5 Go Mad in Parkers

Celtic 5: 1 Slovan Bratislava

The new format Champions League started with the old format Champions League tune playing loudly at Celtic Park. The tune was drowned out though by an eager home crowd, there to cheer on the Bhoys for the opening game of this 8 part group stage. Slovan Bratislava were the opponents, some nice historical ties with former games and players\managers and other not so nice memories mostly involving the Weiss family.

Slovan had been deemed the lowest ranked team in the premier European competition and Celtic were short odd favourites to win. Anyone following Celtic know, and god did TNT Sport commentary team love telling us, Celtic aren’t the greatest when it comes to recent CL results. They would have to turn up tonight regardless of the opposition.

And by God, they turned up alright!

The line up was as expected with Arne Engels starting alongside Calmac and Reo Hatate with Bernado making way. Up front Kyogo kept his place in front of Adam Idah.

The whistle went and both teams took the game to each other.

It wasn’t long before Arne Engels started to show his physicality ( Brendan’s favourite word!) and was winning balls and starting attacks. Celtic were circulating the ball well and almost scored a wonderful team goal. Showing patience at the back, the team found a space, played it into the middle where AJ then picked it up and floated a lovely ball over the top for the rushing Maeda. Sadly our Billy Whizz hit it over but this was just a note of what was to come.

In fairness, Bratislava were decent in possession at the back and from some patient play and a rash Scales decision to commit inside the opponents half. Slovan suddenly had a counter and the Celtic half of the park was wide open. Thankfully Weiss dithered which allowed AJ and then Scales to get back and block the shot. It should have been a goal and better teams will be looking for similar chances in the future.

Celtic continued to push forward and Maeda would miss Another great chance when he headed right at the keeper following great work from Kyogo and Engels. The goal was coming though and it arrived on 17 minutes. Celtic won a corner following a wasted free-kick and Engels sent a great ball into the box. Liam Sclaes thought “That will do me!” and drove forward and jumped high to perfectly connect with the cross and send the ball  beyond the keeper.

The Parkhead crowd were jumping for joy and Celtic pushed for another. Kyogo missed a great chance after wonderful pressing from Maeda and link up play from Taylor. Maeda would be the next to miss, this time with an attempt at a header when it might have been better left as Kuhn had spotted Hatate racing in at the back post.

The last chance of the half would fall to Arne Engels who saw his shot saved after a pass from Kuhn who once again benefitted from the brilliant pressing by Maeda.

The half time whistle went and the overall feeling was “Decent but need to be clinical”. The front 3 of Kyogo and Kuhn and Maeda had flattered slightly in the first half and the fans hoped they would step up a gear for the second 45.

And by God, they stepped up alright!

Right from the start of the second half, the front 3 looked like they had the proverbial bomb up their arse.

Nicolas Kuhn took the game by the scruff of the neck and drove right at the Bratislava defence. Within 2 minutes it was 2-0.

Kuhn picked up the ball out right, cut inside, outside, outside the inside then inside the outside and cut the ball across goal where Kyogo let his waist knock the ball home. Great wing play from Kuhn.

Celtic players and the team sensed the game was there for the taking and rained in attack after attack.

Maeda was unlucky not to get on a great cross from AJ. AJ would however win the penalty in the 56th minute for Arne Engels to slot home by getting himself to the ball just before the Slovan player who duly kicked his heel and penalty awarded.

Just when you thought it was easy street, the spirit of the Sieve popped up to say hello.

Celtic had a few chances to clear on the 18 yard box and somehow it ended up with Greg Taylors punt going into our box and from there Kevin Wimmer curled a ball into the top corner, possibly grazing CCVs head on the way in. Kaspar Schmeichel was raging at the loss of a very soft goal, even if some folk thought the finish worthy of praise.

Celtic didn’t allow Slovan any other chances though and immediately pushed back up the park. The partnership of AJ and Kuhn continued to strike fear into Slovan and the keeper pulled off a great reaction save from a driven deflected cross. The 4th Celtic goal would come from the other side of the pitch. Kyogo dropped deep to feed the ball to Reo Hatate. Hatate did a lovely back heel drag through to switch the ball direction and played a lovely pass to Maeda. Daizen took his moment and slotted past the keeper.

With 20 minute to go, Brendan started making some subs and on came Forrest for Kuhn and soon after Ralston, Bernardo and Idah would appear for AJ, Reo and Kyogo.  Later on near the end, Auston Trusty would also make his debut in place of CCV who had been booked. A nice loud ironic cheer/booh went up when Weiss got hooked by his dad.

The Celtic subs would make a great impact which was topped off when Idah gave the ball to Forrest and then set off on a curling run forward. Forrest took his time and then threaded a perfect ball through for the on-racing Idah to casually touch passed the keeper and into the net for 5.

The ref blow the Final Whistle and Celtic finally had that opening Champion League game victory under their Gucci Belt!

As of the end of Wednesday night, the team sit 2nd in the overall standings. Which is nice!

MOTM – The Whole Team

This was a great Team performance. Every player turned up and while some like Scales, Taylor, Reo, Engels were great in first half,  others like AJ, Kuhn, Kyogo, Maeda then made their impact in the second. The subs also made a big contribution and that is exactly the sort of Squad performance we shall be relying on as we look to face higher ranked opposition.