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Trivia
- Friendly being played during two week winter break.
- Match played in Spain; free entry!
- Scotland suffering from snow storms.
- Celtic have signed Rami Gershon on loan.
- Celtic on verge of signing Aussie player Rogic.
- Former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan announced the new Scotland manager. One difficult role to take on.
Review
Simple friendly, will best be remembered for the goal by Bangura (totally written off prior to this).
Concerns over McGeouch. Lots hoped from him but was said to be very poor in this game.
(The Pin of KDS Forum)
Thought Commons, though he did well on the whole, was shockingly lazy when he got the ball. That 25 yard shot he attempted came as a result of him not being arsed to just run it to the edge of their box.
I was also slightly disappointed with McGeouch, but I would point out that he was trying to work hard at all times, which does take it out of you and rob you of a little burst when you get the ball. Hooper, for example, was just walking about most of the time, which clearly irritated Tony Watt at one stage, when he tried to press but received no help from Hooper.
(Jorge Cadette of KDS forum)
Poor game with atempo you’d be dissapointed with in your local 5s…But thats all it was a run out…watt and wilson were our better players in first half with Victor and Izzy also doing ok I thought….
Sammy,commons,Brown,Mulgrew all came on at the break and made an instant impact…Bangura was neat and tidy all through and his header was superb…
Was dissapointed with McGeough how easy he was pushed off the ball and also with hooper being so lazy in the game and looking a little overweight!
Zaluska not the best for their Goal and rogne was shakey enough ….Stokes came on but hardly touched the ball still nice to have him back…
All in all a nothing game that hasn’t shown us anyhting we didn’t already know..Was diaaspointed Gershon was injured and that rogic couldn’t get a run
I hope the cobwebs are blown off now and we are ready for Hearts …
PS.Fair play to few Celtic fans that were there esp anyone that traveled over for it I seen the Celtic badges flag there so that man must have went!!We really do have some diehards in our support!
Teams
CELTIC (4-3-1-2)
Zaluska, Matthews (Mulgrew 46), Rogne, Wilson, Izaguirre (Lassad 67); McGeouch, Wanyama (Stokes 67), Ledley (Brown 46), Hooper (Commons 46); Watt (Samaras 46) Bangura
Goals: Samaras 50, Bangura 53
STEAUA BUCHAREST (4-4-2)
Stanca; Prepelita, Szukala, Chiriches, Latovlevici; Popa, Pintilii, Bourceanu, Chipciu; Nikolici, Rusescu
Goals: Nikolici 13
Stadium: San Pedro Stadium Marbella, Spain
Referee:
Attendance:
Articles
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- Audio Report: Paradise Report
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- 2012-13 Winners
Articles
Celtic fight back for friendly victory
By: Mark Henderson on 15 Jan, 2013 20:38 San Pedro Stadium
Marbella, Spain
Friendly match
CELTIC…2
Samaras 50, Bangura 53
STEAUA BUCHAREST…1
Nikolici 13
AN IMPRESSIVE second-half comeback saw Celtic conclude their mid-season training camp in Marbella with a 2-1 victory over Steaua Bucharest.
Stefan Nikolici fired the Romanian league-leaders into an early lead in the spartan surroundings of the San Pedro stadium.
However, Georgios Samaras levelled matters after the restart with a close-range finish, and Mo Bangura struck his first top-team goal for the club minutes later to complete the turnaround.
Although designed as a warm-up exercise for the resumption of competitive action at the weekend, there were a number of positives for Johan Mjallby to take from the contest, particularly the amount of chances the Hoops created in a dominant second half display.
With Neil Lennon absent, Mjallby took charge on the touchline and the Swede named an attacking side with three forwards in the starting XI – Gary Hooper, Tony Watt and Bangura.
And it was the Bhoys who made the more positive start with Hooper, operating the deepest of the front three, and Bangura, both having efforts blocked.
However, the Romanian outfit hit Celtic on the counter attack to go in front. Adrian Popa found Nikolici in space inside the box and he rifled home beyond Lukasz Zaluska, much to delight of the boisterous Steaua support.
The Bhoys attempted to mount an instant response as Bangyura failed to hit the target from Emilio Izaguirre´s cross. A swift exchange of passes then presented Hooper with some space 25 yards from goal, but his drive was deflected over.
An enterprising run from Watt earned a corner midway through the half. Wanyama connected with Dylan McGeouch´s delivery but the Kenyan couldn´t divert his header on target.
As the half wore on, Celtic kept pushing for a leveller, forcing several corners, but a goal remained elusive.
Joe Ledley tried his luck from distance but could only find the netting behind the goals before the Hoops were given a scare as Popa rattled the bar from 18 yards with a stringing drive.
As expected there were a raft of changes at the interval as Charlie Mulgrew, Scott Brown, Kris Commons and Georgios Samaras entered the fray.
Steaua threatened with a couple of efforts but Celtic soon adjusted to the alterations and restored parity in the 50th minute.
Some neat trickery from Commons released Izaguirre on the left. His cross eventually ended up with Brown and the captain´s driven cross-shot was converted by Samaras.
In their next attack, Celtic completed the turnaround. Commons was again involved, reaching the byline and sending a terrific cross into the mix, and Bangura rose well to guide a header into the far corner.
The Hoops looked the more likely to add to their tally but Zaluska did have to make an excellent reaction save at the other end from a deflected shot.
Bangura was inches away from reaching Samaras´ cross following an incisive breakaway, before Mjallby introduced Lassad and Anthony Stokes from the bench, the Irishman making his long-awaited return from injury.
The former spurned an excellent chance to increase Celtic´s advantage but he could only stab into the side-netting after Mulgrew´s low free-kick was spilled.
And Lassad had a further opportunity to extend the advantage, heading narrowly over, as the Scottish champions ended the game on top.
CELTIC (4-3-1-2) Zaluska, Matthews (Mulgrew 46), Rogne, Wilson, Izaguirre (Lassad 67); McGeouch, Wanyama (Stokes 67), Ledley (Brown 46), Hooper (Commons 46); Watt (Samaras 46) Bangura
STEAUA BUCHAREST (4-4-2) Stanca; Prepelita, Szukala, Chiriches, Latovlevici; Popa, Pintilii, Bourceanu, Chipciu; Nikolici, Rusescu
Website Man of the Match: Victor Wanyama