2019-07-30: Kalju 0-2 Celtic, European Cup

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Review

(Bubba of KDS)
bitton was great. if he stays fit we can rotate him with brown all season

ntcham was also superb, one dangerous stray pass aside. i'd still be looking to keep him

jullien was in cruise control, he looks pretty classy on first appearances and he's a big boy

thought bolingoli was more disciplined about when to attack and when to stay. he hit the halfway line a few times and then stopped and dropped back. i was happy to see him leave johnston to do the attacking. he should do that until he beds in a bit. gotta say though, i'm not seeing a great replacement for KT if it comes to it

ralston was better in the second half but we still need another right back

Teams

Nomme Kalju

• 96Londak
• 11Costa Morais Substituted forMataat 38'minutes
• 2Kulinits
• 4Avilov
• 6Tjapkin
• 15Subbotin
• Substituted forMashichevat 79'minutes
• 5Uggè
• 43Paur Substituted forIvanjusinat 83'minutes
• 21Klein
• 26MarkovychBooked at 20mins
• 27Puri
Substitutes
• 1Teles
• 3Reintam
• 9Mashichev
• 17Kirss
• 19Ivanjusin
• 99Mata

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Articles

Nomme Kalju 0 Celtic 2 as Marian Shved makes his mark with classy debut goal – 3 talking points
Daly Record
Neil Lennon's side cruised into the Champions League third qualifying round with a comfortable win in Estonia.

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ByGavin Berry

20:03, 30 JUL 2019Updated20:21, 30 JUL 2019

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Neil Lennon threw down the gauntlet to Olivier Ntcham after a summer row with the midfielder.

And last night the Frenchman reminded Celtic of his talent in a stroll in the Estonian capital.

Ntcham looked certain to be heading for the Parkhead exit after claiming he was too good for Scottish football.

But Lennon handed the 23-year-old a second chance following clear-the-air talks and was handed a start in the Champions League dead rubber return against Nomme Kalju.

And, whether the £14 million-rated man was playing for that move amid interest from Marseille and FC Porto or to make it up to his boss for his controversial comments, he certainly proved a cut above in the A Le Coq Arena.
(Image: Daily Record)

He delivered the response Lennon would have been looking for with a classy display in an advanced midfield role and showed great skill to start the move to break the deadlock which came courtesy of Aleksandr Kulinits’ own goal after 10 minutes.

Celtic were sloppy in the second half as they took their foot off the gas but substitute Marian Shved netted an injury time debut strike to complete a 7-0 aggregate demolition job.

And Ntcham could be happy with his work even if his finishing might have been better – he skied one particular effort – as he pulled the strings, finding pockets of space and spraying the ball around before going off late on.

With key men Callum McGregor and James Forrest left at home and Lennon given fringe men a run-out it was up to others to stand up and, on a night when complacency was the biggest danger, his attitude was spot on.

Ntcham’s claim that Celtic are only a stepping stone came on the eve of the last qualifier against Sarjaveo and could have been the end for him but he could yet have a big part to play in their bid to reach the group stage.
(Image: Daily Record)

But the Frenchman and his team-mates will now face a huge step up in class when they take on Romanians FC Cluj, who have been in the group stage three times, in the third qualifier, where they fell to AEK Athens last season.

This was a pre-season friendly in all but name with the job already done in Glasgow and they were in cruise control before understandably taking their foot off the gas in the second half.

Nir Bitton was another who impressed before he went off with Shved replacing him and £7 million man Christopher Jullien also started.

Celtic’s commanding first leg lead meant the tie was never in danger and Lennon had the luxury of being able to make half a dozen changes to the team that started that thumping 5-0 win in Glasgow.

Jullien made his much-anticipated competitive debut while goalkeeper Craig Gordon featured for the first time in seven months and Anthony Ralston made his first appearance of the season.
(Image: Daily Record)

Youngsters Mikey Johnston and Lewis Morgan were also handed the chance to shine along with Ntcham who was making his first start of the season .

For the 200-strong travelling support it was a chance to enjoy a pressure-free qualifier while sampling the delights of the popular Baltic city.

The players emerged to the stirring strains of the Champions League’s Zadok the Priest anthem – usually reserved for the play-off and group stage – and that was a reminder of what awaits them if they can progress.

Despite the changes, this was always likely to be a stroll given the gulf in class and that’s how it started with the visitors knocking the ball about confidently.

And it was a great move to break the deadlock after just 10 minutes with brilliant play from Ntcham who released Johnston down the left.

