2013-07-17: Cliftonville 0-3 Celtic, European Cup

Match Pictures | Matches: 2013 – 2014 | 2013-14 Pictures

Trivia

• Champions League 2013-14 Qualifiers; Leg one of two, Second Round.
• Celtic have to qualify through three rounds of matches (x2) to get to the Champions League.
• First competitive match in N Ireland for a very long time; first ever competitive v Cliftonville.
• Capacity limited to 5000 (capacity is usually 2500, so extra seats must have been added).
• Match could have been moved to larger stadium but club decided otherwise (especially as it would have moved it to Linfields ground or Dublin).
• Match played on AstroTurf pitch.
• Loads of injuries prior to the match like Hooper, Virgil, Mulgrew and Matthews.
• Forrest scores 18th goal in his 100th match.
• Match is only 5 days after the July 12th marches! A lot of local rioting and trouble.
• Summertime and the transfer window is underway.
• Out so far: Miku, Lassad, Rogne, Wanyama
• In so far: Amido Baldé, Van Dijk.
• Rumours grow that Hooper to likely leave with Lennon stating will be hard to hold onto him.

Review

(joebloggscity of thecelticwiki & KDS forum)
Don't kid yourself on. The score may have been ultimately one-sided and the match mostly directed by Celtic, but prior to the game the support was invariably concerned about the match. Celtic came into the match very much on the back-foot with a shambles of a pre-season, and say what you want about Cliftonville but they have been doing well of late with an incredible appetite for goals. Thankfully for Celtic, the players stepped up and did well. Despite injuries, the players put in a good shift where required. Good to see, and bodes well for the next round (assuming the two round tie is not done & dusted with a three away goal advantage).

Friendships forged/cemented off the field which was wonderful to see despite the local difficult events due to the marching season.

(daithi1967 of KDS forum)
A great day with pals from Scotland over with myself for the game.It was good to look after folk who have been so good to me since I moved to scotland in my home city. We also had the added bonus of meeting Charlie Tully jnr.

As I said before when the knicker wetters were out in force there were never gonna be any issues in regards to where the game would be played.
Good job it wasn't moved from Solitude in the end as hardly anyone travelled over and tkts were easy enough to get.

Fair play to those who did travel as the atmosphere was cracking. I know some hate the whole friendship thing , tough. I like meeting like minded folk and having fun rather than sitting in the corner like a dick with a face like thunder and being a bore . Mates having a good day out, whats not to like?

It turned out an easy game in the end but credit to Cliftonville, who are at the end of the day part timers. To hear the CL music at Solitude was a dream and for it to be v Celtic was unreal. I hope all those who made the trip had a great day and are safe and well.
Hail Hail
Red Army

Teams

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)
• Audio Report: Paradise Report

Pictures

• Match Pictures

Forum

• Pre-match
• Match
• Post Match

MOTM

• Voting Thread
• Result Thread
• Winner –
• 2013-14 Winners

Stats

Cliftonville Celtic
Match Stats
Possession
55% 45%
90mins

Shots
9 24

On target
5 12

Corners
1 2

Fouls
9 13

Articles

Cliftonville 0 – 3 Celtic: Tommy Breslin admits Reds were beaten by superior Bhoys

Belfast Telegraph
17 July 2013
Cliftonville manager Tommy Breslin admitted his side were defeated by a group of superior players and he is now keen to avoid a heavy defeat at Celtic Park.

Goals from Mikael Lustig, Georgios Samaras and James Forrest gave Celtic a comfortable win over the Reds and ensured there is little chance of an upset when the part-time Irish side travel to Parkhead next week for the second leg of their Champions League second qualifier.

Breslin told BBC Scotland: "Celtic are a class act and moved the ball about well but I was proud of our players. We looked comfortable at times and created a couple of half chances.

"We will go over there and we will have pride and we won't want to get a complete hammering. We will enjoy the occasion and work hard and see what happens."

It had promised to be a nervy night for the visitors, who had lost all four of their pre-season games and who had a clutch of players missing for various reasons.

However, Neil Lennon's side, especially in the first 45 minutes, showed the professionalism and purpose which had taken them to the last-16 of the tournament last season.

Full-back Lustig gave the Scottish champions the lead at Solitude in the 25th minute when he broke away from the Reds defence at the near post to head in a Kris Commons corner.

