Pre-season friendly
Městský Stadion, Ostrava, Czech Republic
July 13, 2022

BANIK OSTRAVA… 2
(Sehic 7, Tijani 71)

CELTIC… 4
(Kyogo 13, O’Riley 24, Giakoumakis 48, Abada 74)

Celtic continued their pre-season preparations with an impressive 4-2 victory over Banik Ostrava, scoring two goals in either half and dominating much of the match.

However, it was the home side, buoyed by the atmosphere generated by their supporters who were celebrating the club’s centenary, who started the game on the front foot, and they almost scored a freak goal inside the opening minutes.

Kuzamonic latched on to a pass from Jota on the halfway line, and seeing Joe Hart standing some 40 yards from goal, decided to try his luck with a shot which thankfully went just wide of the post.

But Banik Ostrava didn’t have long to wait for the opening goal. A cross from the right wing found Eidar Sehic at the far post, and he steered his effort beyond the Hoops keeper and into the net.

That lead lasted just six minutes, however, before Ange Postecoglou’s side fashioned an equaliser.

The ball was worked wide to James Forrest and he cut the ball back for Kyogo to supply the finish from eight yards out.

And on 24 minutes, Celtic took the lead. David Turnbull threaded a ball through to Matt O’Riley, who took a touch as he moved inside before curling a superb left-foot shot from the edge of the area beyond the Banik Ostrava goalkeeper.

The Hoops were now dominating the game and, indeed, enjoyed 70 per cent possession without adding to their goals tally.

That changed just three minutes into the second half when three of the half-time substitutes combined to score a stunning goal.

Liel Abada drove forward before rolling the ball into the path of the overlapping Anthony Ralston, and his cross into the box was volleyed home by Giorgios Giakoumakis.

Banik Ostrava had little possession in the second-half, and created no chances up until the 71st minute when they hit Celtic on the counter-attack, with Muhamed Tijani keeping his cool to slot the ball under Ben Siegrist after racing through on goal.

But the celebrations for the home support lasted all of three minutes before Celtic restored their two-goal lead.

Giakoumakis latched on to a loose ball and fired in a shot from the edge of the area which was pushed away by the Banik Ostrava goalkeeper, only for Liel Abada to follow up and fire the ball home to make it 4-2.

Next up for Celtic is their first home game of the game against Blackburn Rovers this Saturday.

CELTIC: Hart (Siegrist 65), Juranovic (Ralston 46), Carter-Vickers (Jullien 60), Welsh (Lawal 60), Taylor (Bernabei 46); McGregor (McCarthy 60), Turnbull (Johnston 60), O’Riley (Ideguchi 46), Jota (Maeda 46), Kyogo (Giakoumakis 46), Forrest (Abada 46).
Subs: Bain, Oluwayemi, Ajeti, Kenny, Urhoghide, Vata

Celts put on impressive showing in victory over Banik Ostrava