Youth/Development Team Thread

You want the EPL.

 

Swansea 4 up.

 

Final score 6-0 Swansea.

 

SWANSEA CITY… 6
(McBurnie 37, Fulton 49, Dyer 74, 85, James 80, 90)

CELTIC… 0

CELTIC started their Premier League International Cup campaign with a defeat in Wales against Swansea Under-23s. An experienced Swans side scored five second-half goals to claim a convincing 6-0 victory following a closely-fought opening 45 minutes.

After earning an impressive win in the UEFA Youth League in midweek over Anderlecht, it was another step up for Tommy McIntyre’s young side.

Former Celt Ki Sung-Yueng started against the Hoops, with the Korean midfielder building his fitness up following an injury lay-off, while fellow Swansea senior player, Nathan Dyer, also lined up for the hosts.

A young Celtic side featured first-team experience in the form of Liam Henderson, Calvin Miller and Kundai Benyu. Regan Hendry continued to captain the side, having scored in the victory over Anderlecht on Wednesday, while Jack Aitchison spearheaded the attack in the No.9 shirt. Midfielder Mark Hill was switched to centre-half for the tie.

After a tight opening to the game, the first real chance came for the home side. Dyer found space just inside the Celtic area but the winger, a Premier League winner previously with Leicester City, could only fire a low shot into the arms of goalkeeper Reece Willison.

Minutes later, the Welsh side had another good opportunity to take the lead. Jordon Garrick cut inside from the left but saw his effort go just wide of the post. Swansea striker Oliver McBurnie caused problems for the Hoops defence with his height, directing two headers on goal in the opening 20 minutes.

Both teams looked to impose a possession-based game and build from the back, while Swansea’s wide-men Garrick and Dyer swapped sides regularly to keep the Celts guessing. Willison produced a strong save to deny Ki’s drilled shot from a tight angle on 30 minutes. The Swans continued the pressure with a succession of corners, but Celtic defended them well.

It was McBurnie who eventually broke the deadlock. The Scotland Under-21 internationalist found the top corner with a powerful left-footed strike on 37 minutes to give Swansea the advantage. Ki forced another save from Willison moments after the hosts went ahead, but the Celtic keeper gathered the 25-yard effort and held on to the ball well.

The Hoops started the second-half well and almost had an equaliser straight after the restart. Mikey Johnston instigated a quick break, feeding Benyu into the box. Johnston reclaimed the ball from Aitchison and curled the ball towards the top left corner. His effort rattled down off the crossbar and was cleared away from danger.

Moments later, Swansea doubled their lead through another Scotsman. Jay Fulton, the former Falkirk and Scotland youth internationalist, beat two men inside the area with some clever feet before calmly slotting the ball past Willison.

Dyer claimed a third goal for the home side, placing the ball in the bottom corner of Willison’s net with a cool finish. Celtic continued to play the ball and created another chance when Benyu fired just over the bar on 76 minutes.

Second-half substitute Daniel James got the fourth for Swansea before Dyer completed his brace. James rounded off the scoring with his second goal of the afternoon late on.

CELTIC: Willison; Bell, Hill, Welsh, Miller; Thomson (McInroy 61), Hendry (c); Johnston (Watson 63), L Henderson, Benyu (Savoury 84); Aitchison. (4-2-3-1)
Subs not used: Mullen, Duffy, Deas, Diver.

 

6 nothin?! * sake

 

No making excuses but Ki and Nathan Dyer against our kid's?

Probably got over 200 Epl game's between them..

Don't even know who else they had..

 

Ryan Mullen has signed a new 3 year deal today.

 

Good stuff, has done well in the two UEFA Youth games so far. Especially considering he only turned 16 in the summer.

 

Played a few SPL games too over the last few weeks.

 

Mullen, Duffy, Deas, Hill, Welsh, McInroy, Thomson, E.Henderson, Crossan, Hendry(c) & Watson


Willison(GK), Diver, Aitchison, Bell, Savoury & Campbell.

 

0-0 After 24 minutes.

 

No goals yet in tonight's game.

 

Duffy makes it 1-0 for Celtic.



Aitchison for Crossan.

 

15 to play 1-0 Celtic.

 

2-0, Watson.

 

2-0 Watson with the goal.

not long left.

 

Full time.


Celtic moving up the table after tonight

http://www.celticfc.net/table/youths

 

CELTIC…2
(Duffy 65, Watson 85)

DUNDEE…0

SECOND-HALF goals from Wallace Duffy and Broque Watson saw Celtic’s Development Side defeat Dundee 2-0 in torrential conditions tonight at Cappielow to maintain their 100 per cent to the league campaign.

Duffy headed home from a corner to open the scoring in the 65th minute, and Watson sealed the victory over the previously unbeaten visitors with five minutes left in the match after a fine run and finish.

The young Hoops made the early running, with captain Regan Hendry, having two early efforts, the midfielder drilling a low shot wide from distance and then seeing his drive blocked.

Jack Lambert replied for the away side by flashing an attempt narrowly wide, before Kerr McInroy struck the defensive wall with a free-kick and Hendry tried his luck again from long-range.

Dundee then threatened when defender Julen Etxabeguren fired a free-kick over after Celtic goalkeeper Ryan Mullen had been penalised for a foul as he attempted to head clear a ball over the top.

Fresh from his promotion to the bench for Celtic’s recent draw with Hibernian, Ewan Henderson showed his confidence as he evaded several challenges in the box but his shot was saved by shot-stopper Kyle Gourlay at his near post.

Watson threatened for the hosts after fastening onto Joe Thomson’s pass, before the Dens Park outfit enjoyed a flurry of pressure prior as both teams went in deadlocked at the interval.

And it was the visitors who emerged the brighter after the restart, with Jesse Curran sending a shot over and a number of other efforts raining in on Mullen’s goal.

However, it was the Bhoys who made the vital breakthrough as Duffy dispatched a header into the net from a corner.

Buoyed by the goal, Tommy McIntyre’s team grew in ascendency and some lovely work from substitute Jack Aitchison, Watson saw a shot sail inches over.

Although Dundee tried to rally as the game entered its closing stages, the Hoops youngsters were always a menace when they countered and Henderson wasn’t far away after breaking forward from his own half.

And they secured the three points after wonderful wing-play from Watson, who continued his weaving run into the box and then applied the finish.

There was still time for Mullen to produce a superb stop from a header and Kerr McInroy to have a shot saved as the young Celts saw out a compelling contest to continue their impressive start to the season ahead of their return to UEFA Youth League action next week away to Bayern Munich.

CELTIC (4-2-3-1) Mullen; Duffy, Deas, Hill, Welsh; McInroy, Thomson; Hendry, E. Henderson, Watson; Crossan (Aitchison 68).
Not Used: Willison, Diver, Aitchison, Bell, Savoury, Campbell