Celtic 1 - 1 Sporting Lisbon: Paul McGowan on the spot for Celtic

PAUL McGowan converted the winning penalty as Celtic beat Sporting Lisbon in a shootout after a 1-1 draw in Boston - the first football match at the Fenway Park baseball stadium in 42 years.

Sporting striker Liedson shot over the crossbar, leaving McGowan to slot home the winner before a crowd of 32,162, enjoying the first game at the home of the Boston Red Sox since Pele played there in 1968.

"It was different and we enjoyed it," Celtic manager Neil Lennon said. "It's one of the most famous stadiums in the world, and we played a football game in it."

Celtic took the lead when Georgios Samaras was awarded a penalty after being tripped in the box by Daniel Carrico. The Greek World Cup striker sent goalkeeper Vitor Golas the wrong way.

Sporting equalised in the 82nd minute when Diogo Salomao's header hit the crossbar and bounced out to Helder Postiga, who headed it into the net. Sporting had a chance to take the lead in the 86th minute, but Liedson's header went just wide.

The game went to penalties, when each of the first ten successful attempts was marked with a check mark on the manual scoreboard on the famous Green Monster outfield wall. Liedson, who played for Portugal in the World Cup, brought up the first red "X" when he skied his shot. Golas guessed wrong on McGowan's shot, giving Celtic victory, and the ballpark loudspeakers began belting out Dirty Water, the song that celebrates Red Sox victories.

The trophy was a crystal football mounted on a base shaped like baseball's home plate. "The atmosphere was fantastic," Lennon added. after the match late on Wednesday night.

Taking advantage of a road trip that sent the Red Sox to the West Coast for ten games, Boston's management imported the clubs for the exhibition game and stretched a football field from the third-base line to right field, with sod covering the pitcher's mound.