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Trivia
- International Champions Cup
- Friendlies wrapped up in a quasi-competitive format for marketing purposes, matches played internationally.
- O'Connell scores his first goal. A good one too.
- Battle of Britain match as Leicester City are the English Premiership Champions.
- Celtic lose 6-5 after the match was drawn after 90mins. Forrest only player to miss, but it was on target.
- Kolo Toure expected to sign on the Sunday.
- Celtic are lining up a potential swoop for Fenerbache full-back Hasan Ali Kaldirim.
- Celtic playing EPL champions Leicester who astonished the football world by winning their top tier against all odds. One of the true great football stories in the past generation or two of football.
- Big game next week away to Astana in the Champions League, 1st leg. Celtic recovered in the past week to defeat Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar (3-1 on agg) after losing the first leg.
- Brendan Rodgers has pledged Celtic will be ready to cope with an arduous and potentially awkward trip to Kazakhstan, flying straight out after this game.
- Rangers and Celtic have brought the “showbusiness” back to Scottish football, says SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster.
- Sky and BT have been in talks with the association over TV deals, even though both broadcasters are taking advantage of cut-price deals for Scottish football that don’t expire for another four years. Scottish football is set to collect £15 million, in comparison to the £5bn the Premier League alone is expected to receive.
- Scottish media legend, Dick Donelly, has passed away. He was the regular reporter for Dundee & Dundee Utd matches and his voice was wonderful to hear. RIP.
- Brian McClair has left his role as the Scottish Football Association's performance director after 17 months. McClair was left frustrated at having to try to sell the SFA's performance strategy around the boardrooms of Scottish football. Disappointment from many for many reasons.
Review
(Ultra Fox of KDS)
More competitive than I expected. The hoops were certainly a significant step up from either of the red Imps games.
Then again, this time last year the Foxes were being held by Mansfield, a 4th tier team.
Enjoyed my day in Glasgow – some cracking pubs and the rumours of widespread disorder thankfully failed to materialise. The hun bars were not difficult to detect and were given a suitably wide berth.
Will Celtic's and Leicester's paths cross again in the Champions League? Time will tell on that..
(janvoh of KDS)
Gordon was suspect
janko was ace
izzy cant cross
brown cant pass
johansen isn't interested
dembele needs time
leigh when he doesn't score does nothing
Christie, allan and rogic coming on were positive
Roberts isn't fit enough to last 90 minutes
overall a good game with lessons learned hopefully
Teams
Celtic:
Gordon (Fasan 62); Janko, Lustig (Ambrose 46), O'Connell; Roberts (Forrest 62), McGregor (Johansen 62), Brown (Allan 75), Armstrong (Rogic 75), Izaguirre; Griffiths (Christie 75), Dembele (Ciftci 62).
Goals: O’Connell 59
Leicester:
Zieler (Schmeichel 46); Amartey, Hernandez (Okazaki 62), Morgan (Wasilewski 62), Chilwell; Mahrez (Fuchs 70), Mendy (Simpson 46), Drinkwater, Albrighton (Schlupp 46); Ulloa (Huth 62), Gray (Musa 46)
Goals: Mahrez 46
Stadium: Celtic Park
Referee:
Attendance: 25-30,000 (not near a full stadium with top tiers all closed off)
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
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Stats
Articles
Celtic 1-1 Leicester: English champions win on penalties
Eoghan OConnell of Celtic vies for possession with Leonardo Ulloa of Leicester. Picture: Ian MacNicol/Getty
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/celtic-1-1-leicester-english-champions-win-on-penalties-1-4185046ANDREW SMITH
For all the hype surrounding the International Champions Cup cross-border combat staged at Celtic Park last night, it was the presence of Kolo Toure in the stand that would have been of greater significance to the home followers in the 32,658 crowd.
The 35-year-old defender yesterday joined the Scottish champions on a one-year deal; though with not enough training time of late for his former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers to consider him for Celtic’s third qualifying round Champions League tie away to FC Astana in Kazakhstan on Wednesday.
Centre back options may be stretched by injuries to Jozo Simunovic and Dedryck Boyata, and the unreliability of Efe Ambrose. However, Rodgers ought to be comforted that Toure’s arrival came on a day that a three-man Celtic defence comprised of youngster Eoghan O’Connell – scorer of a peachy Celtic equaliser, no less – an assured Mikael Lustig and Saidy Janko held up well.
Celtic may have been the losing side, ultimately, but only because the encounter was settled by penalties – hey, the tournament is a US production. This climax allowed Leicester to take the spoils, James Forrest proving the only man to miss in a shootout running to 12 spot-kicks. It certainly brought a degree of entertainment that the previous 90 minutes could not rival – except for a stupendous Riyad Mahrez opener, and O’Connell’s delightful reply.
With the ICC a Stateside production, there was an apple-pie flavouring to the occasion. As sponsors’ logos were flashed up, their names were intoned in the manner that chat show hosts are introduced in late-night television slots across the pond. Really, we needed Walmart, Gatorade and Hershey’s to be singingly sold to the crowd to complete the slice of US soccer.
