Celtic thump Roar 3-0
By Jim Morton, 13 Jul 2009 Jim Morton is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- A-League, Brisbane Roar, Celtic, football
Scottish giants Celtic handed the Brisbane Roar a footballing lesson in clinical finishing with a thumping 3-0 defeat at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
In front of a joyous crowd of 31,340, the Roar had a stack of gilt-edged scoring chances, including two in the first 10 minutes, but couldn’t find the back of the net.
The Glaswegians ruthlessly showed the A-Leaguers how it was done with New Zealand international Chris Killen breaking the pre-season friendly open in the first half with two quality goals in three minutes.
Brisbane’s premier football arena was coloured in Celtic’s green and white and the Scottish fans, who came from far and wide, whooped up an uplifting 11-minute period either side of halftime which reaped all three goals.
Second to Old Firm rivals Rangers in the Scottish Premier League last season, the Bhoys’ victory puts them on the right track as they gear up for revenge and an imminent Champions League qualifying period.
Adding extra satisfaction to the successful start of their 2009-10 campaign was a victory over an orange-clad Roar outfit that contained three former Rangers stars in Craig Moore, Charlie Miller and Bob Malcolm.
Roar coach Frank Farina, otherwise pleased with his side’s competitive performance, bemoaned the “bad choices” and “silly mistakes” which led to the turnovers for the goals.
“For us a lot of positives came out of the match,” he said. “I’m disappointed we lost the game but I thought we were our own worst enemies in the first half.
“We started very well and probably could have been 2-0 up.
“The last 25 (minutes), the turnover in possession was just terrible and that’s what killed us.
“We were giving a team like Celtic possession of the ball on half way and good teams punish you and that’s what they did.
“It was a good lesson.”
It was wayward young gun Robbie Kruse, a first-half standout, who most pressured the defence of the rusty visitors but his two dangerous shots were expertly blocked by under-pressure Polish keeper Artur Boruc.
“Artur’s a great keeper and he made a couple of great saves today,” man-of-the-match Killen said.
“If he didn’t we would have been one or two down and it would have been a totally different game.”
Killen started the pro-Celtic crowd’s celebrations with a crisp header from a perfect Lee Naylor cross in the 39th minute.
The All Whites striker, a late inclusion in the Celtic squad, found the back of the net again moments later by finishing a beautiful one-two with Shaun Maloney.
But it was Japanese international Koki Mizuno who produced the goal of the match with a diving header from replacement Georgios Samaras’s sharp, curling cross.
Socceroos striker Scott McDonald, captaining Celtic, couldn’t poach a goal on Australian soil but did have his chances before being replaced to raucous applause in the 61st minute.
McDonald had a free shot just inside the box after the break but rifled it at keeper Liam Reddy. Two more attempts came in the next eight minutes but again the No.7 hit them straight at Reddy’s head.
© AAP 2012Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
Football articles
- Phoenix need more than flash in the pan crowds (133)
- ‘New football’ fans may help save the game in Australia (124)
- Does Tasmania have a case for A-League inclusion? (119)
- What happened in Port Said was not a football riot (118)
- Magilton struggling to make a mark (68)
- Socceroos screwed over by FIFA, again (41)
- Gulf influence cripples the FFA again (40)
- Melbourne derby reveals tale of two journeys
- Midweek regional matches not hitting the mark
- O’ so close for John: How JON almost landed the biggest job in sport (13)
- Capello ‘walks’ from England’s top job (13)
- Fabio Capello quits as England manager after Terry fallout (4)
- Kewell confident Victory can make charge
- FIFA decision a blow to Olyroos
- Melbourne derby reveals tale of two journeys (0)
- O’ so close for John: How JON almost landed the biggest job in sport (13)
- Capello ‘walks’ from England’s top job (13)
- Why Manchester United are never really beaten (13)
- Die Lowen a chance for a Bundesliga rise? (2)
- Hey, Victory! Give them kids a go (9)
- The problem with Melbourne Victory’s ‘hole’ season (25)
- Explore:
- A-League, Brisbane Roar, Celtic, football
Finno said | July 13th 2009 @ 8:53am | Report comment
Entertaining match, Celtic were very sharp in there goals they were well built goals 2 goal came from some very clinical passing out of the back line and great ball through the wide men, who whipped the ball in for some great finishers. The quick ball into the centre really left the Roar defence on the back foot. ( Roar players take note) The quick ball into the centre is the better option the defence simply dont have a chance to back peddle. The other goal came from the middle and it was a sign of good commuication from the centre forwards and halfs. On the other hand Celtic defence was left gaping a times and if the Roar had a better finish they could have put away 4 one on ones with the keeper. But most of the Roar attack was off defencive mistakes in the Celtic back line. But overall Celtics ball control and general play far superior to the Roar and it was good lesson for the lads. The Roar were hardly out played and they had general good passagers of play, if they had the quality opposition week in week out they will only improve. They crowd atmosphere was good and the Celtic fans were great good afternoon of football. Cant wait till August 8th.
