CELTIC 4 CHELSEA 1
RAMPANT Celtic completed their US tour with a third successive triumph and another convincing four-goal performance in Indiana this evening.
Following the wins over DC United (4-0) in Washington last weekend and Manchester City (4-3) in North Carolina in midweek, Brendan Rodgers’ champions brought down the curtain with a resounding victory over Chelsea in the packed Notre Dame Stadium.
The goals were shared among Matt O’Riley, with his third strike of the trip, Kyogo Furuhashi, Luis Palma and Mikey Johnston as the Hoops geared up for the new campaign.
Rodgers will be more than satisfied with the overall displays of his players with some of the youngsters showing great promise.
In the fourth minute, Kasper Schmeichel, who looked comfortable throughout his 73 minutes on the pitch, came to Liam Scales’rescue after a miscued header from the defender.
His attempt at a clearance spiralled straight to Christopher Nkunku who thumped in a netbound effort from close range, but the new Hoops keeper somersaulted to his right to push the ball to safety.
Two minutes later, the Great Dane blocked two quickfire shots on the line before the ball was smuggled clear.
LOOKING GOOD…Kasper Schmeichel impressed in his second Celtic outing.
In the ninth minute, the London club survived after O’Riley sent Kyogo scampering into the box at an angle from the left.
The Japanese striker took aim and fired at Robert Sanchez’s near post, but the netminder thrust out a foot to divert the shot for a corner-kick.
Moments later, the Spanish shotstopper dived full length to his right to push away a sizzling effort from Reo Hatate from just outside the box.
And it was Sanchez in action action in the 18th minute when he got down smartly to his left to push a smart drive from James Forrest round the post.
Within 30 seconds, even the defiant Chelsea No.1 had to admit defeat as O’Riley opened the scoring with a composed left-foot drive from 12 yards.
Forrest cut in from the right to knock a pass to Greg Taylor who had remained upfield after the corner-kick.
MATT FINISH…midfield ace O’Riley celebrates with Reo Hatate.
The left-back rolled a perfect pass in front of the champions’ midfield mastermind and he nonchalantly whipped a low drive beyond the sprawling Sanchez.
Just before the half-hour mark, Daizen Maeda picked out Kyogo smack in front of goal and it looked as though his countryman must double the Hoops advantage, but once again the keeper saved from point blank range.
However, in the 33rd minute Kyogo took his revenge with the second goal.
The Stamford Bridge side were mere onlookers when Celtic linked superbly as they surged forward in waves.
Hatate passed to Taylor who knocked it wide to Anthony Ralston, galloping up the right in support. The Scotland international picked out O’Riley who didn’t hesitate as he drilled the ball across the six-yard box.
Kyogo’s timing and anticipation were impeccable as he materialised at the back post to turn the ball past the stranded Sanchez.
STRIKER SUPREME…Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates a goal on Celtic’s three-game US tour.
A couple of minutes later, Maeda, who had taken a knock in an earlier clash with Reece James, was removed from the action with Luis Palma coming on in his place on the left flank.
Cameron Carter-Vickers was slow to react to a through pass right at the start of the second-half that saw the ball break to Raheem Sterling who clattered the far post with a first-time drive and Schmeichel was well positioned to repel the rebound.
Seven minutes later, the experienced Danish international pulled off another excellent save as he plunged to his left to push away a rasping drive from Sterling.
In the 56th minute, Carter-Vickers, obviously a bit ring rusty after his spell in the stands, was replaced by Stephen Welsh.
Callum McGregor was easing through the gears in the middle of the park as he stitched play together with his trademark positional play, keen interceptions and expert passing.
Yang Hyun-jun and Matthew Anderson were introduced in the 65th minute for Forrest and Taylor.
Schmeichel came off in the 73rd minute as Finnish international new Bhoy Viljami Sinisalo took his place as Rodgers made a raft of substitutions.
On came Francis Turley, Colby Donovan, Odin Holm, Mikey Johnston, Gustaf Lagerbielke and Bosun Lawal for Kyogo, Ralston, Hatate, O’Riley, Scales and McGregor.
Three minutes later, Palma showed some fabulous footwork to notch No.3 after a mistake by the Chelsea defence. They failed to clear a headed ball forward by Welsh and the Honduran winger snapped onto a loose pass, turned one way and then another before slotting home.
And the Hoops fans were celebrating again in the 78th minute when substitute Mikey Johnston tucked away the fourth after being sent clear by a laserbeam pass from Palma.
In the 89th minute, Nkunku hammered in a penalty-kick to give the London outfit a consolation counter.
Now all eyes are on Parkhead a week tomorrow when the competitive stuff comes into play with Kilmarnock the visitors on Flag Day.
TEAM: Schmeichel (sub: Sinisalo 73), Ralston (sub: Donovan 73), Carter-Vickers (sub: Welsh 56), Scales (sub: Lagerbielke 73), Taylor (sub: Anderson 65); O’Riley (sub: Johnston 73), McGregor (sub: Lawal (73), Hatate (sub: Holm 73); Forrest (sub: Yang 65), Kyogo, (sub: Turley 73), Maeda (sub: Palma 35).