Celtic 0 Cardiff 1

Algarve Challenge Cup
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Estadio Algarve, Portugal

CELTIC v CARDIFF CITY

CELTIC TEAM LINES:
21 Mark Brown
2 Andreas Hinkel
52 Paul Caddis
6 Bobo Balde
48 Darren O’Dea
8 Scott Brown
11 Paul Hartley
17 Barry Robson
18 Massimo Donati
9 Georgios Samaras
55 Paul McGowan
Substitutes:
1 Artur Boruc
5 Gary Caldwell
4 Stephen McManus
7 Scott McDonald
10 Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink

CARDIFF CITY:
1 Thomas Heaton
2 Kevin McNaughton
3 Tony Capaldi
4 Gavin Rae
6 Glenn Loovens
10 Stephen McPhail
12 Roger Johnson
16 Joe Ledley
20 Steven Thompson
15 Miguel Comminges
44 Ross McCormack
Subs:
1 Peter Enckelman
5 Darren Purse
7 Peter Whittingham
11 Paul Parry
21 Mark Kennedy
17 Darren Dennehy
19 Ricky Scimeca
23 Darcy Blake
26 Jon Brown

MATCH UPDATE: Having seen the kick-off of the opening match of this Algarve Challenge Cup against Middlesbrough delayed by 20 minutes, this evening's game has again been delayed - with the players still warming up at the publicised kick-off time of 9.30pm.

After a late goal saw Vitoria Guimaraes win 1-0 against Middlesbrough in the opening game, Cardiff are joint top of the table with Guimaraes with 5 points and Celtic and Middlesbrough tied on two points.

The teams are now emerging from the tunnel at 9.45pm.

As the teams line up in their respective halves, Paul Caddis is slotting in at left back, with fellow Youth Academy graduate, Paul McGowan up front with Georgios Samaras.

Celtic kick off, keeping possession well before Caddis knocks the ball out of play.

Paul Caddis wins a corner for Celtic after linking well with Paul McGowan and seeing his cross blocked by McNaughton. Robson's corner is headed clear by Rae.

Paul McGowan runs the ball out of play after initially showing good feet and close control, pulling down a long ball and running at the defence.

Free kick to Celtic 15 yards inside their own half launched forward by Hinkel. Samaras fails to pull down the ball and Cardiff counter, with McCormack holding the ball up well.

Samaras almost puts through Scott Brown with a nice ball inside, which unfortunately catches between the midfielder's legs - allowing Cardiff to clear their lines.

Correction - Comminges is wearing number 15.

Roger Johnson heads clear a long ball by O'Dea that was aimed at McGowan.

The referee gets in the way of Stephen McPhail as he attempts to turn 35 yards from goal. The former Leeds midfielder recovers, but strokes the ball out of play.

Ball chipped forward by Hinkel, but cleared by Loovens. The referee is also forced to change the match-ball, introducing a fresh one after a short delay.

Mark Brown slow off his line to meet Comminges as he breaks into the box, the Celtic keeper slides in to recover and concede a throw.

Nice footwork from Samaras on the halfway line before lifting a pass out to Hinkel, who wins a throw.

McGowan does well to shield the ball from McNaughton and play in Samaras - who just fails to get the ball out from under his feet. The move follows a nice piece of passing play involving McGowan, Caddis and Brown.

Excellent recovering challenge from Caddis who slides in after a sprint down the flank against Comminges and wins the ball cleanly, 4 yards in front of the linesman.

Loovens heads the ball back to Thomas Heaton in goal at the second attempt, under pressure from McGowan.

Samaras penalised as he leaps in front of Johnson and appears to win the ball. Free kick to Cardiff.

Referee and linesman both ignore an obvious push in the back by McCormack on Caddis as he goes for a header.

Scott Brown goes down heavily under a slide challenge from Loovens. The Dutch defender wins the ball but catches Brown with the sliding follow through. The midfielder recovers.

Tenacious challenge from Hartley on McPhail sees Celtic win back possession. Celtic continue to patiently build before Hinkel launches a long ball forward. Flag goes up for offside against Samaras.

Balde is composed as he sells McCormack a dummy after a poor first touch initially put him under pressure.

Lovely turn by Samaras beats two men, he then shows strength to keep possession. Ball goes back to Hartley, is played in for McGowan 30 yards out in front of goal, but he loses the ball.

McNaughton appears to be struggling with a shoulder injury.

O'Dea opts for safety first, conceding a throw in under pressure from Thompson.

Samaras almost breaks through after Caddis passes to Brown, Brown to Hartley - who then lifts in a ball which the Greek just fails to control on the run, under pressure, on the edge of the box.

Massimo Donati concedes a foul, 30 yards out in front of goal, catching the legs of Ledley from behind. McPhail and McCormack over the ball. The latter takes, but drives the ball into the wall.

HALF TIME WHISTLE SOUNDS - CELTIC 0 CARDIFF CITY 1

SECOND HALF KICKS OFF

Celtic immediately push forward with McGowan playing the ball through to Samaras down the right hand channel, who knocks it out of play.

Long ball cleared forward by Scott Brown, going all the way through to the Cardiff keeper.

Both sides are, incidentally, unchanged after the interval.

Thomas Heaton hoofs the ball out of play under pressure from Samaras.

Massimo Donati pushed off the ball by two Cardiff players. Referee blows for a foul.

Foul by Loovens on Brown, six yards up the touchline from the right hand corner. Robson takes, Samaras flicks it on to McGowan at the back post, but the flag is up for offside.

Hartley loses the ball, robbed by McCormack. Comminges takes over, but sends a tame effort from the edge of the box at goal, where it is collected by Brown.

Robson sends a shot at goal on the turn from over 25 yards out, but it is easily collected by Heaton.

Free kick to Cardiff after Ledley is caught by Hartley, Celtic regain possession and immediately counter attack with Loovens clearing the ball on the edge of the six yard box.

Promising move by Cardiff ends with Thompson knocking the ball out of play.

Celtic free kick on the edge of the box after McGowan is caught by Rae. Robson and Hartley over the ball, but Hartley's attempt fails to clear the wall.

Good touch and recovery by Donati after Brown clears under pressure. Ball played up the line.

CELTIC SUBSTITUTIONS - McManus on for Hinkel, Vennegoor of Hesselink on for McGowan.

McManus slots in at centre back alongside Balde, Caddis switches to right back and O'Dea to left.

CELTIC SUBSTITUTIONS: McDonald on for Samaras, Caldwell on for Hartley.

Caldwell taking up position in the centre of midfield.

Caldwell continuing to look good on the ball. Switching play to Darren O'Dea.

O'Dea treated for a head wound.

Ball through from Brown for Donati just runs ahead of the midfielder. Celtic keep possession and continue to build though. Donati fires in a cross for Vennegoor of Hesselink, but the flag is up for offside.

Scott Brown miscontrols at the last moment after beating McNaughton on the left.

Attempted cross field pass by Donati too long for Caddis. Goes out of play.

McDonald through on goal, racing on to the end of a long ball down the left hand channel by O'Dea, but is fractionally offside.

Great last ditch intervention by Balde after McCormack had got away from McManus. Big defender gets in quick to recover.

Strong but fair challenge by McManus robs Comminges of the ball. Cardiff man falls heavily and seeks treatment, with the referee halting play as Celtic break away. Comminges gets up and is able to continue.

CARDIFF SUB - Comminges off, Darcy Blake on.

Loovens goes down under a challenge from Caldwell.

FINAL WHISTLE - Celtic 0 Cardiff City 1