Chelsea 1-4 Celtic: Celtic clobber Chelsea in their final pre-season test link below 👇👇👇👇👇👇 the comments section.
Celtic were victorious in their final match of pre-season, as they saw off Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea at the Notre Dame Stadium.
Life under Maresca for the Blues has yet to get going, as goals from Matt O’Riley, Kyogo Furuhashi, Luis Palma and Michael Johnston denied him a first victory as manager of Chelsea.
Christopher Nkunku was a bright spark for the Blues, and got them a goal late on, but his 89th minute penalty was far from enough for Chelsea to force anything out of the game.
Brendan Rodgers has enjoyed a successful end to pre-season, beating the master Pep Guardiola 4-3 on Wednesday before getting the better of his apprentice in an open game in the States.
Story of the match
Enzo Maresca made two changes to the side who were held by Wrexham on Thursday morning, as Mykhialo Mudryk came in for Tyrique George, and making his first start for over a year Wesley Fofana came in for Tosin Adarabioyo.
Celtic themselves also made a pair of changes, as Brendan Rodgers introduced Cameron Carter-Vickers and James Forrest in the places of Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn and Stephen Welsh.
In the battle of former Leicester managers it was Maresca who was the most hopeful in the opening exchanges, Carney Chukwuemeka racing through with 14 seconds on the clock and forcing a succession of early dangerous Reece James corners.
The games first big chance fell to Christopher Nkunku, he forced a good save out of Kasper Schmeichel after he headed a deflected Mudryk cross towards Celtic’s goal from just inside the area.
With five minutes on the clock Chelsea were wondering how they were still level after another succession of good chances. The first came from an acute angle for Nkunku, his effort found a way to Chukwuemeka, who took the ball in and could only fire at Schmeicel in the Celtic goal.
<strong><a data-cke-saved-href=’https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2024/03/29/premier-league/1177778-chelsea-vs-burnley-premier-league-preview-gameweek-30-2024.html’ href=’https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2024/03/29/premier-league/1177778-chelsea-vs-burnley-premier-league-preview-gameweek-30-2024.html’>Carney Chukwuemeka</a></strong> battles for the ball (Image by Kamil Krzacynski via Getty Images)Carney Chukwuemeka battles for the ball (Image by Kamil Krzacynski via Getty Images)
A frantic opening 10 saw Robert Sanchez called into action at the other end for the first time. Chelsea’s shape meant Kyogo Furuhashi was free as a bird in the middle of the park after a cross from James Forrest, and Sanchez stuck out a good leg to deny Furuhashi from close range.
The Scottish side began to grow into the game, with Reo Hatate and James Forrest both forcing Robert Sanchez into saves, but the Spanish ‘keeper was unable to do anything about an effort from Matt O’Riley, from a corner he remained in the box, getting the ball from Greg Taylor and passing his effort into the bottom corner of the Chelsea goal.
Matt O’Riley celebrates putting Celtic ahead (Image by Kamil Krzaczynski via Getty Images)Matt O’Riley celebrates putting Celtic ahead (Image by Kamil Krzaczynski via Getty Images)
Down a goal, Chelsea were given a chance to regroup with a drinks break, but it was the Scottish side who doubled their advantage through Furuhashi in the 33rd minute. The 29-year-old had threatened twice already in the game, and at the back post for the third time he was unmarked following a ball across the box from Matt O’Riley, tapping into an empty net to make it 2-0.
Brendan Rodgers was forced into the first change of the game in the 37th minute, as Daizen Maeda was helped off in place of Luis Palma before the interval. Neither side were able to change the scoreline before 45 were up, so the sides went into half time with Celtic 2-0 up.
Tosin Adarabioyo, Raheem Sterling and Lesley Ugochukwu were introduced at the interval by Maresca, with Fofana, Mudryk and Chukwuemeka making way. Celtic remained the same.
Sterling made an instant impact off the bench, but was unable to find the net. He struck the post within seconds of the restart, and moments later nicked the ball back off the Celtic defence before squaring to Noni Madueke, who fired wide from just inside the box.
It looked as though it just was not going to fall for Chelsea, as in the 52nd minute Sterling again made a good chance, this time forcing Schmeichel into a save from close range, and the rebound hit Marc Guiu, but his effort bounced just the wrong side of the post.
Marc Guiu battling for possession (Image by Darren Walsh via Getty Images)Marc Guiu battling for possession (Image by Darren Walsh via Getty Images)
Brendan Rodgers looked to his bench for the second time just before the hour, with Cameron Carter-Vickers making way for Stephen Welsh in Celtic’s back line.
The game remained open, and Chelsea saw yet another chance go begging, as Sterling once again involved was found in a good bit of space with Madueke charging across the box on the opposite side of the pitch, but Sterling’s pass was too heavy for Madueke to make anything of.
Early substitute Luis Palma sealed the deal towards the end of the second half, as some poor Chelsea defending gifted Celtic a third goal. The goal came from Chelsea’s defence, as Sanchez played a pass to Benoit Badiashile, and under pressure from Celtic’s press on Badiashile led to a misplaced pass which found Palma, who from close range tucked home for 3-0.
At this point, Chelsea’s defence was being cut open like a hot knife through butter. Mere moments after scoring, Luis Palma played the ball over the top to Michael Johnston, racing through one on one with Robert Sanchez. Johnston put the ball beyond the Spanish keeper with no trouble from Badiashile or Adarabioyo behind him.
Michael Johnston wraps up the game for Celtic (Image by Kamil Krzacynski via Getty Images)Michael Johnston wraps up the game for Celtic (Image by Kamil Krzacynski via Getty Images)
Chelsea finally got themselves on the scoreboard in the 89th minute from 12 yards out. Sterling again did some good work to drive towards goal, eventually being fouled by Colby Donovan for a penalty which was converted by Christopher Nkunku.
The late goal was just a dent in Celtic’s lead, as they ran out 4-1 victors. A good victory for them as they now head back to Scotland to kick off their season against Kilmarnock on the 4th of August.
Player of the match: Matt O’Riley
Matt O’Riley searches for a pass (Image by Eston Parker via Getty Images)Matt O’Riley searches for a pass (Image by Eston Parker via Getty Images)
O’Riley was a constant danger for Celtic, and his goal in the first half got the ball rolling for Brendan Rodgers side. His involvement in front of goal continued past his goal, providing an assist and creating two big chances.
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