| Match Pictures | Matches: 2013 – 2014 | 2013-14 Pictures |
Trivia
- Antalya Cup competition in Turkey.
- Diddy competition to give winter friendlies a bit of a shine. Really sparse crowd in this stadium for this unwanted game it seems.
- Celtic make it to the final to play Ajax or Galatasary .
- Incredible that Balde & Pukki have struggled in Scotland but done well in this tournament. Balde is a cracker for goals in friendlies it seems, now needs to translate that to the full first team.
- European Commission is looking into claims that Celtic Football Club broke EU rules in land deals involving Glasgow City Council. Sounds like nonsense to us. Club releases statement on it. "Any suggestion that Celtic has been the beneficiary of state aid is preposterous – as ludicrous as any suggestion that we have benefited from soft loans from our bankers. The historic transactions referred to were negotiated with the Council on commercial terms at market rates." Apparently, it was a DUP man who made the complaint.
Steven Mouyokolo back on the training pitch. - Thomas Hitzlsperger, ex-Aston Villa and 52 times Germany capped footballer (and one time Celtic trialist), has announced publicly that he is gay, and this is a bit of milestone.
- Rangers fan David Limond jailed for sectarian threats, he made sectarian threats to a journalist (Angela Haggerty) in a podcast, and has been jailed for six months. Good.
- Edinburgh based Celtic fan Archie Wright passed away, even at 91 Archie was getting along to games regularly, he'll be missed.
- January Transfer Window, lots of rumours, nothing to worry about so far.
Review
(Celtic Joe of KDS forum)
Balde is clearly big, strong and awkward and a handful to play against, partly because he doesn't always seem to be too sure what he's going to do with the ball, so defenders find it hard to anticipate what he's going to do.
That said, his timing is away to eff (which could improve with more games) and he's too often on the back foot when crosses come into the box.
He should have taken another touch when straight through, rather than rush a shot from 25 yards.
He didn't even go for the ball when Bamba netted from a great Izzy cross.
He should have put the ball in front of Pukki when straight through rather than allow the defender to intercept (even though it was nearly another OG).
And Balde was again on his heels when Forrest fired in a low cross near the end of the half.
At this moment he is not a good player. But he is young. And big, strong and fast.
Hopefully he'll get the 90mins here.
Perhaps he and Super Mo will strike up a great partnership.
Teams
CELTIC (4-2-3-1)
Zaluska; Matthews (Fisher 60), Ambrose (Mulgrew 46), van Dijk, Izaguirre; Biton, Brown (Ledley 46); Forrest (Commons 46), Pukki (Atajic 78), Boerrigter; Balde
Not Used: Fasan
TRABZONSPOR (4-2-3-1)
Ayvaz (Ozturk 46), Bosigwa (Yavru 46), Yumlu, Bamba (Keles 46), Demir; Zokokra, Ozdemir; Aydin (Omanpasa 66), Mierzejewski, Erdogan (Akbas 72); Gural (Janko 46)
Not Used:
Stadium: Antalya Akdeniz Universitesi Stadi
Referee:
Attendance:
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
- Audio Report: Paradise Report
Pictures
Forum
MOTM
- Voting Thread
- Result Thread
- Winner –
- 2013-14 Winners
Articles
Trabzonspor 1-3 Celtic: Celtic in Turkish final
The Scotsman
by MASSIMO MARZOCCHI AT AKDENIZ UNIVERSITY STADIUM
Published on the 09 January
2014
CELTIC enjoyed a comfortable victory over Trabzonspor last night in the Turkish Airlines Antalya Cup and will now face either Ajax or Galatasaray in Sunday’s final of the mid-season tournament.
Scorers: Trabzonspor – Gural (42); Celtic – Pukki (32), Bamba (og 37), Balde (57)
Confidence-boosting goals from Teemu Pukki and Amido Balde, plus an own goal from former Hibernian central defender Sol Bamba, sealed the win for Neil Lennon’s side.
The misfiring strike pair have only scored five goals between them in competitive fixtures since joining Celtic last summer and they were determined to shine in Turkey.
Celtic took up the option of postponing their Scottish Premiership fixture with Kilmarnock tomorrow in order to have their mini-winter break, but manager Lennon named a strong team, including a first-choice back four plus skipper Scott Brown.
