| Match Pictures | Matches: 2010 – 2011 | 2010-2011 Pictures |
Trivia
- US Tour friendly
Review
We lost, but got a goal from a penalty, defeated by two late goals. Both teams were fielding weakened sides (Celtic's less so).
Teams
CELTIC…1
Samaras 61
MANCHESTER UNITED…3
Berbatov 34, Wellbeck 79, Cleverly 86
CELTIC (4-3-3) Zaluska; Wilson (Cha 67), Rogne, O’Dea, Mulgrew; Brown (Samaras 45), Crosas (Ki 67), Ledley (Ferry 76); Forrest, Fortune, Maloney (Hutchinson 74)
Not Used: Hooiveld, McCourt, Loovens, Caddis, Cervi
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2) Van Der Sar; Rafael, Evans, Smalling, Fabio; Obertan, Fletcher, Scholes, Giggs, Diouf, Berbatov
Rogers Centre
Toronto, Canada
Friday, July16, 2010
Articles
- Match Report(see below)
Pictures
KStreet
Articles
from CelticFC.net
impressive celts downed by red devils Mark Henderson
DESPITE an impressive performance in the Toronto heat, Celtic went down to a 3-1 defeat to Manchester United in the second match of the pre-season tour of North America.
Dimitar Berbatov gave the Red Devils the advantage after 30 minutes, before Georgios Samaras deservedly brought the Hoops level in the second half.
However, two late goals from substitutes, Danny Wellbeck and Tom Cleverley, gave United the win. For those Celtic fans watching the match though, this was a display which would provide plenty of encouragement for the season ahead.
Neil Lennon had made a raft of changes from the opening match of the pre-season tour against Philadelphia Union. They included a first ever start for youngster James Forrest in the top-team, while Shaun Maloney and Thomas Rogne also made their long awaited return from injury.
Facing them was a strong United side, with Sir Alex Ferguson selecting the likes of Ryan Giggs, Dimitar Berbatov, Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher in the starting XI.
After both teams had early period of possession, it was the Hoops who had the first effort on goal in the seventh minute. After United’s won their first corner, the ball was headed clear to Maloney, who picked out Marc-Antoine Fortune on the left in space. He drove forward into the box but elected to shoot from a tight angle with players waiting in the middle.
At the other end, some delightful skill from Giggs created a chance for Gabriel Obertan inside the box, but the French winger dragged his shot wide.
United began to zip the ball around and created another opening minutes later. Diouf crossed to the far post, but Berbatov looped a header over.
As the half wore on though, the Hoops began to take a stronger grip on proceedings.
Neat play on the left between Maloney and Mulgrew, saw the latter swing in a wicked delivery to the back post, which was heading towards Brown, until the intervention of the United defence.
In the 20th minute, a corner was only knocked clear to Marc Crosas on the edge of the area, but his low drive was blocked.
Fortune, who was operating as the lone striker, showed good strength and control to twist past Jonny Evans, but the defender managed to recover before the striker could get a shot away.
While Celtic were now stroking the ball around comfortably, they were shown the dangers of any lapses in concentration on the half hour mark when the Red Devils created two good opportunities.
First, Brown was dispossessed in midfield, allowing Rafael to break quickly and release Obertan in space. And he should have done better than shooting wide of Lukasz Zaluska’s post.
Then, Berbatov showed excellent control to find space 25 yards out and flash a shot narrowly wide.
Celtic didn’t heed the warnings, though, and United made the breakthrough in the 34th minute. Diouf floated a cross in from the left. Berbatov took a touch and fired past a helpless Zaluska into the far corner.
The goal saw the Hoops lose their way for 10 minutes, but they began to claw their way back into match as half-time approached. Forrest skipped past Fabio and delivered a dangerous ball to the back-post, which was narrowly away from finding Fortune and Maloney.
And after a good spell of possession, Ledley showed good vision to find Mulgrew in space. The full-back needed no invitation to burst into the box and fire a ferocious shot at goal, which was deflected into the side netting.
At half-time, Lennon replaced Brown with Georgios Samaras, with United making four changes.
Straight away the Red Devils nearly doubled their advantage, but Darren Gibson blazed over after a lovely lay-off from Berbatov.
The Hoops support thought they were celebrating an equaliser when Samaras headed home a Mulgrew free-kick, but to their disappointment it was ruled out for offside.
On 54 minutes, Mulgrew tried to surprise Van Der Sar with a near-post shot, but the Dutch keeper was equal to the task.
But just past the hour mark Celtic deservedly grabbed an equaliser. Ledley made a great run into the box and was hauled down by Chris Smalling. Samaras placed the ball on the spot and confidently stroked it into the top corner.
Two minutes later, the Greek striker, who was making a real impact drove down the left and floated a dangerous ball into the six yard box, which just evaded the head of Forrest.
Lennon’s side were now playing with real confidence and Marc-Antoine Fortune stung Van Der Sar’s hands with a powerful shot, after good link-up play with Ki – who had joined the fray along with new signing Cha Du-Ri midway through the half.
But just as it looked like Celtic were the ones that would find the winner, United struck at the other end. The ever-dangerous Berbatov spun inside the box and slid the ball across the face of goal, and Danny Wellbeck had the easiest task of stabbing the ball into the net.
Fortune tried to reply straight away with a long-range effort, which was well struck but was straight at Van Der Sar.
With the Hoops pushing forward, there were inevitable gaps being left at the back though and Federico Macheda forced Zaluska into a magnificent save from 18 yards.
And United put an unfair reflection on the scoreline when Tom Cleverly’s shot was deflected past Zaluska.
Celtic continued to press for an unlikely way back into the match, but the best chance they could muster was an ambitious 30 yard shot from Ben Hutchinson.
Despite the defeat, this was an encouraging performance from the Hoops against a top European side – and Lennon would be able to take plenty of positives from the display.