Celtic Vs Chelsea (scores)

Dub13

I did not see the game as I was out,but here is a report I just read.


Celtic 2 Chelsea 4

Mateja Kezman hit a brace as Chelsea’s multi-millionaire stars made a winning start to their ChampionsWorld Series campaign with an impressive victory over Celtic in the blistering heat of Seattle today.

Alexei Smertin grabbed his first goal for the Blues with a stunning first-half strike, Kezman netted twice and Eidur Gudjohnsen was also on the mark to get the Londoners’ American tour off to a flying start.

But it was also a satisfying work-out for the Scottish double-winners, who might have unearthed their very own gem in young striker Craig Beattie after his brace.

Absent manager Martin O’Neill, who has stayed in Britain to be with his ill wife Geraldine, is looking for a replacement for departing favourite Henrik Larsson but the 20-year-old enhanced his own case for a starting place with goals in each half.

But all eyes were on the squad assembled by Jose Mourinho, who still had over £100million worth of talent on the bench and started with mostly the old guard.

With £24million Didier Drogba rested and new signings among the substitutes the new boss still had an embarrassment of riches and made an impressive start.

Adrian Mutu seemed certain to score in the fourth minute after being picked out by Geremi in the area but Magnus Hedman did well to save at his feet.

Celtic responded by going close in the sixth minute when Beattie headed Ross Wallace’s cross towards goal but John Terry saved Carlo Cudicini’s blushes by clearing the ball off the line.

The Hoops then had a penalty claim rejected when Beattie went down in the box under the challenge of Terry. But Chelsea looked like scoring every time they ventured forward and Mutu should have done better than head Geremi’s cross wide of the upright in the 13th minute.

The Stamford Bridge side did go ahead in the 16th minute and it came in spectacular fashion from the explosive left foot of Smertin.

The Russian cut inside Joos Valgaeren and blasted an unstoppable effort past Hedman and into the top corner of the net.

But the Glasgow giants equalised in the 27th minute and it came from Beattie.

Momo Sylla started a superb passing move by finding former Chelsea striker Sutton and his deft flick put Beattie through on goal.

German Robert Huth gave chase and Cudicini got a hand to his right-foot shot but he could not prevent the ball from trickling over the goalline.

Celtic grew in confidence and Sutton came close to scoring against his former side in the 31st minute but he headed Didier Agathe’s cross just over.

The English striker again went close moments later with a chip from the edge of the area which Cudicini did well to hold after crashing against the post.

Chelsea responded strongly to the leveller, however. Joe Cole left Stephen McManus for dead and Stilian Petrov needed to get back to put the ball behind with Gudjohnsen poised to fire home the midfielder’s cross.

From the resulting corner, young winger Wallace headed Huth’s effort off the line in the 36th minute.

Mourinho introduced new signings Arjen Robben, Kezman and Petr Cech, along with England star Frank Lampard, Claude Makelele and Celestine Babayaro at half-time.

Steve Walford and John Robertson, who were looking after the Hoops with O’Neill back home, also made changes but they were not in the same class.

On came John Hartson, Jackie McNamara, Ulrik Laursen and Stephen Pearson for Sylla, McManus, Valgaeren and Agathe.

Chelsea’s changes had an immediate effect as they snatched the lead back in the 50th minute.

Robben squared the ball to Gudjohnsen and he fired past Hedman from near the penalty spot with the Celtic defence in tatters.

Celtic responded again by going close and they needed a vital challenge from Glen Johnson to prevent Hartson’s header testing Cech.

But the fightback was short-lived as the Blues doubled their advantage in the 59th minute when Gudjohnsen found Kezman and he sent Hedman the wrong way.

The Celtic defence were being ripped apart at ease and Kezman spurned a great chance to increase his tally but he put the ball past the upright with Hedman beaten.

The Hoops made three more changes in the 66th minute with Aiden McGeady, David Fernandez and Bobby Petta coming on for Petrov, captain Lennon and Wallace.

Cech was called into action in the 68th minute to tip over Pearson’s shot before Celtic reduced the deficit.

Beattie claimed his double when he peeled away from his marker and planted a glancing header, from Petta’s cross, past the goalkeeper from close range.

Mourinho made his seventh and final change in the 71st minute by bringing on new defender Paulo Ferreira for Gudjohnsen.

Geremi threatened to extend Chelsea’s lead yet again in the 75th minute with a free-kick which flew just past the post.

Kezman doubled his tally in the 87th minute by poking Johnson’s pass beyond Hedman and into the net.

smuckers

Saw the whole game and the goals were great. I know its only a friendly but if Smertin keeps up these performances he'll be keeping out Makelele.

Dub13

smuckers,
Was it a full house....?anybody no if Duff went over with the team....?

eirebhoy

It was nowhere near a full house and Duffer didn't make the bench, he's over with the team though and should come off the bench in the next match.

smuckers

Yea I think he'll get 45 in the next game. Drogba is tipped to start against Roma on Thurs.

Bateman

Kezman looks a great buy, I wouldn't be too gone on Drogba though...
If Smertin keeps Makalele out of the team, all the better, Makalele was not up to it last season.