Celtic past Dundee

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GLASGOW, Feb 20, 2010 (AFP) - Robbie Keane's first-half goal was enough to seal a narrow 1-0 Celtic win over Dundee United as they reduced Rangers' lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League to seven points on Saturday.

The Hoops took full advantage of their rivals' game away to St Johnstone being called off due to a frozen pitch to cut the gap going into next week's crucial Old Firm derby.

Tony Mowbray's men had the lion's share of possession with Polish keeper Artur Boruc barely being called into action while his opposite number Dusan Pernis produced a number of outstanding saves to keep United in the game.

However Celtic only had Keane's 21st minute goal to show for their dominance despite a plethora of opportunities to increase their lead.

His side's failure to convert their multitude of chances will be causing the Hoops gaffer some worries as he prepares his side for Ibrox next Sunday.

Both sides made three changes with Celtic bringing in Ki Sung-Yeung and Thomas Rogne for the suspended pair of Aiden McGeady and Darren O'Dea while Andreas Hinkel returned at right-back.

Celtic dominated early possession but failed to create any clear cut chances. Edson Braafheid fired in two free-kicks in quick succession from the right but he couldn't find his way past a well-drilled United defence to break the deadlock.

South Korean international Ki Sung-Yeung wasted an opportunity in the 20th minute when he made space for himself at the edge of the box but hit a soft effort that rolled to Pernis in goal.

However the Hoops didn't have to wait long to make the break through when Keane opened the scoring a minute later.

Diomansy Kamara won possession just inside United's half and his clever pass quickly released Keane who raced past the static United defence and slotted low past Pernis from 12 yards out for his first goal at Parkhead.

United attempted to hit straight back but Webster's header was off-target from Craig Conway's corner.

Rogne was inches away from doubling the lead when he sent his header from South Korean international Ki's corner before Pernis threw his body in front of a Scott Brown drive.

Hinkel's cutback found Marc-Antoine Fortune but he couldn't direct his shot away from Pernis as Celtic ended the half strongly.

United were being restricted to long-range efforts and neither Prince Bauben nor Jon Daly tested Boruc with shots from outside the box just after the break.

Brown and Ki played a neat one-two but with Fortune screaming for a cutback the Celtic captain sent a shot crashing off the legs of Pernis.

The Slovakian keeper then kept United in the game when he produced a point-blank save from Keane's shot on the spin.

Sub Jennison Myrie-Williams made fired wide of the post in a rare forage forward by United. Pernis again showed his worth when he somehow got a finger to Landry N'Guemo's fierce drive which looked to be flying in.

Myrie-Williams' pass made its way to Daly in the box and Boruc produced his first save of the day when he rushed out to block his shot.

Elsewhere Falkirk defeated Aberdeen 3-1, Hibernian lost their third game in a row 1-0 to Motherwell and Kilmarnock versus St Mirren finished 1-1.