Towser said | July 13th 2009 @ 9:05am | Report comment
Forget the game. Watch the crowd. I did. Had a panoramic view of the full bottom half of the Southern stand chockas full of the green & white hoops. Passion & songs aplenty. Man about 90 on the bus on the way to the station sang the Celtic songs with the rest of the Bhoys fans & said he never thought after 50 years in this country he’d sing them again. Spotted also several other geriatrics busiest day ever. Must admit they had restrainment down to a fine art. Although I wouldnt have wanted to be hanfdling the dangly bits of the naked streaker. On the way out several fans were pulling luggage behind them. On the way to an airport I presume. The young Celtic fan next to me here on a working holiday,suprised by the Hoops support said that that Celtic should visit more often. Personally I thought he had a point. Advantages are that it exposes Australian fans of the A-League to the passionate football support culture of clubs like Celtic. It brings decent crowds. IT allows A-League clubs to see where there at in football quality terms & according to Tony Mowbray & now nely convinced Roy Hodgson gives their clubs a decent football workout,probably better than back home.
As far the game the summary above is pretty much spot on. Celtic too much class, moved & controlled the ball & moved off the ball far quicker than the Roar,simply because they had a better calibre of player as befits the size & history of the club.
All in all though a “Joyous occassion” as JIm Morton states.
Time in future for the FFA to become more proactive in these preseason matches against quality overseas clubs. Maybe some sort of mini-tournament arranged. Seems odd to me that Australias biggest football market Sydney is not playing one of the touring clubs,given the 80,000 Beckham crowd involving a team(LAG) with no supporters in Australia or indeed NZ or Asian countries.
Towser said | July 13th 2009 @ 9:13am | Report comment
Line in previous post missing parts. Should read:-
Spotted also several other geriatrics in Hoops scarves. The Suncorp security staff probably had their busiest day ever.
Towser said | July 13th 2009 @ 9:21am | Report comment
Finno
Your line about well built goals is pertinent & one thing A-League clubs need to take note off in learning from clubs such as Celtic. Also the bit about weekly quality opposition is also a valid one. I’m sure some clubs in the SPL dont have the playing roster of Celtic & Rangers but compete with them because they play them regularly & adjust their play accordingly.
Cpaaa said | July 13th 2009 @ 9:33am | Report comment
Not only did Celtics show the Brisbane boys how to play on the pitch, their supporters showed aussie folk how to support a football club with class and style off the park as well. Goose Bumps through my body every time the Celtics began their choir like hyms. ” youll never walk alone” felt like i was in Glasgow on a warm winter afternoon.
Forget Fulham or Wolverhampton, next year bring back the Celtics,and im sure the promoters would do even better than the 31k that attended sunday. One of the Best Supporter Groups in the World.
Koala Bear said | July 13th 2009 @ 9:39am | Report comment
31,340 at Suncorp proves that the Brisbane Roar FC could be the best supported HAL team in the comp… The fans are there; they only need to be convinced that the ROAR are a team worthy of their support in every home game at Suncorp…
The preseason games with Fulham, Celtic and the Wolves have been a magnificent success pitted against the local HAL home teams… This has been an interesting experiment to gauge where the local teams are in comparison and how far we still have to go to reach their high professional standard … not too far away as it seems…
We can only improve the local HAL team’s standard with these sorts of fixtures and convince the locals that in Australia we have a good league to support and that we are not too far off from those clubs in Europe.. Yes, we are heading in the right direction with overseas clubs facing local opposition to improve awareness and the standard of the HAL… Congratulations to those who organised these preseason fixtures…
~~~~~~
KB
The Bear said | July 13th 2009 @ 9:55am | Report comment
Roar thumped…but Victory not thumped vs Fulham. Interesting editorialising.
Towser said | July 13th 2009 @ 10:20am | Report comment
KB
Let me add another thing to your point about about the high professional standard. It covers many areas,one of which is acknowledgement of your own fans support. Craig Moore knows this & at the end led the Roar lads around the ground & they were all clapping in appreciation of their fans. A small but significant “professional” touch.
Another point I thought of regarding these matches is that Frank brought on a couple of young lads. It allowed them to see quality overseas professionals at work close hand & where they(Roar youth) were at. I harked back to the departure of Williams & Vidosic prematurely in my opinion & thought that if they had the same experience available at the time,would they have left so early?
Next year I believe clubs are taking over from the QAS etc to run their own academies. It strikes me that they have if we continue these overseas club pre season matches that their is a much clearer defined path for our young players.
A-League club academy to Youth league to A-League(playing against overseas clubs seeing where their at & deciding more to learn in A-League first) then if quality Big Overseas club not Chesterfield or Brondby.
Koala Bear said | July 13th 2009 @ 10:56am | Report comment
Towser,
I couldn’t agree more with you; Farina, and Craig Moore are great for the ROAR and the professionalism they show towards the fans with the display of gratitude should be the norm with all our other HAL managers and club captains; i.e. to engage more with the support base, win, lose, or draw…
~~~~~~~
KB
Slippery Jim said | July 13th 2009 @ 11:22am | Report comment
Towser, I thought the same thing, it is odd that Sydney aren’t involved in playing any of the touring clubs…an opportunity lost (typical Sydney).