2009-07-12: Brisbane Roar 0-3 Celtic, Translink Cup

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Trivia

• Tony Mowbray's first match as manager
• Celtic won the "Roar Against Racism Cup"
• After being written off, Killen starts and scores two goals! Comes after scoring two against Italy for NZ a few weeks back. A turning pt for the man?
• Fortune's first game, came on as a sub.
• Scott McDonald, captain in this match in his home country.

Review

Good game for the Celts, as we comfortably won in an easy game but Brisbane had their chances. Big surprises as Killen (totally written off before hand) has come back big time and scored twice (he scored twice in internationals v Italy recently also). Koki Mizuno scored and maybe we have a more confident side than through last season. Long way to go though.

Everyone seems to have had a great time, and kudos for the Celtic players and all who made themselves very welcome and made all happy.

Review 2

"Hear Hear, the MCG is an atrocious football venue.

Went to the dinner on the Saturday night – mostly corporates who were just there for the feed and the occasion, but there were a few tables of fans. Chatting briefly to Venus and Granty (and even less briefly to Mogga), you can really see a lot of optimism about the upcoming season. Grant and Mogga are obviously very glad to be 'home', and I think Venus is really starting to appreciate how big Celtic is. The players were excellent with the fans, and I found it surprising how tall Paddy McCourt was! Some of the newer non-Scots/Irish players were a bit surprised at the following the club had over here.

There was an interview with the coaches and captains that didn't yield much more than we've heard previously though the media (Mogga makes all the right noises, doesn't he? You've got to love him already), but there was an acknowledgement that the club had neglected Australia a little bit and that they planned on making their next trip a bit sooner than the 32 years it had been previously. This was echoed by Andy Lynch on the Sunday morning who said the club were looking at coming out every 4-5 years instead.

This really was a winner of a trip for Celtic – they really were fantastic – over 1,000 came out to watch their training session, 500 were at the gala dinner which raised tens of thousands for a children's hospital, more than 30k at the game, at least 20k of which were tims, and an excellent result with decent football. Goals were all pretty good team goals.

There are some real benefits to making trips down here a little more regular – for starters, every Celtic fan in the country is guaranteed to make their way to the game, wherever it is, meaning it's a tourism winner for the host city, as well as beneficial financially for the home club and for Celtic.

In what amounted to little more than a whistle-stop trip (they arrived early Saturday morning, played on Sunday afternoon, and left on the Tuesday), the club did everything they could for fans and the general public, and there was a great impression left up in Brisbane from the club and the fans. Australia is a country that is already very sympathetic to Celtic, despite Moore and Vidmar playing for the Huns in the past, and it's good that Celtic have been able to see exactly the type of fanbase that is out here.

As to the game, lots of width provided by the fullbacks as the assists from Naylor and Hinkel show. Flood put in a good shift in the middle – he may be slight, but he mucked in and did well. he was probably the best outfield player, to be honest. Boruc did well early on with two top drawer saves. He was getting stuck into Heid and Hinkel very early over their defending. Loovens was good in the air as always. Naylor's assist was a driven cross, as we've seen – he should hit them like that more often, rather than the bullshampoo looping rubbish he puts into the stands most of the time. if he rips them in occasionally, even if he mis-hits them, the defenders might struggle to clear them. Hinkel pretty much played the same as he did last year – getting forward quite often and providing some good balls from the flank.

Crosas played his usual game – some lovely passes that you just don't see yourself until he hits his man. Killen's goals were well taken – his second was a well placed shot, the kind of goal Samaras scores when he actually feels like scoring. McDonald I think has a bit of stage fright playing here – he slaughtered two sitters – put them both right into the gut of the goalkeeper.

McCourt was difficult to handle playing wide right – he'll be a handy option off the bench if he can reach the required fitness – he's just the kind of player you'd love to have running at tired defenders to win free kicks and penalties – his close control was very good at times. Maloney was solid – he needs games.

Off the bench, we didn't see much of Misun, which was unfortunate (the bhoy is a giant – his size makes him look a bit clumsy, but I didn't see enough to decide), and wee Koki's goal was a thing of beauty. Ferry was solid and unspectacular, and the others really didn't rate too much of a mention, they were all solid. Zaluska didn't have much to do.

Fortuné worked hard during his brief stint – he's comfortable with the ball at his feet, but I can't say too much more than that. Hopefully he can ally the workrate and movement of Kenny Miller with a modicum of goalscoring skill. If he can, we'll have a player.