Six minutes later Greek forward Samaras, who had revealed his aversion for the ground's artificial pitch before the game, finished off a move involving Forrest and Commons by turning at the edge of the box and driving an unstoppable shot past Reds keeper Conor Devlin.

And in a one-sided first-half, watched by almost 5,000 enthusiastic fans who had packed into the tiny ground in north Belfast, Commons also hit woodwork twice.

With nothing to lose, Tommy Breslin's side rallied in the second half with Stephen Garrett missing a good chance in the 48th minute from close range after Lustig was short with a headed backpass.

Anthony Stokes hit the bar for Celtic with a drive before he set up Forrest in the 84th minute to hammer the ball low past Devlin from inside the box to make the return game in Glasgow a formality.

Celtic started the game with impressive purpose.

Commons hit the bar with a header after two minutes when Forrest stood a cross up for the former Derby and Nottingham Forest player at the back post.

The home side, for all their obvious determination in the early stages, could not make much headway.

BBC

Celtic will take a three-goal lead into the second leg of the Champions League second qualifying round tie with Irish Premiership champions Cliftonville.

The Scottish giants dominated the first half and were rewarded with goals from Mikael Lustig and Georgios Samaras.

The home side came into the match more after the break but James Forrest put the outcome beyond doubt with a right-foot strike late in the game.

The return leg will be played at Celtic Park next Tuesday.

Celtic went into the game hoping to emulate their progress to the last 16 of Europe's most prestigious club competition last season.

But a pre-season tour to Germany which saw them lose four games, conceding 12 goals, was not the preparation they would have wanted.

Bhoys boss Neil Lennon indicated that he was taking the threat of the Irish league part-timers seriously by naming a strong starting line-up, while his counterpart Tommy Breslin also signalled attacking intent with his formation.

Any fears the visitors may struggle to come to terms with the artificial surface were quickly dispelled as the Scottish champions bossed the opening period.
Mikael Lustig opened the scoring for Celtic at Solitude

Mikael Lustig opened the scoring for Celtic at Solitude

Kris Commons saw his back-post header bounce off the woodwork after just two minutes and the attacking midfielder squandered a chance 15 minutes later when his first touch let him down following some poor Cliftonville defending.

Beram Kayal fired a right-foot shot wide and home skipper George McMullan almost mis-kicked into his own net, managing to put the ball behind for a corner.

Commons sent over the resulting corner and Swede Lustig timed his run perfectly, rising highest to head home after 25 minutes.

Liam Boyce had a sight of goal for the home side soon after, but his right-foot effort was easily gathered by Fraser Forster.

Samaras doubled Celtic's lead on 31 minutes when he turned and fired a left-foot shot past Conor Devlin.

Six minutes before the break, former Derby player Commons made room at the edge of the area, but his right-foot curling shot rebounded off the bar.

The Reds began the second half brightly and Stephen Garrett had a half-chance but was unable to make a good connection as he attempted to lob Forster.

Boyce then produced some good work on the right and found strike partner Joe Gormley, but his drive was blocked by Nigeria international Efe Ambrose.

Ciaran Caldwell went close and Barry Johnston fired over for the hosts, but as they began to tire Anthony Stokes almost added a third, hitting the bar with a left-foot shot and then whistling a long-range drive past Devlin's left-hand post.

With 10 minutes remaining, Forrest was off-target with a well-struck drive but he found his range soon after, taking on Jaimie McGovern before beating Devlin at his near post to seal the victory.

Live Text Commentary
90:00 +3:07 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.
90:00 +0:44

Tony Watt takes a shot. Save made by Conor Devlin.
88:57

Chris Curran takes the direct free kick. A cross is delivered by Ronan Scannell, Kelvin Wilson makes a clearance.
88:57 Booking

Booking Beram Kayal is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.
88:50

Unfair challenge on Chris Curran by Beram Kayal results in a free kick.
88:09

Tom Rogic takes a shot. Save made by Conor Devlin.
85:52 Substitution

Substitution James Forrest leaves the field to be replaced by Dylan McGeouch.
83:40 Goal scored

Goal – James Forrest – Cliftonvle 0 – 3 Celtic James Forrest finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty area low into the middle of the goal. Cliftonville 0-3 Celtic.
81:40

Barry Johnston produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.
79:31 Substitution

