Celtic supporters warmly welcomed Kasper Schmeichel to their ranks, hoping they won’t also have to bid a fond farewell to their other impressive Dane, Matt O’Riley, after a commanding 4-0 victory over DC United. The latest goalkeeper addition for Celtic arrived just in time to watch the Hoops comfortably win a game that could have had an even larger goal margin.
Matt O’Riley, Schmeichel’s fellow countryman, stood out with a stellar performance in the first half. Marked as a preferred target by several teams, O’Riley certainly demonstrated why, with exceptional skill on the field. His teammate James Forrest also displayed unequivocal expertise by assisting Mikey Johnston in scoring a goal and then proceeding to score one of his own. The team’s performance was further bolstered by youngsters Matthew Anderson and Colby Donovan, alongside Nicolas Kuhn and Luis Palma, who made a strong impression.
The game began with much fanfare, courtesy of the MLS team. They may have fared better playing on the red carpet they unrolled, given the uneven nature of the actual field. But this didn’t hold Celtic back from producing a slick display. The team’s Head Coach, Brendan Rodgers, must have been delighted to monitor his team play more minutes ahead of anticipated challenges against Man City and Chelsea this week. The 18,000 strong crowd in Glasgow were given a captivating display throughout the match.
Local legend Stephen Birnbaum said his goodbyes after being substituted only 15 seconds into the game. Following this, Celtic sprung into action, with Nicholas Kuhn, O’Riley and Luis Palma menacing the rivals, and Kyogo sending the ball over the bar with a short turn volley. Despite the best attempts of DC United’s Luis Zamudio, Celtic made their first goal 25 minutes in, thanks to Tomoki Iwata and O’Riley.
Later on, O’Riley doubled the team’s lead after managing to score the rebound when Kyogo’s initial attempt was blocked. Celtic strolled the pitch comfortably. However, Stephen Welsh and Scott Bain had to step in when Liam Scales’ miscalculation almost resulted in Dominique Badji taking advantage.
The momentum remained unshaken even as Rodgers made changes after the half-time whistle. Sub Mikey Johnston ideally should have netted a goal when he was pinpointed after an impressive break by Odin Thiago Holm. Although his attempt was thwarted by a remarkable save, the ensuing one by Reo Hatate meant Rodgers could bring out his Scotland veterans for the final 30 minutes.
Johnston scored soon after, thanks to a brilliant assist by Forrest. The wide man also scored a goal setup by the energetic Yang. Later, Johnston managed to win a penalty with 12 minutes to go which unfortunately was saved by sub keeper Nathan Crockford.
Next, DC United introduced their ace, Christian Benteke, a former Liverpool signing by Rodgers, but even the Belgian couldn’t salvage a consolation goal. Ultimately, Celtic elegantly concluded their Washington leg of their US tour.
Matt O’Riley showcased why he is so highly sought after. The 23-year-old’s interest has grown rapidly, with remarkable sides like Atalanta, Juventus, and even Liverpool keeping tabs on him. Should he depart, it would be a substantial loss for Rodgers and the Celtic team.
Nicolas Kuhn, the German winger, displayed glimpses of brilliance last term. Albeit a difficult first 6 months, he returned for pre-season and looked sharp. The ex-Ajax and Bayern Munich kid had the DC defense scrambling at Audi Field and was a key player in much of the attacking play in his 45 minutes on the pitch. Rodgers suggested the 24-year-old has a promising future and this pre-season indicates he might be right.
Rodgers is known for giving young players opportunities, especially during pre-season. This time, it was no different. 20-year-old left-back Matthew Anderson was one of them. After a superb season on loan at Admira Wacker in Austria, he did not disappoint. The impressive 17-year-old Colby Donovan also got his chance to shine on the pitch.
Celtic’s recent addition, Kasper Schmeichel, was the center of attention. He swiftly settled in, connecting with fans and engaging in conversation with Rodgers, reminiscing about their Leicester City days. Meanwhile, new goal-keeping recruit Viljami Sinisalo was on the pitch for the second half. The competition for the goalkeeper number one spot will be hot with these two around.
The Celtic team need a strong forward lineup, even if they manage to secure Adam Idah. After the departure of Oh Hyeon-Gyu and Rocco Vata, Kyogo is the only bonafide striker left. Rodgers will need at least three for the coming campaign, so a new attacker will be essential, irrespective of Idah’s status. Rodgers suggested that Japan’s Daizen Maeda might play as a forward, an idea he could revisit until new recruits enlist.