There wasn’t much else to be tickled over in a turgid first period. The English champions – Riyad Mahrez apart – aren’t great aesthetes and last night was only their second game of pre-season, so they could be excused. Moreover, in recent days, manager Claudio Ranieri, in typically avuncular fashion, seems to have been required to spend his time offering reassurances that last season’s 5,000-1 title win won’t be followed by 5,000 departures from the club.
A friendly – whatever it says on the aloominum can, as they might say in America – wasn’t the night to judge a Leicester lacking Jamie Vardy, who is still recovering from a summer wrist operation. Yet, there was a sharpness about the Premier League winners whenever the sorcerer Mahrez was in possession and probing, or Danny Drinkwater was playing searching passes.
With the trip to Kazakhstan for the third qualifying round tie against FC Astana to come on Wednesday it was perhaps a surprise to see Rodgers give one-hour run-outs to so many of the players who can expect to be involved. Yet, understandings need to be formed. In forward areas that might be happening with Moussa Dembele and Leigh Griffiths both creating chances in the opening period. The Frenchman was unfortunate with a clever bicycle-kick that Ron-Robert Zieler scrambled to block, while his striker partner forced the keeper to dive full-length to his right to push away a lashed-in free-kick.
The second half picked up as the rate of substitutions inevitably did so and it was a moment of brilliance just after the break by Mahrez that seemed to spark it to life. He danced his way down the inside-right channel before curling a majestic effort into the top corner.
Leicester then seemed in control but it was wrested away from them in unexpected fashion when, after the ball bobbed about the edge of the Leicester box, young centre-back O’Connell opened up his body as the ball spun towards him and steered a right-foot shot just inside substitute Kasper Schmeichel’s left-hand post.
Penalty drama decides Clash of the Champions
http://www.celticfc.net/news/10935
By: Martin Dalziel on 23 Jul, 2016 19:46
International Champions Cup
Celtic Park
Saturday July 23, 2016
CELTIC…1
(O’Connell 59)
LEICESTER CITY…1
(Mahrez 46)
[Leicester win 6-5 on penalties]
CELTIC narrowly lost out in the battle of the champions at Paradise, with a penalty shoot-out deciding the winners after an entertaining 90 minutes. Leicester City's Daniel Amartey scored the decisive spot-kick.
After an evenly-contested opening 45 minutes, the Hoops went behind early in the second-half courtesy of a piece of individual magic from Riyad Mahrez. Celtic defender Eoghan O’Connell deservedly levelled the match on the hour mark, placing a precise first-time shot beyond Kasper Schmeichel and into the Leicester net.
Both sides made a host of sweeping changes in the wake of the goals, slowing the momentum of the match, which eventually went to penalties after 90 minutes. And after five successful penalties for each team, James Forrest saw his spot-kick well-saved by Schmeichel before Amartey converted.
The game may have been lost but the International Champions Cup match was a beneficial match for the Scottish champions, who will now head to Kazakhstan to take on FC Astana in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.
Lining up in the same 3-5-2 formation that saw the Celts overcome Lincoln Red Imps 3-0 earlier in the week, Brendan Rodgers made three changes with Saidy Janko, O’Connell and Emilio Izaguirre replacing Erik Sviatchenko, Kieran Tierney, James Forrest out.
The changes didn’t stop the Hoops from starting well, however, but it was the visitors who carved out the first chances, with Leo Ulloa guilty of not working Craig Gordon with an excellent opportunity in the box early on.
Moussa Dembele almost found the net for the Bhoys after shooting on the turn in the box to bring out a save from Ron-Robert Zieler on 18 minutes, while the Foxes’ star man, Mahrez also started to influence proceedings as the half wore on, with the English Premier League Player of the Year curling a left-footed shot just wide shortly after Dembele’s effort.
Claudio Ranieri’s team were enjoying good possession but the Celts were direct and dangerous on the break and had an excellent chance to go in front before half-time after Dembele was fouled just outside the Leicester box. However, Leigh Griffiths’ thumping free-kick was tipped wide, leaving the sides level at the interval.
Four fresh faces entered the fray for Leicester at the restart, with Celtic making just one switch as Efe Ambrose replaced Mikael Lustig. The Hoops’ new-look defence was then immediately undone just a minute into the second-half when Mahrez displayed his wonderful skill to put his team in front.
The Algerian gathered a knock-down from Ulloa in the inside left channel and glided towards the apex of the box where his trio of stopovers outfoxed O’Connell and Izaguirre and gave him time to curl an impeccable left-footed shot past Gordon into the far corner.
It was a moment of individual brilliance from the winger but Celtic’s teamwork soon brought the Scottish champions level after a concerted period of pressure on the Leicester goal.
The Celts bombarded the opposition box with crosses and after Brown and McGregor were foiled with consecutive shots, the ball fell to O’Connell 20 yards out, with the Irishman arching his run to open the angle and send a side-footed shot into the far corner of the goal past substitute keeper Schmeichel.
A flurry of subs from each side soon followed with both teams entering the final stages of the match with almost completely changed line-ups from the start of the match. Those sweeping changes lowered the tempo and the game remained level past injury time, with a penalty shoot-out after the final whistle as per International Champions Cup rules.