Celtic started very strongly with winger James Forrest causing problems for the Turkish side.
Derk Boerrigter had a header cleared off the line and Virgil van Dijk forced an excellent save before Pukki released Balde, who curled just wide.
Brown came close before the Turkish side rallied but Pukki opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when he fired the ball into the far corner from 18 yards.
Balde’s cross almost forced an own goal before Celtic doubled their lead in the 37th minute when the Portuguese striker and former Dunfermline and Hibernian defender Bamba battled to meet Emilio Izaguirre’s cross, with the ball ending in the net and the latter credited with an own goal.
Emre Gural pulled one back before half-time, when Lennon brought on Joe Ledley, Charlie Mulgrew and Kris Commons.
Celtic continued to dominate and Balde struck a glorious third for the Scottish champions when he smashed a shot into the top corner from 20 yards in the 57th minute.
The game fizzled out with a number of substitutions being made but Celtic finished convincing winners.
Celtic will learn who they will face in Sunday’s final after Ajax have played the second semi-final against Galatasaray this evening.
Meanwhile, Stefan Johansen’s club last night confirmed Celtic’s interest in the 23-year-old midfielder.
The Parkhead side have pinpointed the exciting Stromsgodset player as a signing for this month during the transfer window, and the Norwegian club’s sporting director Jostein Flo has admitted Celtic are interested in the £1.9 million-rated prospect.
He said: “Celtic are one of the clubs showing interest in Stefan. But there has not been anything more than that, just now.”
And the player’s agent, Tore Pedersen, also admitted several clubs are in the hunt for Norway’s Player of the Year. He said: “There is nothing concrete right now, but I can confirm there are many European clubs interested.”
Trabzonspor: Ayvaz (Ozturk 46), Bosigwa (Yavru 46), Yumlu, Bamba (Keles 46), Demir; Zokokra, Ozdemir; Aydin (Omanpasa 66), Mierzejewski, Erdogan (Akbas 72); Gural (Janko 46).
Celtic: Zaluska; Matthews (Fisher 60), Ambrose (Mulgrew 46), Van Dijk, Izaguirre; Biton, Brown (Ledley 46); Forrest (Commons 46), Pukki (Atajic 78), Boerrigter; Balde. Sub not Used: Fasan.
Celts start Antalya Cup with dominant victory By: Mark Henderson on 09 Jan, 2014 21:03
Turkish Airlines Antalya CupAntalya Akdeniz Universitesi Stadi
Thursday, January 9, 2014
CELTIC…3
Pukki 32, Bamba o.g. 37, Balde 57
TRABZONSPOR…1
Gural 42
A STUNNING second-half strike from Amido Balde was the highlight as Celtic started the Turkish Airlines Antalya Cup with a convincing 3-1 victory over Trabzonspor.
Teemu Pukki´s emphatic finish from 18 yards put the Hoops ahead and they doubled their advantage five minutes later through an own goal from defender Sol Bamba.
Although Emre Gural reduced arrears as half-time approached, Balde sealed the victory with avenomous shot from distance which left substitute Fatih Ozturk helpless. Neil Lennon´s men will now face either Ajax or Galatasaray in the final on Sunday.
Despite making five changes from the side that put St Mirren to the sword on Sunday, the manager named a strong team for Celtic´s opening match of the tournament.
Lukasz Zaluska was handed a place between the sticks, while Nir Biton, Derk Boerrigter, Pukki and Balde also came into the starting XI.
The Scottish champions made a positive start and quickly took the game to their opponents, with Emilio Izaguirre and Boerrigter having early efforts.
James Forrest´s pace and trickery was causing Trabzonspor huge problems in the early stages, and his inviting cross was close to being met by Balde, whose physical presence was also unsettling the Turkish side.
Celtic were playing with plenty of adventure, underlined when Virgil van Dijk strode forward from defence and unleashed a rasping drive on goal. It took a wicked deflection off a defender and forced Zeki Ayvas into an excellent reaction save.
Balde then showed good strength to win back possession on the halfway line before collecting return pass from Pukki. Scampering clear, he elected to take an early strike and was narrowly off target.
After another darting run at the heart of the opposition defence, Forrest picked out the run of Scott Brown in the box, and the skipper´s low shot skid inches wide of the far post.
