Pre-season friendly
Saturday, July 27, 2024
Notre Dame Stadium, Indiana, United States

CELTIC… 4
(O’Riley 19, Kyogo 32, Palma 75, M.Johnston)

CHELSEA… 1
(Nkunku 89pen)

An impressive 4-1 win over Chelsea gave Brendan Rodgers and his Celtic players the perfect end to what has been a memorable tour of the USA.

After wins over DC United and Manchester City, the Hoops went into this game at Notre Dame’s iconic stadium in South Bend, Indiana full of confidence.

However, it was Chelsea who had the first real chance at goal in the fourth minute, but Christopher Nkunku’s header was brilliantly saved by Kasper Schmeichel in only his second game for the club. And the Danish international keeper was at his brilliant best just two minutes later with a fantastic double save from point-blank range to deny the English Premier League side the opening goal.

Celtic’s first real chance came in the ninth minute, but Kyogo’s shot was blocked, with Daizen Maeda looking for a cutback in front of goal.

Reo Hatate then had a shot from distance which was saved by Robert Sanchez as Celtic began to take the upper hand.

And on 19 minutes, Brendan Rodgers’ side took the lead.

After a James Forrest shot was turned round the post by Sanchez, Celtic made the most of the corner.

The ball eventually found its way to Matt O’Riley, courtesy of Greg Taylor, and 10 yards from goal, the midfielder coolly slotted the ball low into the goalkeeper’s right corner for his third goal of the USA tour.

The Bhoys should have made it two after the first-half water break on 28 minutes. Daizen Maeda was played down the left by an inch-perfect O’Riley pass, and the winger’s ball to Kyogo saw Sanchez coming off his line to block the shot from the Celtic striker.

However, Kyogo was not to be denied a goal which came in the 32nd minute. After great possession play, Anthony Ralston picked out O’Riley on the right whose low cross was turned into the net by Kyogo to make it 2-0.

Brendan Rodgers was forced into a change on the 35th-minute mark when the impressive Maeda was replaced by Luis Palma, and the Honduran immediately had a shot at goal but his effort went straight into the arms of Sanchez.

The second half started like the first, with Chelsea on the attack, and Kasper Schmeichel was at his best to deny substitute Raheem Sterling from close range. And then Madueke somehow shot wide in the 49th minute when it looked easier to score.

Cameron Carter-Vickers was replaced after 55 minutes of his first pre-season outing, Stephen Welsh coming on for the final stages, while al Yang and Matthew Anderson replaced Forrest and Taylor not long after that.

After a further seven changes, Celtic were gifted a third goal in the 75th minute. Luis Palma pounced on a slack pass just outside the Chelsea area and he made no mistake with the finish to send the thousands of Hoops fans who had made the journey to Indiana from far and wide into raptures.

Mikey Johnston made it 4-0 just three minutes later, finishing calmly after bearing down on Chelsea’s goal.

A late consolation penalty from Christopher Nkunku did nothing to dampen the spirits of the Celtic players and supporters, who enjoyed a third consecutive win in the United States for the Hoops, with the team hitting four goals on each occasion.

Another impressive display from Celtic as they beat Chelsea