CELTIC 2 FALKIRK 1
CAMILO DURAN banished the Champions League hangover with a deadly double in Celtic’s crucial Premiership triumph over a stubborn Falkirk.
The £6million hitman led the attack in place of the injured Kasper Hogh and delivered a fine chance-taking performance to maintain the Hoops’ 100 per cent start to their bid for a sixth successive title.
The champions coasted for most of the encounter, but there was still a nervy finish after Colby Donovan had unfortunately diverted the ball into his own net in the 72nd minute.
The pre-match tension that had settled on the stadium was eased in the fourth minute when Duran fired in the opener – courtesy of a fumble by ex-Hoops keeper Scott Bain.
The Columbian striker was quick to pounce after the shotstopper has presented him with the opportunity when he failed to grasp a long through ball from captain-for the-day Cameron Carter-Vickers who was standing in for bug victim Callum McGregor.
Bain tried to desperately paw the ball away from Duran, but the lightning-swift attacker took full advantage before slotting his effort into the gaping net.
CHEERS…Camilo Duran in celebratory mood.
Bain atoned for his mistake with a spectacular full-length plunge to his left to touch a controlled drive from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from the edge of the box round the post following a right-wing corner-kick from Benjamin Nygren.
Celtic doubled their advantage in the 29th minute – and it was that man Duran again.
This time, Kieran Tierney deserved the credit following a surge down the left before an excellently-placed delivery low into the box.
Duran burst past a hesitant defender before lashing the ball into the net from six yards and on this occasion Bain had no chance.
Four minutes later, Nygren blew the opportunity of getting on the scoresheet when he raced clear into the box on the left and appeared to hesitate at the crucial moment before blazing a wayward drive over the crossbar.
Bain denied his old mates with two brilliant saves in as many minutes as the Hoops stepped up the pressure.
In the 37th minute, Mika Baur was foiled in his attempt for his first Celtic goal after he was presented with an opening following a neat through pass from Duran.
The German midfielder was given a clear sight of goal as he thumped in a low angled drive, but the Falkirk netminder thrust out a left foot to divert the effort to safety.
Moments later, Nygren whipped in a low shot from 20 yards and the alert Bain took off to his right to push the ball away.
An impressive first-half came to a halt with Oxlade-Chamberlain thundering a 25-yarder over Bain’s bar after some good work from Yang Hyun-jun on the left.
There was a scare three minutes after the interval for the hosts when possession was surrendered on the left and Ben Parkinson was left with a clear chance only eight yards out, but he thumped the ball high over the bar.
Two minutes later, Bain pulled off a miraculous save to foil Nygren as the Swede latched onto a pass from Oxlade-Chamberlain and looked a certainty to score.
His snapshot was heading for the net until Bain flicked up a hand to knock the ball past the post for a corner-kick.
In the 63rd minute, James Forrest was introduced to the action as he replaced Hassiem Hassan who had shown some clever, tantalising touches which auger well for the future.
Tierney, who looked to be struggling, came off in the 70th minute with Auston Trusty coming on and Liam Scales moving to the left-back position
Duran was also taken off as Callum Osmand came on to lead the attack.
However, two minutes later, Falkirk pulled one back with a freak goal after Viljami Sinisalo had pushed out a close-range drive from Jacob Murrell.
The striker had been sent clear through the middle of the Hoops rearguard before firing in his shot. The Finnish keeper pushed the ball away, but it struck Donovan and rebounded into the net.
Parkhead was silenced for a moment and Nygren had the ideal opportunity to restore the Hoops’ two-goal advantage, but he snatched at his left-foot drive and skied the ball into the crowd.
In the 78th minute, Luke McCowan and Sebastian Tounekti replaced Oxlade-Chamberlain and Yang.
Celtic saw out the remaining minutes to collect three valuable points.
However, Martin O’Neill will demand his players adopt a killer touch in forthcoming games to ease anxiety in the stands
TEAM: Sinisalo; Donovan, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Tierney (sub: Scales 70); Nygren, Oxlade-Chamberlain (sub: McCowan 78), Baur; Hassan, (sub: Hassan 63) Duran (sub: Osmand 70), Yang (sub: Tounekti 78).
WANT TO KNOW A SECRET? Celtic Confidential is the stunning book that brings the exclusive inside stories behind the headlines. Who was the tycoon who would have ruined Celtic? What really happened the night Kenny Dalglish quit the club? The real story behind Mo Johnston’s sensational move to Ibrox. All is revealed in Alex Gordon’s sixteenth Celtic book which is available NOW. Order a copy and get £5 OFF the cover price of £25. Just click SHOP HERE and your book will be on its way. Enjoy the revelations!