Sorry for the essay, it was just marvellous for all the Celts down here to get together. The visit really did show to the neutrals and the Australian media that we are more than a club."
Redbhoy of KDS

Teams

BRISBANE ROAR (4-3-3):
Reddy; Mundy, Moore, DeVere (Bowles 89), McLoughlan (Malcolm 57); Sarota (Miller 46), McKay, Nicholls (Brattan 77); Henrique, Van Dijk (Smits 84), Kruse (Cernak 59)
Subs not used: McMaster

CELTIC (4-4-2)
Boruc (Zaluska 46);
Hinkel (Ferry 61), Caldwell, Loovens, Naylor (Misun 61);
McCourt (Mizuno 46), Crosas (Caddis 61), Flood, Maloney (McGeady 46);
Killen (Samaras 46), McDonald (Fortune 46)
Goals: Chris Killen 39m 42m Koki Mizuno 50m.

Att: 31340.
Ref: P. Green.

Articles

• Match Report
• Brisbane Times Match Report

Pictures

• Match Pictures

KStreet

• Match
• MOTM
  • Result – ???? (Link to MOTM Winners 2008/09)

Articles

New era off to a perfect start

David Friel
Celtic View

TONY MOWBRAY'S reign as Celtic manager got off to the perfect start as a Chris Killen double and rare Koki Mizuno header gave the Hoops a 3-0 win over Brisbane Roar in Australia.

Jock Stein famously won his last piece of silverware as Celtic manager on a tour of Australia in 1977 and Mowbray won his first trophy Down Under as well, with the Hoops being presented with the Translink Cup after the match.

Over 30,000 fans packed into the impressive Suncorp Stadium and were rewarded with a bright performance from Celtic in their first pre-season friendly.

It was a display that bodes well for the future. Barring a few scares, Celtic looked solid at the back, while the attacking players were always encouraged to attack defenders. The new manager will have been heartened by what he witnessed.

Mowbray's first line-up included starts for Paddy McCourt and Killen, who is clearly looking forward to life under his old Hibernian manager. The match was also memorable for the Celtic debuts of Marc-Antoine Fortune and Lukasz Zaluska.

Polish goalkeeper Zaluska replaced the outstanding Artur Boruc for the second half of the match and Fortune played the last 30 minutes. Czech teenager Milan Misun also made his first-team bow as a late substitute, before going off injured.

Boruc was at his world-class best in the first 15 minutes. Roar started on top and the Pole was immediately called into action when Matt McKay burst through. Boruc also denied Sergio van Dijk and Robbie Kruse in the opening stages.

Celtic took 15 minutes to get into a rhythm but started influencing the game more after that early spell. Marc Crosas and Willo Flood were providing craft and industry in midfield, while Shaun Maloney and McCourt started hurting Roar.

Killen, McCourt and Maloney all threatened as Celtic stepped up the tempo. Captain for the day Scott McDonald, who only joined up with the Hoops squad on Saturday, was also clearly desperate to get on the scoresheet on home soil.

With the game heading for the interval, the sides were still level but you sensed Celtic were nearing a breakthrough and the opener arrived in 39 minutes.

Flood's raking pass picked out Lee Naylor on the left flank. The full-back took a sublime first touch and fired a driven cross into the box. Killen timed his run to perfection and planted his header beyond Liam Reddy.

The huge Celtic support erupted and they wouldn't have to wait long for the second goal – 120 seconds to be exact. Once again, it came from a wonderful move.

McCourt, drifting in from the right, found Killen and his cushioned header released the lively Maloney. Surging clear, the attacker could have shot but instead found Killen with a reverse pass. The finish was clinical from 18 yards.

Zaluska, Aiden McGeady, Georgios Samaras and Mizuno were all introduced at half-time and the Japanese winger wasted no time in making his mark by adding a third strike in 50 minutes.

Samaras picked the ball up 30 yards from goal and found Hinkel lurking on the right side of the box. The German's curling cross was perfect for Mizuno, who found the net with a diving header.

At this point, Celtic were threatening to rout Roar. McDonald had four decent chances but found Reddy in inspired form. His dream of scoring for Celtic in Australia will have to be put on hold for a while.

In truth though, Mizuno's goal basically killed the game. Simon Ferry, Paul Caddis, Milan Misun and debutant Fortune entered the fray after 61 minutes. The new striker was afforded a great reception and eased himself into proceedings.

Overall, it was a good display by Celtic at this stage of the season. The match would have sharpened the players' fitness, while the club has made many new friends in Australia.

Oh Bhoy, Roar fans turn green with envy