THE BEAUTIFUL GAMES; Scotland's top sports team pick the classics that lit up the season.(Sport) - Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland)

This was more than the game of the season. This was the match that breathed life back into Scottish football.

Remember it? You must.

The doom and gloom merchants had been dooming and glooming their heads off after a string of disasters for our clubs on the Continent.

And then, all of a sudden, the two super powers of the Premier League gave us all something to be proud of. Ninety minutes of magic.

As we said at the time, it was the six goals that put the smile back on the face of Scottish soccer.

It turned out to be even more than that though. This Old Firm classic kick- started the most thrilling title chase in donkeys.

When Andreas Thom's pile driver bulged in the back of Andy Goram's net after just nine minutes you just knew you were about to witness something special.

Brian Laudrup's leveller just before the break merely confirmed it.

John Collins made it 2-1 from the spot, then Ally McCoist squared it up at the other end.

Even Oleg S*l*nk* got in on the act. Somehow he escaped two mistimed challenges inside the box before screwing a ball across goal for Tosh McKinlay to stab into his own net.

By now it was simply breathtaking stuff.

But there was more to come.

Celtic stormed back and Pierre Van Hooijdonk's point blank volley produced the save of the season from Goram.

Some said it was a Gordon Banks - I had it down as a David Copperfield.

But then in the 72nd minute Van Hooijdonk did net the leveller with a glancing looping header - and McKinlay played his part by providing the cross.

No one could have scripted it better.

And I'll never forget the look on the face of this Danish press bloke as he struggled to catch his breath afterwards at the bar in the interview room at Ibrox.

As he clutched a massive whisky he turned and said: 'After such a game you need a good drink.'

He couldn't have put it any better and Parkhead boss Tommy Burns also summed it up perfectly when he said: 'People will look back and say I was at that game.'

Well Tommy, I was and I'll boast about it for years.