It had been one-way traffic but Trabzonspor suddenly sparked into life midway through the half, threatening through Olcan Aydin and Gural, before Pukki deservedly fired Celtic in front.
The Finnish striker found himself with room at the edge of the box, took aim and rifled a shot beyond Ayvas into the corner.
The busy keeper had to make another smart stop minutes later as Balde´s low cross was turned towards his own goal by Mustafa Yumlu.
However, he could do nothing in the 37th minute as Celtic doubled their advantage in similar circumstances. Izaguirre crossed from the left and former Hibernian and Dunfermline defender Sol Bamba diverted it into the net under pressure from Balde.
The Hoops were in complete control but Gural gave Trabzonspor a glimmer of hope just before the break, converting from close range after Yusuf Erdogan´s shot ricocheted into his path.
Neil Lennon´s men swiftly shook off that setback, though, and took control once again after the interval.
Balde was close to connecting with Boerrigter´s cross, and Kris Commons, one of three changes at half-time, saw a shot blocked after tenacious play from Pukki.
Commons saw an ambitious chip creep over the bar, Pukki and Joe Ledley tried their luck and then Trabzonspor´s resistance was broken for a third time in spectacular style.
Balde surged forward towards the edge of the box and flashed a ferocious effort into the top corner, with goalkeeper Fatih Ozturk motionless.
As both sides made further changes in the closing stages, the game lost its earlier fluency and the chances dried up.
However, with the hardworking Balde and Pukki continuing to provide an excellent outlet for the Bhoys, they held on comfortably to progress to Sunday´s final.
CELTIC (4-2-3-1) Zaluska; Matthews (Fisher 60), Ambrose (Mulgrew 46(, van Dijk, Izaguirre; Biton, Brown (Ledley 46); Forrest (Commons 46), Pukki (Atajic 78), Boerrigter; Balde
Not Used: Fasan
TRABZONSPOR (4-2-3-1) Ayvaz (Ozturk 46), Bosigwa (Yavru 46), Yumlu, Bamba (Keles 46), Demir; Zokokra, Ozdemir; Aydin (Omanpasa 66), Mierzejewski, Erdogan (Akbas 72); Gural (Janko 46)
Not Used:
Website Man of the Match: Teemu Pukki
Pukki: Manager told us to relax
By: Kenny McKay on 10 Jan, 2014 14:59 TEEMU Pukki believes Celtic supporters could see the emergence of a new striking partnership at Paradise after his link-up with Amido Balde helped the Bhoys overcome Trabzonspor in Turkey.
The Celtic hitman got the Bhoys’ Turkish Airlines Antalya Cup campaign underway with a pinpoint strike to opening the scoring before his Portuguese strike partner made the points safe in the second-half.
And while the duo’s overall performance impressed many in the Akdeniz University Stadium, including the Celtic manager Neil Lennon, Pukki is hoping to use the Antalya Cup as an opportunity to kick-start a return to goal-scoring form.
Speaking exclusively to Celtic TV after the match, the Flying Finn also said that he relished the opportunity to start alongside Balde.
He said: “It was really good. We found each other really well and we both worked hard to get the ball from the defenders so it was a good game for both of us.
“It’s much better for me than being alone up front. Whether it’s dropping a little bit deeper or playing up front as one of two strikers, that’s what I’ve been used to doing before I came here.
“It was good to get some game-time for the players who haven’t played so much. It gives me my confidence back after a few games when I haven’t scored. It’s always good to score and I hope now that I can continue that in the future.
Having overcome their Turkish opponents, Celtic will now wait to see the outcome of the match between Ajax and Galatasaray as they aim to pick up some silverware during their mid-winter break.
And, while Pukki does not have a preference of opponent, he believes the relaxed mood in the Celtic camp and the confidence gained from Thursday’s performance means that the Bhoys will be confident facing either team.
He added: “I expected a little bit more from Trabzonspor but I think we played really well against them. The manager told us to go and relax and play how we can and I think he got what he wanted.
“Of course we have played against Ajax twice already so maybe we’d prefer Galastasaray.
“But Ajax have one Finnish guy, Niklas Moisander who didn’t play in those games so it would be nice to play against him. I hope the final will be a good game and that we'llwin the trophy.”