Substitution Tom Rogic on for Kris Commons.
79:31

Effort from the edge of the area by James Forrest goes wide of the right-hand upright.
77:41

Direct free kick taken by Kelvin Wilson.
77:41 Substitution

Substitution Chris Curran on for Stephen Garrett.
77:41

Unfair challenge on Beram Kayal by Ryan Catney results in a free kick.
75:15 Substitution

Substitution Georgios Samaras goes off and Tony Watt comes on.
75:15

Shot from outside the box by Anthony Stokes goes wide right of the target.
74:39

James Forrest takes a shot from 18 yards. Save by Conor Devlin.
72:24 Substitution

Substitution Martin Donnelly on for Ciaran Caldwell.
68:42

Diarmuid O'Carroll has an effort at goal from outside the area which misses left.
67:42 Substitution

Substitution Diarmuid O'Carroll comes on in place of Joe Gormley.
67:42

Shot by Anthony Stokes.
66:52

Kelvin Wilson concedes a free kick for a foul on Joe Gormley. Free kick taken by Barry Johnston.
65:51

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Scott Brown by Stephen Garrett. Free kick taken by Mikael Lustig.
63:51

Kris Commons takes a shot. Save by Conor Devlin.
62:16

Foul by Efe Ambrose on Joe Gormley, free kick awarded. George McMullan crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance by Georgios Samaras. Barry Johnston takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.
59:55

Foul by Beram Kayal on Barry Johnston, free kick awarded. Ronan Scannell takes the free kick. Unfair challenge on Liam Boyce by Scott Brown results in a free kick. Stephen Garrett takes the direct free kick. Marc Smyth takes a shot. Blocked by Kelvin Wilson.
58:00

Anthony Stokes has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the target.
56:28

Mikael Lustig produces a cross, Anthony Stokes takes a shot. Conor Devlin makes a comfortable save.
55:03

Anthony Stokes takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Save by Conor Devlin.
54:01

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mikael Lustig by Liam Boyce. Kris Commons takes the free kick. The ball is sent over by Emilio Izaguirre, clearance made by Ronan Scannell.
51:43

Free kick awarded for a foul by Beram Kayal on Ryan Catney. Ronan Scannell restarts play with the free kick.
50:29

Ciaran Caldwell crosses the ball, comfortable save by Fraser Forster.
48:28

Stephen Garrett takes a shot. Comfortable save by Fraser Forster.
47:01

Ciaran Caldwell fouled by Beram Kayal, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by George McMullan from right channel, clearance made by Kris Commons.
45:01

The second half kicks off.
45:00 +0:09 Half time

Half Time The first half comes to an end.
44:38

Centre by Ryan Catney, Efe Ambrose manages to make a clearance.
42:08

Free kick awarded for a foul by Liam Boyce on Kelvin Wilson. Fraser Forster takes the free kick.
41:01

Anthony Stokes is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Conor Devlin restarts play with the free kick.
38:46

Kris Commons has an effort at goal from just outside the area that bounces off the post. Effort on goal by Beram Kayal from outside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the bar.
38:17

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Georgios Samaras by Joe Gormley. Free kick taken by Georgios Samaras.
36:06

Anthony Stokes has an effort direct from the free kick. Unfair challenge on Jamie McGovern by Georgios Samaras results in a free kick. Conor Devlin takes the free kick.
36:06 Booking

Booking Ronan Scannell is shown a yellow card.
36:02

Ronan Scannell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on James Forrest.
34:32

Ciaran Caldwell produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.
32:43

The referee gives a free kick against Liam Boyce for handball. Emilio Izaguirre takes the free kick.
30:42

The assist for the goal came from Kris Commons.
30:42 Goal scored

Goal – Georgios Samaras – Cliftonvle 0 – 2 Celtic Georgios Samaras fires in a brilliant goal from the edge of the area high into the middle of the goal. Cliftonville 0-2 Celtic.
29:34

The ball is swung over by Georgios Samaras, Anthony Stokes takes a shot. Save made by Conor Devlin.
28:11

Liam Boyce takes a shot. Comfortable save by Fraser Forster.
27:34

Kris Commons produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.
26:24

The ball is swung over by Anthony Stokes, save by Conor Devlin.
25:40

Foul by Kelvin Wilson on Joe Gormley, free kick awarded. George McMullan takes the direct free kick.
24:26

