Celtic completed their involvement in the Sydney Super Cup with a 0-0 draw against Everton with the English side winning a penalty shoot out 4-2.
It was a more recognisable display from Ange Postecoglou’s side but after a gruelling spell of 15 matches since the start of October the squad will enjoy a week off before heading to Portugal next month to prepare for the resumption of the SPFL Premiership.
Joe Hart, Moritz Jenz and Giorgos Giakoumakis all missed the defeat from Sydney FC but featured against Everton with the defensive pairing getting the full 90 minutes while the Greek striker replaced Kyogo Furuhashi for the last 20 minutes.
A crowd of 41,000 watched the match, an impressive number but inside the 83,000 Olympic Park/ Accor Stadium some of the atmosphere was lost although the weather did the occasion justice.
Reo Hatate and Giorgos Giakoumakis missed from the penalty spot, Joe Hart made one save but Tony Gordon scored to give Everton a 4-2 victory.
Celtic: Hart, Ralston, Jenz, Starfelt, Taylor, O’Riley (Vata 85), Hatate, Turnbull (Abildgaard 85), Jota (Forrest 71), Haksabanovic (Abada 60), Kyogo (Giakoumakis 71)
Subs: Bain, Siegrist, Ideguchi, Bernabei, Robertson, Lawal, Welsh.
No injuries, some game time through the break, attracting new fans for the longer term and some wonga in the bank for the here and now were the priorities. Results don’t matter. Sevco facing yet another expensive court battle, that they will lose, and having to pay the organisers compensation for pulling out of the event, is just icing on the cake.
If sevco went to Australia then that would have halped pay off the sevco manager HH
pretty poor to be truthfull the 2 games in aussie but helps to keep the lads fit and let expats and new fans see celtic plus a few quid for the club still not great from celtic .