CELTIC 0 EVERTON 0
LIEL ABADA blew the chance to give Celtic the victory they deserved as they had to settle for a scoreless stalemate with Everton as the curtain came down on their Sydney Super Cup adventure.
With the minutes ticking away to the final whistle, James Forrest set up the Israeli with what looked like the opportunity just to roll the ball home from four yards with the net gaping in front of him.
Remarkably, Abada contrived to miss the target completely and the Hoops will be coming home without a win on Ange Postecoglou’s first visit to Australia since he left in 2017 for Japan.
OOPS…Liel Abada covers his face in frustration.
Abada’s extraordinary blunder highlighted the lack of cutting edge from the Parkhead men in this competition. Kyogo Furuhashi could – and should – have scored twice and other opportunities around the box went abegging.
And that was shown again in the penalty-kick shoot-out when Giorgos Giakoumakis and Reo Hatate missed from the spot with the Merseyside outfit netting four. The Greek failed to hit the target and the midfielder struck the woodwork with their wasteful attempts.
The 4-2 outcome in the showdown was not as likely to concern the manager as what had gone on in the actual match.
Joe Hart, captaining the team in the absence of Callum McGregor and Cameron Carter-Vickers, was a virtual spectator while Asmir Begovic was busy, especially in the first-half of an encounter played during a troublesome wind at the Accor Stadium.
The Hoops took control right from the off and David Turnbull had the first shot of the match with a long-range effort that flew over the bar.
A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS, ANGE…the Celtic boss watches from the touchline against Everton.
Sead Haksabanovic and Filipe Jota combined in a swift raid on the right, but, unfortunately, the Portuguese winger’s low cross was too strong for Kyogo and the chance was gone.
Frank Lampard’s Goodison outfit retaliated and Anthony Ralston deflected an effort from Damarai Gray wide in the eighth minute.
Three minutes later, Carl Starfelt took his eye off the ball as a left-wing pass came through. The Swede made a hash at his attempted interception and allowed Neal Maupay to race clear, but his finishing was woeful as he missed the target with just Hart to beat.
It was a let-off for the champions and Starfelt looked mightily relieved.
Jota was out of luck in the 28th minute with a 25-yard free-kick that cannoned off the face of the crossbar and hastily booted clear.
Kyogo was downed in a vulnerable area and the flamboyant raider, who netted a spectacular deadball effort in the Bernabeu earlier this month, sent in a dipping right-foot attempt that had Begovic stretching.
SETTING THE SCENE…the Accor Stadium is primed and ready to host the game.
DOWN UNDER…Celtic in cinemascope against Everton at the Accor Stadium.
The keeper looked as though he got a slight touch to divert the ball onto the woodwork.
Moments later, Isaac Price was extremely fortunate to escape a red card following a wayward challenge on O’Riley on the edge of the box. It was over the top and could have had dire consequences if it had connected.
O’Riley took the resultant free-kick which came to nothing.
In the 35th minute, Hatate split the opposing defence with a laserbeam through ball to Kyogo who took a touch before attempting to sweep a drive beyond the keeper from the edge of the box. Unfortunately, his accuracy was off and Begovic pushed the ball away.
Some composure from the Japanese frontman would surely have brought better dividends. A bit of loft in his finishing effort would probably have left the netminder stranded. As it was, it turned out to be a comfortable save for the Goodison No.1.
SIT-DOWN STRIKER…Kyogo Furuhashi is grounded after an Everton challenge.
Former Ibrox defender Nathan Paterson was booked for an obvious kick at Jota as half-time approached.
Jota fired in the deadball award, but it was straight at Begovic who took it comfortably. There was a moment of concern for the shotstopper only moments later when Hatate cut in from the left to thump in a rasping right-footer that flew a couple of feet over the bar.
The first-half came to a close with the netminder flying to his left to push away a Turnbull free-kick as the Hoops continued the search for the opening goal.
The worrying aspect of the initial 45 minutes was the fact Postecoglou’s men had nothing to show for their possession and domination and their Premier League rivals had looked dangerous on the counter-attack.
In the 50th minute, Kyogo was denied by Begovic after a magnificent pass from Ralston had released Haksabanovic on the right.
OOPS…Kyogo Furuhashi slumps to the ground in horror after hitting a great chance against a relieved Everton keeper Ismar Begovic.
The Montenegro international’s cross was perfection for his colleague, but the striker lacked the killer touch from eight yards and allowed the keeper to block the shot.
It should have been the opening goal – and Kyogo knew it.
On the hour mark, Postecoglou made his first substitutuion when he sent on Abada for the tiring Haksabanovic who had put in a good shift.
Evergreen Forrest and Giakoumakis joined the action in the 71st minute with Jota and Kyogo being withdrawn.
In the 77th minute, the Hoops pieced together an intricate passing move, but Turnbull’s shot from just outside the area lacked oomph and rolled into the hands of the grateful Begovic.
Giakoumakis showed some determined play in the 85th minute, but his parting effort flew over the bar.
PENALTY MISS No.1…Giorgos Giakoumakis blasts the ball over the bar.
PENALTY MISS No.2…Reo Hatate strikes the inside of the post.
A minute later, Oliver Abildgaard and Rocco Vata came on for O’Riley and Turnbull.
In the 89th minute, Abada had an astonishing miss from four yards in front of an open goal. Forrest fought for a ball on the byline to win possession.
He put it on a plate for the Israel international who incredibly managed to screw the ball wide of the left-hand post.
Postecoglou looked on stone-faced on the touchline. The thousands of Celtic fans just looked on open-mouthed.
It had been that sort of game and the spot-kick misery just capped a day when the champions just couldn’t convert their superiority into goals.
TEAM: Hart; Ralston, Jenz, Starfelt, Taylor; Turnbull (sub: Vata 86), O’Riley (sub: Abildgaard 86), Hatate; Haksabanovic (sub: Abada 60), Kyogo (sub: Giakoumakis 71), Jota (sub: Forrest 71).