Both sides found the net with their first five penalties but James Forrest’s sudden-death kick was well-saved by Schmeichel, setting up Amartey with the opportunity to win the match, which he did by dispatching his spot kick down the middle.
Celtic will now look to Wednesday’s trip to Kazakhstan to play FC Astana after a testing but positive showing against the English champions.
CELTIC (3-5-2) Gordon (Fasan 62); Janko, Lustig (Ambrose 46), O’Connell; Roberts (Forrest 62), McGregor (Johansen 62), Brown (Allan 75), Armstrong (Rogic 75), Izaguirre; Griffiths (Christie 75), Dembele (Ciftci 62).
Not used: Fisher, Henderson, Hazard
LEICESTER CITY (4-4-2) Zieler (Schmeichel 46); Amartey, Hernandez (Okazaki 62), Morgan (Wasilewski 62), Chilwell; Mahrez (Fuchs 70), Mendy (Simpson 46), Drinkwater, Albrighton (Schlupp 46); Ulloa (Huth 62), Gray (Musa 46)
Website man of the match: Eoghan O’Connell
International Champions Cup: Leicester beat Celtic in shootout
By Tom Rostance
BBC Sport
From the section Football
Brendan Rodgers and Claudio Ranieri
Brendan Rodgers will be hoping that his Celtic side can join Claudio Ranieri's Leicester in the Champions League
Celtic prepared for their Champions League trip to Kazakhstan next week by losing a friendly 6-5 on penalties to Leicester after a 1-1 draw.
Brendan Rodgers' side – who play FC Astana on Wednesday – dominated possession for large periods against the Premier League champions.
Riyad Mahrez put Leicester ahead with a superb goal only for Eoghan O'Connell to curl in from 25 yards.
Kasper Schemichel then saved a James Forrest penalty in the shootout.
Celtic still have potentially four qualifiers to play before reaching the group stage of the Champions League, beginning with a 3,000-mile trip to Astana, in Kazakhstan, this week. But Rodgers played a strong side for this International Champions Cup friendly.
Mahrez won the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award last season and the Algerian showed his qualities again by cutting inside from the right wing and curling superbly into the top corner in the 46th minute.
Leicester – who named three new signings in their starting XI – will be desperate to keep Mahrez at the King Power Stadium. He has been strongly linked with a move to Arsenal, but manager Claudio Ranieri says "it will be better for him to stay with me".
'Did you see how Riyad is happy?'
Riyad Mahrez
Riyad Mahrez scored 18 times for Leicester last season
Mahrez, 25, was signed by the Foxes from Le Havre for £400,000 in 2014 but reports in France on Saturday suggested he was set to join Arsenal for up to £50m.
He was the outstanding player on display in Glasgow, and after the match Ranieri again repeated that the winger would be staying.
"Did you see how Riyad is happy?" said Ranieri.
"He played so well, worked so hard for the team, he scored a goal and he stays with us.
"It is very important (to keep him); he is one of our stars.
"Other teams maybe have more stars and maybe he doesn't play at the same level, because maybe is on the bench so it is much better he stays with me."
'A winning mentality'
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers saw 20-year-old centre-back O'Connell guide in off a post in the 59th minute after Scott Brown's shot had been blocked to level the game, which went straight to penalties after 90 minutes.
Eoghan O'Connell
Eoghan O'Connell is the cousin of former Ireland and British and Irish Lions captain Paul O'Connell
The first 10 spot kicks were converted before Forrest saw his effort saved and Daniel Amartey scored to give Leicester a bonus point in the competition.
Celtic have their important Champions League tie in between a friendly game with Barcelona in Dublin next weekend, while Leicester face Paris St-Germain in California next Saturday.
Rodgers was impressed with his side's display and is also confident of finalising the signing of former Liverpool defender Kolo Toure this weekend.
"It was an excellent game," he said. "For a pre-season game, it was at a good level and good intensity. Leicester looked fit and strong and ready for another challenge.
"We were excellent. Mahrez scored a fantastic goal but our reaction was really good. The mentality we have tried to create is a winning one. Even in pre-season, that's important.
"We came from a goal behind and that is important."
Rodgers also indicated that a deal is close to sign former Arsenal and Manchester City defender Kolo Toure, released by Liverpool at the end of last season.
"Hopefully Kolo Toure will be signed by Sunday and he will be great for us," Rodgers said. "I bought him to Liverpool and he did great. He looks after himself and is in good condition. He will be a valuable player for us."
Celtic: Gordon (Fasan 62); Janko, Lustig (Ambrose 46), O'Connell; Roberts (Forrest 62), McGregor (Johansen 62), Brown (Allan 75), Armstrong (Rogic 75), Izaguirre; Griffiths (Christie 75), Dembele (Ciftci 62).
Leicester: Zieler (Schmeichel 46); Amartey, Hernandez (Okazaki 62), Morgan (Wasilewski 62), Chilwell; Mahrez (Fuchs 70), Mendy (Simpson 46), Drinkwater, Albrighton (Schlupp 46); Ulloa (Huth 62), Gray (Musa 46)