CELTIC 0 SPURS 2

Feyenoord Jubilee Tournament
Friday, August 1, 2008
De Kuip Stadium, Rotterdam

CELTIC v TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

This evening’s team-lines:
CELTIC (4-4-2) Boruc; Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson; Robson, S Brown, Hartley, McGeady; McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink.
Subs: M Brown, Naylor, Balde, Samaras, Donati, O’Dea, Caddis.

SPURS (4-4-2) Gomes; Zakora, Dawson, Woodgate, Assou-Ekotto; Modric, Huddlestone, Jenas, Lennon; Berbatov, Bent.
Subs: Jansson, Gunter, Bale, Gilberto, King, O’Hara, Bentley.

The teams emerge in glorious sunshine, with a light breeze blowing across the De Kuip Stadium. The Celtic supporters are gathered in a vocal band to the right of the dug-outs, with several others dotted around other areas of the ground, which is not even at half capacity for this first match of the evening. Host side Feyenoord play Borussia Dortmund immediately after this match.

Spurs kick off with Barry Robson intecepting a pass on the halfway line and then giving the ball away.

Free kick to Celtic, just inside the Spurs half, hit too long by Gary Caldwell and out of play.

Mark Wilson cannons his clearance off Jenas and out of play for a Celtic throw-in, down by the corner flag.

Well-timed challenge from Caldwell cuts out a Lennon cross. Ball then lifted across to the back post by Zakora, where Boruc collects under pressure.

Neat move out of defence involving McGeady, Brown and Wilson. Long ball flicked on by McDonald, but headed just behind Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Jenas free kick from down by the corner flag on Celtic's right, hit straight into the arms of Boruc by Jenas.

Overhit McDonald pass for Hartley is cut out by Modric, 40 yards from the Spurs goal.

Nice move up the right by Spurs cut out by McGeady, who plays the ball off Zakora for a throw in. Ball is then worked back to Boruc.

Darren Bent muscled out by a combination of McManus and Caldwell after the Celtic captain initially looked to be beaten by the bounce.

Crossfield pass from Dawson headed back to Boruc by Robson.

Barry Robson penalised as he squeezes past Assou-Ekotto, apparently catching him with a flailing arm in the face.

McManus does well to cut out a low through ball by Bent after some nice footwork by the Spurs man.

Overhit cross by Lennon picked up by Robson. Another nice counter-attack by Spurs.

Another nice move by Celtic, with McGeady again at the heart of it. The ball was forced out wide though before the ball forward by Wilson for Vennegoor of Hesselink is well covered by Woodgate.

Nice possession play by Celtic with McGeady again testing Zakora in his unfamiliar right back role. Ball into the box comfortably collected by Gomes.

Spurs free kick 15 yards inside the Celtic half. Jenas takes, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink heads clear at the back post.

Berbatov offside as he is put through by a nice ball from Bent.

Celtic calm in possession again as McGeady is fouled by Zakora from the back. Ball played forward and finds Robson who is pulled up for a push on Assou-Ekotto.

McManus penalised as he snaps at the heels of Berbatov, 35 yards from the Spurs goal, halting a quick counter attack from Spurs.

Gomes hooks the ball out of play under pressure from Vennegoor of Hesselink.

More nice possession play from Spurs, involving all of their midfield players, ends with Zakora shanking an attempted cross high over the crossbar.

Another decent cross from McGeady headed clear by the defence. But Celtic keep posession until a ball for Hartley is overhit and cleared by Gomes under pressure.

Celtic chase the game for a few moments until Lennon overhits a cross which is picked up by Wilson.

Brown charges down a loose ball and attempts to cross the halfway line, but is cut out by a cynical block by Zakora.

Good save by Boruc! Modric does well to make room for himself, turn and skip toward goal, playing a neat through ball in from the edge of the box for Bent. The striker is through, but Boruc blocks and then collects his shot on goal.

Another good move forward by Spurs as McGeady loses possession. Boruc again cuts out the ball forward.

Half time whistle sounds. Spurs 1 Celtic 0

SECOND HALF KICKS OFF

Boruc does well to cut out a clever ball over the top that was bound for Berbatov.

One half-time change for Celtic, with Darren O'Dea replacing Stephen McManus.

Spurs substitutions, new £17 million man Bentley on for Lennon. Gareth Bale replaces Huddlestone.

Celtic looking much more positive in possession, with Gomes collecting a Vennegoor of Hesselink cross at his near post after a nice move.

Boruc stretches to collect a decent, first time cross from Zakora on the edge of his six yard box.

Bent beats the offside trap, latching on to a ball by Modric at the edge of the box, pulling it down and curling in a shot which is deflected into the arms of Boruc.

CELTIC SUBSTITUTION - Paul Caddis on for Barry Robson, with the young full-back slotting in on the right of midfield.

Heavy sliding challenge by Bale robs Caddis of possession, 40 yards up Celtic's right flank.

Gary Caldwell cuts out a pass from Bent that was bound for Berbatov, unmarked and on the penalty spot.

Berbatov attempts to squeeze through a mass of Celtic players but is bundled off the ball by Caldwell on the touchline.

Lovely turn on the halfway line by Bale that leaves a bamboozled McDonald in his wake.

McDonald wins a free kick 35 yards in front of the Tottenham goal. CELTIC SUB - Naylor on for Wilson. Samaras on for Vennegoor of Hesselink. SPURS SUB - Ledley King on for Huddlestone. Celtic free kick comes to nothing.

Bale strong in the challenge to cut out a ball from Hinkel.

Berbatov again finds himself offside as the ball is cut through.

Good composed play by Caddis to keep possession.

McGeady bursts forward, beating one man before being beaten by a sliding challenge from Zakora.

CELTIC SUB - Donati on for Hartley.

Bentley still trying to find his range, over-hitting a cross for Berbatov.

Nice move down Celtic's left by Tottenham. Bentley and Zakora link well before the former hits a ball in for Berbatov from the byline which is tamely headed back at Boruc.

Hinkel penalised for a challenge on Bale which catches the Welshman on the ankle.

Corner for Spurs after Bale's cross ricochets off Hinkel. Bentley takes, right footed, out to the edge of the box for Berbatov, who sends his shot well wide.

SPURS SUB - Gunter on for Zakora. Jamie O'Hara on for Modric.

Caldwell does well to rob Bent in front of goal with a strong tackle.

By kick from Boruc headed out of play by Dawson. Celtic work the ball forward in a rare foray, but Donati's shot from 25 yards out is easily collected by Gomes.

Celtic work the ball forward only for McGeady to miscue his pass and lose posession.

Samaras lay off to McGeady whose shot is deflected back out. The winger then gets a second bite at the cherry, but his cross is easily collected.

Massimo Donati collects the ball on the edge of the box right in front of goal and sends his shot well over. FINAL WHISTLE SOUNDS - Celtic 0 Spurs 2