| Match Pictures | Matches: 2008 – 2009 | 2008-2009 Pictures |
Trivia
- Algarve Challenge Cup
Review
Another shoddy performance, but sadly in this case unlike the previous games in the past week, we failed to score. The worst bit being that in this game we were playing against the weakest opponent so far. Porto next!!!!!
Teams
Estadio Algarve, Portugal
CELTIC
Brown, Hinkel (McManus 65), Caddis, Balde, O’Dea, Brown, Hartley (Caldwell 67), Robson, Donati, Samaras (McDonald 67), McGowan (Vennegoor of Hesselink 65).
Subs not used:- Boruc
CARDIFF CITY:
Heaton, McNaughton, Loovens, Johnston, Capaldi, Rae, McPhail, Ledley, McCormack, Comminges (Blake 89), Thompson.
Subs not used:- Enkleman, Purse, Whittingham, Parry, Kennedy, Dennehy, Scimeca, Brown.
Goal:- Ledley 17
Referee:
Attendance:
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
Celtic lose out to cardiff in algarve DAVID FRIEL in Portugal
CELTIC’S second match of the Algarve Challenge Cup ended in a 1-0 defeat against Cardiff City as the English Championship side won the four-team tournament.
Joe Ledley’s impressive first-half strike proved the difference as Cardiff finished with nine points. Celtic, who drew 1-1 with Middlesbrough on Tuesday, gained two points from their two matches, with an extra point awarded for every goal scored.
Vitoria Guimaraes, who beat Middlesbrough 1-0, finished with five points, while the Premiership side ended the tournament with two points. Celtic now move on to Oporto for Saturday's friendly with FC Porto.
You had to go back 81 years for the last meeting between Celtic and Cardiff. That 1927 contest ended in a 4-1 win for Celtic as the Hoops came out on top in the battle of the reigning Scottish and English cup holders. Over eight decades later, Cardiff finally got their revenge.
With several players carrying slight knocks, Gordon Strachan named only 16 players in his squad. Shunsuke Nakamura and Koki Mizuno were among those missing through injury, while Aiden McGeady, Lee Naylor and Mark Wilson were also rested.
Celtic youngsters Paul McGowan and Paul Caddis were handed starts and they both shone during the match. Yet, it was Cardiff who had the first chance in six minutes.
A long ball forward was gathered by former Rangers striker Stevie Thompson. With his back to goal, he swivelled and crashed a shot off the bar.
McGowan, dropping deep and linking well with Georgios Samaras, was causing problems for the Cardiff defence and almost found a way through after a patient passing move from Celtic.
The Hoops looked to be taking control but were stunned when Cardiff raced into the lead in 18 minutes. A cross was flicked on by Thompson into the path of Ledley at the back post. With time to pick his spot, he lashed a drive beyond Mark Brown.
Celtic continued to dominate possession, with Cardiff seemingly happy to sit on their lead. Massimo Donati and Paul Hartley were seeing a lot of the ball in the centre of midfield, but Celtic’s probing wasn’t paying off.
Darren O’Dea produced an outstanding tackle to prevent Thompson from scoring on a Cardiff attack in 38 minutes. At the other end, Samaras broke through on goal after playing a one-two with Hartley. As he prepared to pull the trigger, Roger Johnson intercepted.
Into the second period and Celtic renewed their search for the leveller as the pace of the match never dropped. Scott Brown was taking the fight to Cardiff but was booked after a wholehearted challenge on Glenn Loovens in 54 minutes.
Barry Robson tested Thomas Heaton from 30 yards, before Caddis surged into the box and drilled a cross into the danger area. Once again, Cardiff defended well.
Hartley’s low free-kick was blocked by the Cardiff wall, before Celtic introduced captain Stephen McManus and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink for Andreas Hinkel and the impressive McGowan.
Gary Caldwell and Scott McDonald also replaced Samaras and Hartley as the Hoops kept Cardiff pinned back for long spells. O’Dea, who suffered a nasty head wound, headed over a corner in 81 minutes and McDonald had a header saved as Cardiff stood firm.