CELTIC 1 AL-AHLI 1 (Celtic win 5-3 on pens)
SHIN YAMADA had a dream debut for Celtic when he hit the deciding penalty-kick in the dramatic shoot-out against the Saudi Arabian champions in Como tonight.
The Japanese striker, who had been brought on in the second-half, was handed the responsibility of settling the third-place play-off encounter.
Arne Engels, Ben Summers, Luke McCowan and Stephen Welsh had already made impeccable jobs with their efforts from 12 yards while Viljami Sinisalo had produced a superb save to deny the opponents at their third attempt.
All eyes were on Yamada as he stepped forward and he nonchalantly buried his low drive in at the keeper’s right.
It was the least the Celts deserved after a spirited second-half display.
HAPPY DAZE…new Bhoy Shin Yamada celebrates his dream debut.
Following a see-sawing 90 minutes, with the Hoops performing a lot better after the interval, it was honours even at 1-1 to force the spot-kick showdown.
Now all eyes are on the east end of Glasgow a week tomorrow when St Mirren arrive to provide the opposition on Flag Day in the Premiership kick-off.
In the absence of Callum McGregor, the returning Cameron Carter-Vickers, making his first start of the pre-season, captained the champions, who were wearing their black change strip.
Ivan Toney, who has been linked with the Hoops in the past, was leading the Saudi team’s attack after his move from Brentford last summer for a reported £40million.
Viljami Sinisalo was called into action in the 15th minute when Al-Ahli broke on the left, but the Finnish international keeper got down swiftly to push a dangerous cross out of the danger zone with Toney racing in at the far post.
Alistair Johnston was slow to see the threat, but, to be fair to the defender, he was making his first appearance since his international exploits with Canada last month.
THE EQUALISER…Auston Trusty is congratulated by Shin Yamada, Cameron Carter-Vickers and James Forrest after hitting Celtic’s leveller.
James Forrest, playing on the left with Marco Tilio on the opposite flank, displayed some neat footwork to get free on the flank, but his ball inside was smuggled clear by a well-organised defence.
In the 23rd minute, the Hoops went behind after a spectacular mid-air volley from Brazilian Galeno following a precise ball over from the right by former Manchester City man Riyad Mahrez.
Sinisalo got a hand to the effort, but unfortunately the power of the shot saw the ball ricochet into the net.
Three Celtic players – Carter-Vickers, Johnston and Tilio – were in the vicinity, but no one took the responsibility of attempting to cut out the right-wing cross.
Brendan Rodgers’ men tried to respond immediately and only moments later Forrest whipped in another inviting cross, but Johnny Kenny’s close-range, first-time attempt flew high over the bar.
Alarmingly, Celtic forfeited possession to the Saudis much as they did in the second-half of the 5-1 loss to Ajax on Thursday night. It was like watching an x-certificate replay of the drubbing from the Amsterdam outfit.
In the 42nd minute, Forrest and Luke McCowan combined well before the midfielder swept a pass out to Tilio, but he elected to hit a first-time shot from an angle and it was a simple pick up for keeper Edouard Mendy.
It was a poor decision from the Australian winger who was making a rare appearance for the club.
ON THE BALL…Shin Yamada displays his footwork.
New Bhoy Yamada, who sealed his £1,3million move from Kawasaki Frontale at the weekend, replaced Kenny at the start of the second-half to make what turned out to be a memotable baptism.
Celtic levelled in the 50th minute after McCowan fired over a right-wing corner-kick and Forrest cleverly knocked the ball back into the box.
Auston Trusty was the unlikely source of the goal as the centre-back swivelled just eight yards out to make perfect contact with his left foot and his effort flew past the startled Mendy.
Just before the hour mark, Yamada thought he had claimed his first Hoops goal when he touched a Johnston low ball in from 10 yards, but he had strayed just offside.
In the 62nd minute, Welsh and Colby Donovan replaced Carter-Vickers and Johnston as Rodgers freshened up his formation with Forrest taking over the captain’s armband.
Rodgers’ men had come to life and Engels, who had rarely figured, should have done better when he launched a wayward drive over the bar from a good position 10 yards out after a neat right-wing pass from McCowan.
CHEERS…the Celtic players applaud the travelling fans after the match against Al-Ahli.
In the 71st minute, Tilio and Paulo Bernardo were withdrawn with Summers and Callum Osmand taking their place.
Seven minutes from time, the Hoops had an escape when Sinisalo failed to deal with a left-wing cross, but the danger was cleared when Trusty diverted a shot for a corner-kick.
Only moments later, Yamada teased his way in from the left before knocking a ball to McCowan and it broke to Forrest, but his drive was diverted over the crossbar by a lunging defender.
And McCowan was right of luck when he thumped in a left-foot drive that clattered against the right-hand post which rebounded to safety and it was the Saudis’ turn to breathe a sigh of relief.
It was one of the last kicks of the ball before the game went to the penalty-kick decider.
And then new Bhoy Yamada stepped forward to take the headlines.
TEAM: Sinisalo; Johnston, (sub: Donovan 62), Carter-Vickers, (sub: Welsh 62), Trusty, Inamura; Bernardo (sub: Summers 71), Engels, McCowan; Forrest, Kenny (sub: Yamada 46), Tilio (sub: Osmand 71).
