Celtic started slowly and were lucky to be just one goal behind with Joe Hart almost being embarrassed for the second match in a row when Jota conceded possession in the centre of the park with Hart stuck hopelessly in no-man’s-land. Luckily the opportunist effort drifted wide of the empty net.
Hart could do little about the opener for the Czech side celebrating their centenary when Juranovic was caught at the back post and Sehic headed home to open the scoring. And Hart was forced to make a decent save moments later to prevent Banik Ostrava doubling their lead.
Celtic weathered that early storm and decent play from James Forrest on the right wing set up Kyogo for an easy finish to level the scoring. And the increasingly impressive Matt O’Riley scored a screamer shortly afterwards as Celtic gained an ascendancy that they didn’t lose for the remainder of the match.
Half-time changes were few this time around. Ideguchi, Bernabei, Ralston, Abada and Giakoumakis all coming on. And three of these subs combined straight away to make it 3-1 to the Scottish Champions. Abada and Ralston know each other’s game so well, the Israeli international found Ralston on the overlap and his cross found Giakoumakis with the cross to score with an excellent overhead kick.
More changes followed in a game Celtic were dominating and Siegrist, Lawal, Jullien, McCarty and Johnston were all introduced. And Johnston lost possession to allow xxx a free run at the substitute keeper and the Banik sub found the bottom corner.
Any hope of a the Czech side doing a Rapid Vienna on Celtic by pulling a late equaliser out of the hat was gone after a powerful Giakoumakis effort was parred and Abada made no mistake with the follow-up.
So a 4-2 win for Celtic, making it two wins and a draw on the three matches in this part of the summer pre-season build-up. 14 goals scored, 5 conceded and plenty of game-time in the squad’s legs.
The Celtic party will be heading home to Scotland this evening well satisfied with all of this, particularly this afternoon’s win. Next up is the visit on Saturday lunch-time of Blackburn Rovers.
Here’s a very happy Ange Postecoglou speaking after today’s game…
Ange Postecoglou 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 🎙
💭 "It gave the feel of a real contest and it was great, great exercise for our guys."
#BANCEL | #SuccessNeverRests | #COYBIG 🍀 pic.twitter.com/7Nz56QSLyf— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) July 13, 2022
Plenty to be pleased about today.Here are the goals…
Good equaliser from Kyogo who tries to get the ball back quickly so we can get another away goal…..🙃 pic.twitter.com/rCGWsdL4rL
— AM 🏴 (@annemarie6377) July 13, 2022
Banik 1 Celtic 2
Pick that out. pic.twitter.com/2G1wbIbVBO
— Jungle Lover. (@kirkwallkid) July 13, 2022
GG with a belter 🤩 pic.twitter.com/5OKU46kT3Q
— AM 🏴 (@annemarie6377) July 13, 2022
Abada scores number 4 🍀 pic.twitter.com/HuDBuGsJzO
— AM 🏴 (@annemarie6377) July 13, 2022