The assist for the goal came from Kris Commons.
24:26 Goal scored

Goal – Mikael Lustig – Cliftonvle 0 – 1 Celtic Mikael Lustig finds the net with a headed goal from close range. Cliftonville 0-1 Celtic.
24:14

Inswinging corner taken by Kris Commons from the right by-line played to the near post,
21:14

Direct free kick taken by Kris Commons. Beram Kayal produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses wide left of the target.
21:14 Booking

Booking Jamie McGovern is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
21:05

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Georgios Samaras by Jamie McGovern.
20:02

Corner taken left-footed by Kris Commons.
19:25

The ball is sent over by Emilio Izaguirre.
18:02

Emilio Izaguirre challenges Stephen Garrett unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ronan Scannell restarts play with the free kick.
16:54

Kris Commons fouled by Ryan Catney, the ref awards a free kick. Strike on goal comes in from Kris Commons from the free kick, blocked by Ronan Scannell.
13:10

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joe Gormley by Emilio Izaguirre. Stephen Garrett takes the direct free kick. George McMullan sends in a cross, save by Fraser Forster.
11:03

Emilio Izaguirre delivers the ball, Georgios Samaras has a header from close in and clears the crossbar.
10:15

Ryan Catney challenges Georgios Samaras unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Georgios Samaras.
7:41

Inswinging corner taken by Stephen Garrett from the left by-line, save made by Fraser Forster.
7:14

Anthony Stokes takes a shot. Comfortable save by Conor Devlin.
4:33

The referee blows for offside. Fraser Forster takes the indirect free kick.
3:25

Shot on goal by James Forrest from just inside the area clears the crossbar.
2:21

Georgios Samaras gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marc Smyth. Conor Devlin takes the free kick.
2:02

A cross is delivered by James Forrest, Kris Commons takes a shot.
1:41

Ciaran Caldwell takes a shot. Blocked by Scott Brown.
0:06

Liam Boyce fouled by Kelvin Wilson, the ref awards a free kick. Strike on goal comes in from Liam Boyce from the free kick.
0:00

The match has kicked off.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association

Morals, murals and motives: Cliftonville prepare to host Celtic in their biggest ever match Friday 12 July 2013 12:19

FourFourTwo Magazine

Link: http://fourfourtwo.com/blogs/fourfourtwoview/archive/2013/07/12/morals-murals-and-motives-cliftonville-prepare-to-host-celtic-in-their-biggest-ever-match.aspx?

As Cliftonville prepare for their first Champions League appearance in 15 years, Jamie Casey explains why the visit of Celtic is so special…

Nothing depicts the city of Belfast quite like a mural. Although traditionally reserved for expressing political beliefs or commemorating key events in Northern Ireland’s troubled past, the relatively stable state of the peace process in the country has not deterred the flow of such giant works of art.

Indeed, some modern murals promote the long-term notion of Catholics and Protestants living side by side in tranquilly, while others use the power of the paintings to highlight social issues from domestic abuse to littering.

Whatever their religion, the people of Belfast and Northern Ireland have always been immensely proud of local sporting heroes who have gone on to gain global recognition. George Best immortalised in several murals on both sides of the capital’s divide, while former world number one golfer Rory McIlroy has one dedicated solely to him at the bottom of Damascus Street.

Last week, the paint was drying on a fresh mural in the Lower Ormeau Road area in the south of the city. Very much a Catholic, predominantly nationalist territory of Belfast, the painting incorporates the crests and players of both Cliftonville FC and Celtic FC, who will meet in a competitive fixture for the first time in the Champions League second qualifying round on Wednesday.

Two clubs, one culture – the shared political vision of Cliftonville and Celtic fans will this week be celebrated in unique style at Solitude, home of the former, as supporters of both teams will mix side-by-side in the 123-year-old stadium amid an inevitable sea of red, white and green.

While Celtic’s fanbase is largely made up of Irish and Scottish nationalists, a proportion of which hold Republican beliefs, it is worth noting that the club welcome supporters of all ethnic and religious backgrounds, so long as they maintain a left-wing stance.

As for Cliftonville, Ireland’s oldest club originated through the support of local Protestants in North Belfast back in 1879 and today’s fan base might have remained as such had an influx of Catholics not taken up residency on the Antrim Road before adopting the Reds as their local team.

