Celtic fail to break down the Sydney Wall and fall for classic counter attack
Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Celtic v Aberdeen - Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - July 31, 2022 Celtic players in a huddle before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Celtic went down to a surprise 2-1 defeat to Sydney FC.
Kyogo Furuhashi opened the scoring in the 23rd minute but a few minutes later the Australian side were back level when Robert Mak was given a clear run at goal before shooting past Ben Siergrist.
The first half half had been incredibly open with chances for both sides, at the break Ange Postecoglou altered things with Matt O’Riley and Reo Hatate replacing Oliver Abildgaard and Yosuke Ideguchi.
Jota and Sead Haksabanovic replaced James Forrest and Liel Abada as Celtic threw everything at the Sydney goal with a succession of near misses and a clear handball denying the hoops the lead.
In virtually their only second half attack Max Burgess cut in from the right flank to curl an unstoppable shot around Siegrist into the top corner of the net.
Celtic threw everything at getting an equaliser but it looked like one of those days when nothing was going to fall their way as they tried for a goal in front of a huge bank of hoops supporters.
CELTIC: Siegrist; Ralston, Welsh, Starfelt, Bernabei; Abildgaard, Ideguchi, Turnbull; Abada, Kyogo, Forrest (c)