UEFA Youth League
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
The City Stadium

CELTIC…1

(Cummings 9)

CLUB BRUGGE…0

The young Hoops made it three home wins from three in the UEFA Youth League on Wednesday afternoon after running out 1-0 winners over Club Brugge.

An early first half strike from Daniel Cummings was enough to separate the sides in Glasgow, taking the Celts on to nine points from five out of their six UEFA Youth League games.

Following a comprehensive 4-0 league victory at home against Albion Rovers on Friday evening, the Bhoys were quickly back in European action.

Facing their second consecutive home match in the UEFA Youth League, Stephen McManus’ side welcomed Belgian side Club Brugge to The City Stadium.

Having won their opening two home games in the competition, the young Hoops were aiming to maintain their strong form in the tournament.

And it couldn’t have got off to a much better start, with Daniel Cummings firing home the opener inside 10 minutes.

The forward has already found the net on five occasions in the UEFA Youth League this campaign and was on hand to score another for the Celts.

After a sweeping move down the left, the ball was delivered into the path of Cummings, who did well to tuck the ball home on his left foot.

The Bhoys looked to continue their positive start going on the front foot straight from the Brugge kick-off.

Mitchel Frame was unlucky to see a powerful effort blocked off inside the area after a Jude Bonnar cross fell his way.

The away side did look for a way back into the game in the first half but couldn’t really trouble Aidan Rice between the sticks for Celtic.

Celtic also looked to test the Club Brugge shot stopper with both Bonnar and Kyle Ure seeing efforts palmed away to safety.

Just before the break, Francis Turley was the latest player to come close with his corner kick coming off the top of the crossbar.

Into the second half, the away side started to enjoy more positive periods of possession in the final third.

However, any threats thrown towards Aidan Rice’s goal were comfortably held by the Celtic goalkeeper.

Having faced some pressure from the travelling side, the Celts began to grow in confidence once more, getting the ball down and playing their football.

Substitute Rhys Dargie almost made an instant impact on the game, finding Mitchel Frame with a clever pass to meet his under-lapping run.

The full-back tried to find a Celtic team-mate inside the area, but it was well cut out by Club Brugge.

Moments later, Dargie almost went one better after seeing an effort magnificently saved by the goalkeeper.

Breaking down the left, the winger did everything right to try and find the far corner. But the goalkeeper produced a big hand to tip the ball around the post.

Ultimately, the Celts couldn’t add to the scoring in the second half, but they saw out the game to secure a 1-0 win.

That result took the Bhoys onto nine points in the UEFA Youth League, making it three home wins from three in the competition.

With qualification to the next stage looking like a real possibility, the young Hoops travel to Dinamo Zagreb at the beginning of next month for the sixth and final league game.

CELTIC: Rice, Donovan, Agbaire, Robertson, Frame, Ure, McArdle (Dargie 64), Turley, Dede (Isiguzo 77), Bonnar, Cummings.

Subs: Shaw, Patterson, Davidson, Kyle, Cannon, Haddow, Pickford.

Young Celts pick up another three UEFA Youth League points