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Trivia
- CELTIC kicked-off the club’s first ever match in Japan with a 3-0 defeat in a friendly match against Shunsuke Nakamura’s former team in Yokohama.
The winning side received the Dwango Cup, a largely symbolic glass trophy that was more of a symbol of Celtic’s blossoming friendship with the people of Japan and Yokohama F Marinos.
Review
The gates opened at the Nissan Stadium at 4.30pm and within minutes the lower stands began to fill-up with supporters in both Yokohama F Marinos and Celtic colours, desperate to catch an early glimpse of their idol, Shunsuke Nakamura.
The home side struck with what was their first foray up the park, with the Japanese centre-forward beating Evander Sno to play a simple ball to the back post. David Marshall stretched to make the stop, but just failed to reach Oshima’s dipping header and then, just ten minutes later, the Celtic keeper was called on again, diving to deny Norihisa Shimuzu after the striker had been put through by Koji Yamase.
It was the impressive number seven, Hayuma Tanaka, who fired in his cross from the right, finding the unmarked Shimuzu who had raced in at the back post to head home from close range.
Kano curled a spectacular free-kick past Michael McGovern from 27 yards out, in the 79th minute.
Teams
Yokohama F Marinos (3-5-2):-
Tetsuya Enomoto; Kurihara, Matsuda (Nakanishi 46), Nasu; Tanaka, Kawai (Ueno 46), Oku (Kano 79), Hirano (Komiyama 69), Yamase (Sakata 56); Oshima, Shimizu (Shiokawa 78).
Subs not used:- Tatsuya Enomoto, Magrao, Yoshida.
Goals:- Oshima 5, Shimuzu 40, Kanto 79.
Celtic (4-4-2):-
Marshall (McGovern 46); Lawson, Varga (O’Dea 63), Virgo, Camara; Nakamura (Quinn 65), Lennon, Sno, Thompson; McGeady (Bjarnason 72), Riordan.
Subs not used:- Miller.
Att:- 27,354
Ref:- ??
Venue:- International Stadium (NISSAN STADIUM), Yokokama City, Kanagawa.
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
Nakamura ashamed of Japan defeat
BBC
Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura is "ashamed" of the 3-0 friendly defeat by former club Yokohama Marinos in Japan.
Goals from Hideo Oshima, Norihisa Shimuzu and Kenta Kano ensured victory over a lacklustre Celtic second string.
And manager Gordon Strachan suggested that it confirmed he has only 14-16 first-team players he "can rely on".
Nakamura said: "I am ashamed with this result. But, personally, it was an honour and a joy to play against Marinos in front of their supporters."
The Japan international was captain of the team for the night and created Celtic's only goal-threat against the J-League side.
A curling 20-yard free-kick from the midfielder was turned over the bar at full stretch by goalkeeper Tetysuya Enomoto.
The game against Manchester United and here gave us a warning
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan
The wisdom of such a long trip for a friendly match had been questioned since the Scottish champions face a tough visit to last year's runners-up, Hearts, on Sunday.
But Strachan fielded a second-string bolstered by Nakamura and fit-again captain Neil Lennon.
And they slumped to an embarrassing defeat in the money-spinning friendly.
They fell behind early when Oshima rose above Evander Sno to head home a cross from Takashi Hirano.
Shimuzu headed in after being found unmarked by Hayuma Tanaka before Kano curled home a free-kick.
"For my team-mates, I felt rather sorry for them as they had to travel a long way and then play in the heat," said Nakamura.
"Having said that, I think we can improve the mental part of our game through matches like today and those away in Poland and the United States as well as the one against Chelsea, which is coming up next week."
Strachan contrasted the performance in Japan with the convincing 4-1 win over Kilmarnock at the weekend.
"On Saturday, we played very well," he said.
"Last Wednesday, against Manchester United, we played poorly. We played against Everton and beat them.
"So, we have had two different phases. The phase against Manchester United and tonight here was a chance for young players and apprentices to impress me to get a game.
"What happened was the two performances have made sure my squad has got smaller and smaller, which is not helpful.
"We do know we have a cast of 14 to 16 players we can rely on.
"I am afraid that is not enough for a club like Celtic.
"So, the game against Manchester United and here tonight gave us a warning."
Yokohama Marinos: Tetsuya Enomoto, Yuzo Kurihara, Naoki Matsuda, Daisuke Nasu, Hayuma Tanaka, Magrao, Daisuke Oku, Takashi Hirano, Koji Yamase, Hideo Oshima, Norihisa Shimuzu.
Celtic: David Marshall, Mohammed Camara, Adam Virgo, Stanislav Varga, Paul Lawson, Shunsuke Nakamura, Evander Sno, Neil Lennon, Alan Thompson, Aiden McGeady, Derek Riordan.
Surgery-hit Maloney out for month
Celtic forward Shaun Maloney
Shaun Maloney missed much of pre-season training
Celtic forward Shaun Maloney will be out for up to a month after being given the green light for surgery on a hernia problem by manager Gordon Strachan.
The 23-year-old Scotland international barely featured in pre-season due to a groin injury.
Strachan said: "I would think it will be three to four weeks before Shaun plays again.
"He had struggled through pre-season. It has been bothering him so he is as well to have the operation now."
Strachan thought it would be a mere blip in Maloney's career.
And he also confirmed that defender Bobo Balde, who also missed pre-season training, would be back in action in a month.
"Bobo Balde should be out for four weeks," he said.
"I would have liked to have had him in pre-season, but it was not to be.
"The physios say it will be four weeks."