Quantcast
Celtic youths

Nesbitt scores hat-trick as young hoops hammer five past HJK Helsinki

|
Image for Nesbitt scores hat-trick as young hoops hammer five past HJK Helsinki

Aidan NesbittCeltic’s u-19 side turned on the style to hammer HJK Helsinki 5-0 this afternoon in the UEFA Youth League.

First half goals from Regan Hendry, Aidan Nesbitt and Calvin Miller put Tommy McIntyre’s side in control with Nesbitt completing his hat-trick turning the return match at Livingston in three weeks time into a formality.

Nesbitt made his first team debut last week as a late substitute in the 2-0 win over Raith Rovers and was a cut above his Finnish opponents and left the pitch in the 80th minute to the applause of the the home fans.

Just like the Champions League the youth event is split in two with Celtic having two rounds of qualifiers to go through, if successful they’ll meet up with 16 teams qualifying from the group stages which matches the main event.

Celtic qualified by winning the u-17 title last season with the majority of tonight’s side playing in last week’s 2-1 defeat from Benfica in the Premier League International Cup at Wycombe.

The young hoops started the game in the attack and took control with three goals in a five minute spell late in the first half with Hendry hooking home the opener after 32 minutes.

Three minutes later Nesbitt turned on the style by chesting the ball past his marker before shooting home from 20 yards out. Shortly afterwards Miller got in on the act with a low shot past the startled HJK keeper

Nesbitt extended Celtic’s lead with a mazy dribble and shot in the 55th minute before completing his hat-trick 10 minutes later with a lob over the HJK keeper.

In the play-off round Celtic will meet Apoel of Cyprus or Felscut of Hungary who drew 3-3 in Cyprus.

CELTIC: Colin McCabe; Jack Breslin, Fiacre Kelleher, Jamie McCart, Aidan McIlduff; Joe Thomson, Mark Hill; Regan Hendry, Aidan Nesbitt (Innes Murray 81), Theo Archibald; Calvin Miller (Jack Aitchison 86) 

SUBS: Sam Wardrop, Ross Doohan, Brandon Payne, Michael Johnston, Dan Higgins

Videocelts Extension Button

Share this article

Online and independent- the only way to be. Enjoying instant news access and reaction, following the trends if not an influencer!

0 comments

Comments are closed.