Although now fundamentally followed by Catholics, Cliftonville has not completely severed its roots, with much of the club’s board belonging to the Protestant community, while a minority of the same background refuse to boycott family traditions passed on through multiple generations.

Although they just missed out on a domestic treble, 2013 was already a landmark year in Cliftonville’s 143-year history – the tie with the Bhoys was merely a thick layer of icing on an already substantial cake, with Reds chairman Gerard Lawlor describing the pairing as “a moment of football history.”

In April, the Reds sealed their first league title in 15 years by snatching a 3-2 win against fierce rivals Linfield, the most successful team in the history of Northern Irish football. This came courtesy of a dramatic late penalty from George McMullan, and saw Cliftonville become the only team other than Belfast’s “big two” (Linfield and Glentoran) to win the top tier in over a decade.

So big was the moment that was about to unfold, referee David Malcolm permitted a delay in the taking of the spot-kick to allow the local media a chance to pick up the best positions from which to shoot the scene. McMullan, a lifelong fan of the club and one of their many Belfast-born players, duly delivered and it remains a wonder how the dilapidated Solitude stands withstood the ensuing euphoria.

With Belfast being home to more Celtic fans than Cliftonville fans, Lawlor was immediately put under pressure to stage their home leg in a ground of greater capacity than Solitude’s approximate 2,500.

The pressure, though, came chiefly from the press, who conjured up stories of the opening leg potentially being held in Windsor Park or even Casement Park, latter more accustomed to Gaelic games, while even Dublin’s Aviva Stadium was mooted as a candidate.

In truth, the prospect of staging arguably the biggest game in the club’s history away from Solitude never crossed the board’s mind, with Lawlor ordering a paint job on the outside of the stadium a day after the draw in anticipation of the Scottish champions coming to visit. In an era so awash with commercialism and capitalism, how invigorating to see a football club reject the opportunity to milk an event for all it’s worth, in favour of siding with their community’s vote.

Devising a ticket scheme that puts Bournemouth’s pricing for a pre-season friendly with Real Madrid to shame, season-ticket holders and members were given first refusal on a maximum of two per head, ranging from £15 to £30. The rest went on general sale at the same price two days later to anyone with proof of their £5 admission to Cliftonville’s friendly with The New Saints that same afternoon, taking just 35 minutes to sell out.

And, thanks to a successful application to UEFA for permission to arrange additional seating specifically for their home leg, around 1300 extra spectators will be crammed in come Wednesday, most of which are expected to be Belfast-based Celtic fans, with Cliftonville having already taken paramount consideration in seeing to their own Red Army.

As if the board hadn’t nailed their ethics already, anyone unfortunate enough to have originally missed out in that lengthy queue towards the box office was provided with a ‘priority token’ with which to obtain one of the extra seats that have since been confirmed.

The hosts, a relatively short team who like to play a slick passing game across the deck, will look to their working-class ethos of hard graft and teamwork over natural ability when they come up against their full professional counterparts. Yet the bookmakers will expect Celtic’s fitness to prove the difference on the opening night of the tie.

Though the Reds can scarcely expect to progress after two legs and may not reap the full financial benefits it perhaps could have provided, the long-term affect it can have on their domestic success may prove priceless.

Some local Celtic fans, driven by fear of missing out on the big occasion, bought up 2013-14 Cliftonville season-tickets purely for the advanced access to the Champions League tie, so the board can expect some new faces on the terraces when normal service resumes in August.

Furthermore, key players such as prolific strike partners Joe Gormley and former Werder Bremen man Liam Boyce, plus goalkeeper Conor Devlin, needed little encouragement to stay with the club upon the promise of a dream tie with the 1967 European Cup winners, followed by a title defence.

Throw in the reported five-figure sum the BBC have agreed for the right to show the first leg on terrestrial television in Northern Ireland and Scotland, and the club can walk away from the whole affair with their spirits high and morals in place, whatever the result.

Although it’s unlikely to make the route of any open-top bus tours of the city any time soon, for any fans of the beautiful game intent on visiting the city of Belfast, there’s a mural on Essex Street, Lower Ormeau Road, that promises to stand the test of time.

Jamie Casey is a sports writer for a range of publications. He is intrigued by ancient stadiums, sport’s role in society and cites boxing and formula one amongst his preferred pursuits, but his real passion is the most beautiful of games that is football. You can follow him on Twitter here.