Celtic Dominates Chelsea in Pre-Season Friendly
Celtic Crush Chelsea: The Celtics showcased their energy in an exciting pre-season at Notre Dame Stadium, Indiana, wherein they scored a commanding four-1 victory over Chelsea. The Scottish Premiership champions confirmed their prowess on the field, leaving Chelsea with a lot to contemplate.
O’Rileyand Furuhashi Lead Celtic’s Early Surge
The match began with Celtic quickly asserting their dominance. Matt O’Riley opened the scoring with a composed finish, capitalizing on a precise pass from Greg Taylor. This early goal set the tone for the match. O’Riley became a provider, setting up Kyogo Furuhashi to double Celtic’s lead before the break.
Chelsea’s Struggles Despite High Possession
Chelsea managed tons of possession and had several chances to score. However, Celtic’s new goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel, has become significant. Excellent saves kept Chelsea at bay, frustrating the Premier League’s attempts to close the gap.
Palma and Johnston Secure Celtic’s Victory
Celtic extended their lead further in the second half. In the 76th minute, Luis Palma capitalized on a defensive blunder by Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez and Benoit Badiashile. Palma calmly rolled the ball into the net, securing Celtic’s third goal. Three minutes later, Palma assisted Mikey Johnston, who scored under Sanchez to add a fourth goal.
Chelsea’s Late Consolation Goal
Chelsea found the net in the final minutes. Christopher Nkunku converted a penalty against Celtic’ssubstitute goalkeeper, Viljami Sinisalo. Although this goal provided a late consolation for Chelsea, it was not enough to alter the outcome.
Celtic’s Successful US Tour
This victory follows CCeltic’s recent win against Manchester City, marking a successful end to their US tour. The performance against Chelsea further highlighted their readiness for the upcoming season.
Chelsea’s Pre-Season Woes Continue
This defeat adds to Chelsea’s recent struggles under new manager Enzo Maresca, who joined from Leicester City in June. The team’s recent 2-2 draw with League One newcomers Wrexham and the upcoming match against Mexican side Club America indicate Maresca’s challenges in preparing the squad for the season ahead.
Celtic’s impressive display in Indiana underscores their strong form and readiness, while Chelsea has significant adjustments to make before their next fixtures.
