Celtic will face Newcastle tomorrow for a place in the semi-finals of the Hong Kong Soccers Sevens.
Danny McGrain and Stevie Frail’s side finished in second place in Group B and will face Newcastle who topped Group D after beating Aston Villa 1-0 in the final group match.
A late equaliser from Callum McGregor against West Ham earned Celtic their place in the last eight with coach Frail looking forward to tomorrows knock-out phase.
“We had looked comfortable up until they scored and that’s always the worry when you dominate a game but fail find the net,” he told the tournament website. “However, we stuck at it and got the equaliser.
“It was a tough group, with two Championship teams from England, but we believe in the young players we have at our club and we deserved to go through to the Cup based on our performances.”
Celtic opened their group with a 3-0 win over local side HKFC Captain’s Select thanks to goals from John Herron, Marcus Fraser and Jackson Irvine while Leicester beat West Ham 1-0.
Celtic then drew 1-1 with Leicester thanks to a goal from Bahrudin Atajic meaning that they only required a draw against West Ham to go through as group runners-up.
The winners of the Celtic v Newcastle match will face either Sunderland or Chelsea in the semi-final with the other quarter finals between Rangers and Yau Yee League Select and an all midlands clash between Aston Villa and Leicester.
Celtic lost out to local side Kitchee in last season’s final and won the competition in 2009 thanks to a goal from Paul McGowan against Rangers in the final.
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Hope they stuff them good and proper. I’ve had to listen to their bile down here for a good few years. Anti- Celtic is not always restricted to Govan. Management hasn’t been much better with their derogatory comments over the last season or so.
H H
Definitely going to have to do it the hard way with the draw working out like it has – another good side with Sunderland / Chelsea awaiting in the semi-finals. I’m sure the bhoys will continue to do us proud though.