The young winger then did well to skip past the defence before fizzing a low ball across goal and the hapless Kulintis put the ball into his own net with Leigh Griffiths waiting for a tap in.
Mikey Johnston comes off (Image: Daily Record)

Nomme Kalju skipper Max Ugge insisted in the pre-match press conference that his team-mates had to believe they could score six. That was never likely to happen – and even the Italian would have conceded bagging seven was an impossible mission.

And the hardest part of ring-rusty keeper Gordon staking his claim to reclaim the number one jersey was having the night off between the sticks.

He watched a Deniss Tjapkin effort whistle past the post after Christopher Jullien’s defensive header went straight to the midfielder.

There was real concern when Griffiths went down midway through the first half after he showed some fantastic footwork to control the ball but luckily he was fit to carry on.

Johnston should have doubled Celtic’s advantage before the break when substitute Max Mata’s header from Boli Bolingoli’s cross fell to the winger but he lacked composure as he shot well over.

Ntcham picked up where he left off after the restart and curled a shot just past the post for the goal that would have capped a fine individual display.
Read More

Nomme Kalju 0 Celtic 1 LIVE score as Marian Shved comes on as Hoops search for more goals

The hardest task for the Celtic players was always going to be keeping their focus and Gordon was called into action to deny Kaspar Paur.

Scott Sinclair was on after the hour in place of Johnston but Gordon again had to be alert when he was forced to deny Paur’s angled drive.

Those saves – and his general confident handling – would have helped Gordon’s case to start the season as number one with the position up for grabs.

Shved replaced Bitton and almost made an immediate impact when Morgan put him through but the Ukrainian winger’s shot was saved before Ryan Christie was introduced in place of Ntcham, with Lennon quick to praise his midfield star.

Sinclair went close to adding a second and Jullien had a header ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper.

But there was just enough time for a second strike and what a goal at was as the ball broke to Shved and he smashed a left foot shot into the top right hand corner.
GALLERY: Champions League – Nomme Kalju v Celtic – Best pictures from A. Le Coq Arena
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3 talking points
Chris it better
(Image: Daily Record)

Celtic's £7million transfer statement of intent couldn't have asked for a more leisurely evening to begin his Hoops career. A tap-about in Tallinn was the perfect opportunity to get to know his team-mates better. But Jullien wasn't going through the motions as he cajoled and barked out instructions to the backline. Jozo Simunovic has plenty of qualities but he's a bit on the quiet side at times. The former Toulouse man certainly doesn't suffer from that affliction and could be heard dishing out the orders from the first minute to last in the eerily quiet A. Le Coq Arena. Lennon knows players who stand up to the challenge will be needed during such a pivotal season. And Jullien displayed his toughness after soldiering on despite taking a sore one to the face.
Wake-up call for Oli
(Image: Daily Record)

Celtic fans were thrown a pre-match curveball as wantaway midfielder Olivier Ntcham was included in the starting XI. Lennon was left unimpressed with the Frenchman's public comments as he angled for a move away. But the Hoops boss offered an olive branch by handing the 23-year-old a chance to impress. Ntcham wasn't perfect but he couldn't be accused of lacking endeavour as he worked hard on his return to competitive action. His shooting was wayward, as a wild first half effort proved, but he the former Manchester City man was demanding the ball every time a team-mate was in possession. Who knows what words of wisdom the Irishman used to get Ntcham onside but the midfielder is under no illusions he must impress if he is to earn the move away he so desperately craves.
Marian joins the party
(Image: Daily Record)

Celtic fans were left purring last season as they watched their on-loan winger bang them in from all angles for Karpaty Lviv but the Hoops faithfiul have had to be patient this summer with the wide man's pre-season being derailed by injury. Shved is direct and he almost made an instant impact after Morgan played him in on goal. Lennon's side during his first spell in charge were jam-packed with players who weren't afraid to have a pop from distance. the likes of Ki and Kris Commons followed a shoot on sight policy and Shved is never shy in having a dig. That became abundantly clear when he lashed one into to the top corner to round off the tie. Brendan Rodgers' Celtic were hard to fault but perhaps the one thing they lacked was a player willing to go direct when Tom Rogic was out the team. That certainly won't be a problem this season when the Ukrainian is in the side.

BBC

By Alasdair Lamont

BBC Scotland in Tallinn

From the section Champions League 145

Aleksandr Kulinits turned Mikey Johnston's cross into his own net
Aleksandr Kulinits turned Mikey Johnston's cross into his own net

Celtic will play Romanian side Cluj in the Champions League third qualifying round after completing a comprehensive 7-0 aggregate win over Nomme Kalju.

After a 5-0 win in Glasgow last week, a Scottish side containing several fringe players dominated in Estonia. Aleksandr Kulinits turned Mikey Johnston's 10th-minute cross into his own net and debutant Marian Shved rifled in a stunning second in stoppage-time.

