EUROPA LEAGUE MATCHDAY 3




CELTIC 2-0 FERENCVAROS


Scorers: Kyogo (56) Turnbulll (81)


Tuesday 19th October 2021


Celtic Park, Glasgow. K.O. 3.30pm

Attendance: 50,420

Both teams went into this game looking to get a foot on the ladder in this group after two defeats each in the first two games. Whilst the importance of domestic competition this season is the main concern for fans and the team, a win in Europe always gets the juices flowing.


Today would be no different in Paradise with a crowd of over 50,000 in attendance to cheer the Bhoys on at a crazy kick off time of 3.30pm on a Tuesday afternoon. Due to the huge interference of World leaders turning up on our doorstep and a refusal from UEFA to allow us to clash with Champions League times. The Ultras made their message clear.





Ange Postecoglou kept his starting line up intact from the win at Motherwell but for Bolingoli who was absent due to him not being registered to play in Europe and in his place came Adam Montgomery. Celtic started quickly and pressed high up the pitch and Ferencvaros looked happy to sit back and hit on the break. They had their first chance on 4 minutes when centre forward Mmaee burst through into the Celtic box but put wide under pressure from Cameron-Vickers. On 8 minutes some brilliant passing between Rogic, Abada and Turnbull laid on for McGregor but his strike was collected by the Hungarian keeper.


Only a minute later and a lovely curved pass by Civic on the wing saw no takers in the box. It was Celtic’s turn next (11) and a cute pass from Turnbull saw a Jota strike was again saved by Dibusz and also in 17 minutes when he tipped a curling shot from Jota over the bar. Celtic were in majority possession, as usual, and in 21 minutes Kyogo should have put the Hoops ahead when a cross from Jota saw him direct a free header wide. The noise levels were rising in the stands also.



Back up the other end and Ferencvaros saw a solid strike from outside the box strongly saved by a two handed Joe Hart. This match was another where we controlled possession but we needed to be more deadly with our chances and if that clicked we would be winning most games by half time. We were dominant for the remainder of the half without doing damage. The big plus points were watching McGregor, Jota and Rogic weaving patterns around the opponents with passing and flair for another game.


Ange seemed to put a rocket up his team at half time and on 49 minutes Kyogo slid in for a shot only to be called offside. He would only have to wait until 57 minutes when the vision of Jota saw him floating an inch perfect pass from before the halfway line. The ball landed at Kyogo’s foot where he cushioned it and laid himself on for a one on one with the goalie and he coolly slotted home into the net. 1-0 Celtic and just what we deserved. Anthony Ralston became a hero at the other end when his sliding clearance denied Ferencvaros their chance at goal.



60 minutes and Montgomery was cleaned out just inside the Hungarian box and the referee took no time to point at the spot for a penalty. Callum McGregor stepped up to strike to the right but was denied by a brilliant diving save from Dibusz. Eight minutes later and Montgomery himself was yellow carded and from the free kick Hart made another vital block. Postecoglou opted for a double substitution bringing on Giakoumakis and Bitton for Abada and Tom Rogic to add fresh legs to the proceedings. Liam Scales also got important game time when he replaced Montgomery on 75 minutes.


Celtic stepped up a gear and nearly scored the second when Kyogo sent a pin point cross into the box and Giakoumakis caught it sweetly on his chest to overhead kick just over the crossbar. The goal the whole stadium was craving came a minute later in strange circumstances. A poor pass out from defence saw McGregor rob the #7 to lay it on for Jota who put it across goal but the waiting Turnbulll totally miskicked but the keeper hit the ball in off Turnbull and into the roof of the net. 2-0 and the place was electric now.



Turnbull should have doubled his tally four minutes after his first but he turned it round the post when it was easier to score. Kyogo was next to be replaced on 85 minutes by Mikey Johnston. A Ferencvaros effort a minute later saw Hart get down to get a strong hand on the ball that was goal bound and Carter-Vickers cleared it. Celtic had a few further chances and some nice interaction between Johnston and Giakoumakis gives us hope and heading in the right direction. The result was flattering on Ferencvaros but they did have chances themselves only to be thwarted by Hart on numerous occasions.


Three points on the board, three wins on the bounce and another clean sheet.

Postecoglou was pleased with the performance and result and the team is starting to look fruitful with players returning back from injury at the right time. Next up St Johnstone at home on Saturday and another 3pm kick off. Onwards and upwards.



MOTM: Callum McGregor. (Captain)
Completed 104 of his 107 passes, Broke up possession 7 times and won the ball to lay on the second goal. Performance of a leader.


LINEUPS:


Celtic: Hart, Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Montgomery, Rogic, McGregor, Turnbull, Abada, Kyogo, Jota. Subs: Barkas, Scales, Bitton, Giakoumakis, Ajeti, Soro, Johnston, Urhoghide, Bain, Shaw, Welsh. (4-3-3)


Ferencvaros: Dibusz, Wingo, Blazic, Mmaee, Civic, Zachariassen, Vécsei, Laidouni, Uzuni, Mmaee, Chol Nguen, Bogdan, do Rosário Calmon, Zubkov, Kobacevic, Mak, Cabraja, Loncar, Csontos, Mergl, Szantho, Gavric. (4-3-3)


POSSESSION: Celtic 67% - 33% Ferencvaros


SHOTS: Celtic 19 - 9 Ferencvaros


SHOTS ON TARGET: Celtic 9 - 2 Ferencvaros

By Packybhoy