Pre-season friendly
July 9, 2022
Allianz Stadion, Vienna

RAPID VIENNA… 3
(Zimmerman 29, Kriwak 62, Aiwu 90)

CELTIC… 3
(O’Riley 9, Turnbull 55, Kyogo 64)

Celtic and Rapid Vienna fought out an entertaining 3-3 draw with Rapid Vienna in the Austrian capital today (Saturday) as Ange Postecoglou’s side continued their preparations for the season ahead.

The Hoops led on three occasions, but each time the home side managed to fashion an equaliser, the last of those coming with the final touch of the ball in the 90th minute to deliver a repeat of the scoreline when the sides last met in European competition in 2009.

Celtic, wearing their new black and green pinstriped away kit, started the game well, with Reo Hatate looking impressive in possession.

And it only took the Hoops nine minutes to open the scoring. A ball played over to the left-hand side was kept in by Jota, and he laid it back to Matt O’Riley.

The Danish Under-21 internationalist took a touch and then from just inside the box curled a superb shot into the corner of the net.

It was a superb goal and no more than Ange Postecoglou’s side deserved from their early endeavours.

However, Rapid Vienna started to work their way back into the game, and their captain, Guido Burgstaller, had a shot from the edge of the area that was saved by Joe Hart.

And minutes later, the Celtic goalkeeper produced a world-class save to deny Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn after he had got on the end of a cross inside the six-yard box.

It looked to be a certain equaliser, but Hart got down quickly to push the ball away with his right hand.

However, the home side managed to get back on level terms just before the half-hour mark.

A pass across the box from Cameron Carter-Vickers went beyond Joe Hart, and Ante Bakic slid in to challenge the Hoops keeper, knocking the ball back into the path of Bernhard Zimmerman who, from three yards out, tapped the ball into an empty net.

The game, though a friendly match, was very competitive, and Aleksa Pejic marked his 23rd birthday by picking up a yellow card for a challenge on Daizen Maeda.

Half-time saw a raft of changes for Ange Postecoglou’s side, with only Osaze Urhoghide staying on the pitch for the second-half.

And on 55 minutes, one of the substitutes, David Turnbull restored Celtic’s lead. Chris Jullien played a ball over the top of the Rapid Vienna defence for Kyogo to run on to in the inside right channel.

The Japanese forward looked up and played a first-time cross into the box for Turnbull to finish from six yards out.

However, just seven minutes later the Austrians were level. Scott Bain did well to stop the initial header at the back post, but Bene Kriwak pounced on the rebound to head home.

The Rapid fans were still celebrating that goal when Celtic restored their lead. David Turnbull was the architect of the goal, dispossessing the Rapid defender on the left touchline and sliding a pass into the box for Kyogo.

The Japanese internationalist took a touch and then slotted the ball coolly home with his right foot.

The home side, who had changed their 10 outfield players on the hour mark, pressed forward in search on an equaliser, and Bain had to produce a superb save to tip a Moritz Oswald shot over the bar, while Marco Grull squandered a good chance after a defensive mix-up between Jullien and Bosun Lawal.

But just when it looked as though Celtic would hold on for the win, defender Emanuel Aiwo headed home a last-gasp equaliser from a corner.

Next up for Celtic is a game in the Czech Republic on Wednesday night against Banik Ostrava.

CELTIC
(First-half): Hart, Urhoghide, Welsh, Carter-Vickers, Bernabei, McGregor, Hatate, O’Riley, Jota, Giakoumakis, Maeda.
(Second-half) Bain, Urhoghide, Jullien, Taylor, Kyogo, Abada, Turnbull, McCarthy, Ideguchi, Forrest, Lawal.

Celtic share the spoils in six-goal thriller against Rapid Vienna