Celtic will travel to Romania for the first leg against Cluj, who squeezed past Maccabi Tel Aviv 3-2 on aggregate.

However, even if they overcome Dan Petrescu's side, the Scottish champions will still have another round to negotiate if they are to reach the group stage.

'Celtic going in right direction'
Lennon does not want Sinclair to leave
Reaction & as it happened

Slick Celtic ease through

This was as comfortable an evening as Celtic have enjoyed in Europe in a long time, basking in the afterglow of last week's emphatic 5-0 home win.

They were confident and relaxed as they dominated possession from the off. It looked for all the world as though they could replicate the first-leg result, particularly when they made the breakthrough so early in the game.

With Celtic playing slick, swift passing football, one such move brought about that opening goal. Olivier Ntcham, highly impressive in an advanced midfield position in the first half, found Johnston and the winger fired a tempting ball across goal. Griffiths was ready to pounce for his second in two games, but Kulinits intervened to nick the ball off the toe of the striker only to knock it into the net.

At that point, further goals seemed inevitable, such was Celtic's stranglehold on possession, yet Pavel Londak had very little to do in the Kalju goal.

And if that perturbed Neil Lennon, the manner in which the home side began to threaten the Celtic defence as the second half progressed may also have given him pause for thought. The returning Craig Gordon twice saved well from Kaspar Paur to deny the plucky Estonians the consolation of an equaliser on the night.

Celtic began to turn the screw again in the closing stages, with both debutants passing up good opportunities – Christopher Jullien heading over from six yards out and then Shved, seconds after coming off the bench, seeing a side-footed effort turned round a post by Londak.

Lewis Morgan and Scott Sinclair were also denied late on by excellent goalkeeping but he could do nothing to keep out Shved's powerful injury-time strike from the edge of the penalty area.

So Celtic ease into the third qualifying round where they will face a far stiffer task against the Romanians of Cluj.
'Jullien showed qualities' – analysis
graphic

Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner on Sportsound

What caught my eye was the performance of Christopher Jullien. I know Kalju got a few chances and Celtic got a little sloppy around the middle of the pitch but he showed all the qualities I would look for in a defender.

He was talking, he was pushing the line up and he was taking control. He covered for Jozo Simunovic and stepped in to midfield with the ball. And a real threat in the box from set pieces.

Former Celtic defender John Hughes on Sportsound

It was job done. For Craig Gordon, that clean sheet matters. Trust me. It matters for the defenders, too. They will pride themselves on clean sheets. So they'll be absolutely delighted.#

Celtic 'going in right direction' as Cluj await, says Neil Lennon

From the section Celtic

Marian Shved scored a stunning debut goal to conclude Celtic's win
Marian Shved scored a stunning debut goal to conclude Celtic's win

Celtic are "going in the right direction" as they prepare for a Champions League trip to Romania to face Cluj, says manager Neil Lennon.

An own goal and a debut strike by Marian Shved gave Celtic a 2-0 win in Estonia to complete a 7-0 aggregate victory over Nomme Kalju.

But Lennon knows they face a tougher test in the third qualifying round against a side who have reached the group stage three times in 11 years.

"They're a difficult side," he said.

Cluj next for Celtic after Estonia win
Lennon does not want Sinclair to leave
Reaction & as it happened

Cluj, who won the Romanian title last term, drew 2-2 with Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel to secure a 3-2 aggregate success, having beating Astana of Kazakhstan in the first round.

"The good thing for me is that the first leg is away so hopefully we can get some type of result to take back to Celtic Park," Lennon told BBC Scotland of next week's meeting.

"We've done a lot of work on them already so we'll be well prepared. We know it will be a step up, but we're going in the right direction. There's no question of that."
'I'm pleased for the new boys'

Lennon left both James Forrest and Callum McGregor in Glasgow and started several fringe players in Tallinn, but his side still dominated a team currently fourth in the Estonian top flight.

Centre-back Christopher Jullien – a £7m signing from Bordeaux – made his debut, while Ukrainian winger Shved also made an impact after being introduced and Oliver Ntcham had his first outing of the term.

"I'm not getting carried away but I'm pleased for the new boys coming in," the manager said.

"Christopher had his first 90 minutes. I thought Olivier was outstanding considering that was his first real run out. And it was a great goal from Marian. He showed what he's capable of in a little cameo.

"I've also got Forrest and McGregor to factor in and [Kristoffer] Ajer and [Odsonne] Edoaurd to come back as well. So the depth is looking a lot better and we're in a good place at the minute."

Despite that – and the signings of Boli Bolingoli from Rapid Vienna and Hatem Abd Elhamed from Hapoel Be'er Sheva – Lennon said there are still "two or three" positions that he is keen to strengthen.