mcgeady gives celts victory

David Friel
CELTIC warmed up for next week’s league opener with Kilmarnock by beating Italian side Parma 1-0 in the Scottish champions’ final pre-season friendly.

Aiden McGeady’s late strike proved decisive in an entertaining contest. The Irish internationalist, lurking at the back post, fired home a precise volley to give the Hoops a deserved win.

With Killie up next for Celtic on Sunday, this victory will be the perfect boost for Gordon Strachan’s side. The Hoops fans will also have been buoyed by many of the individual performances – most notably midfield duo Scott Brown and Massimo Donati.

Celtic fans hoping to see a glimpse of Strachan’s four summer signing weren’t disappointed as the Celtic manager handed home debuts to Brown and Donati. Other new recruits Scott McDonald and Chris Killen were on the bench, with the New Zealand striker being introduced late on.

In a strong line-up, Mark Brown replaced the injured Artur Boruc in goals, while Mark Wilson returned at right-back and John Kennedy was paired with Stephen McManus in central defence. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Maciej Zurawski also continued up front together.

Following major domestic and European success in the 1990s, Serie A side Parma have recently endured a testing few years, but arrived in Glasgow looking to put on a show in front of new coach Domenico Di Carlo.

The Italian replaced Claudio Ranieri, now Juventus manager, during the summer and has been charged with the task of rebuilding this famous club. Of his line-up, veteran goalkeeper Luca Bucci, Senegal midfielder Ferdinand Coly and Portuguese warhorse Fernando Couto were the most recognisable to Celtic fans.

Parma are no strangers to Celtic Park – having faced the Bhoys in pre-season friendlies in 1997 and 2002. The first of those matches ended in a 1-1 draw, while goals from Chris Sutton and Momo Sylla gave the Hoops a 2-1 win five years ago.

The 2007 version of Celtic were out to maintain that unbeaten record and produced an impressive first-half display. Brown, Donati and McGeady were pulling the strings from the off, but it took a more direct approach to give Celtic their first clear opening.

Lee Naylor’s free-kick from deep on the left flank was missed by every Parma defender and landed at the head of Hoops skipper McManus. With everyone waiting for the net to bulge, his effort landed on the wrong side of the post.

Parma did create a couple of good openings, with Igor Budan and Daniele Dessena spurning both, although Mark Brown had to look lively to save the second shot.

At the other end, Celtic showed some good invention and variation in their attacking play, with some of the passing between Brown, Donati and McGeady a joy to watch.

One interchange left Brown racing through on the Parma defence. He played a neat reverse pass into the path of Vennegoor of Hesselink, but the Dutch striker was forced wide and the chance was lost.

Covering every blade of grass, Scott Brown was all over the pitch and his endeavours weren’t going unnoticed by the Celtic crowd, who cheered his every touch. Those shouts almost got louder when the midfielder latched on to Vennegoor of Hesselink’s lay-off. His curling shot was only a foot high.

With Parma under the cosh, Celtic should have taken the lead in 33 minutes. Brown, yet again, stormed forward and slipped a pass to Paul Hartley. His shot was blocked, before Bucci parried McGeady’s follow-up. With the goal at his mercy, Zurawski then fired wide.

Strachan resisted the temptation make changes at the break, as Donati and Brown continued to impress. Hartley, playing more centrally, was also starting to assert his authority on the match.

With 59 minutes on the clock. Vennegoor of Hesselink thought he’d given Celtic the lead. McGeady, cutting inside, sent a delicate chip to the back post and the Dutchman’s header looked set to find the net. Only a stunning stop from Bucci prevented Parma from going behind.

Parma’s forays upfield proved scarce, with Andrea Pisanu’s rising drive their best effort of the second half. Celtic, with Kenny Miller, Chris Killen and Paul Caddis all brought on, were still chasing the winner and it arrived five minutes from time.

Caddis launched a long throw-in towards Killen and his flick eventually landed at Miller. The Scotland striker attempted an overhead kick, but instead found McGeady – whose clinical, rising finish gave Celtic a deserved win.

Pre-season Friendly
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC…1
(McGeady 85)
PARMA…0

CELTIC (4-4-2): M.Brown; Wilson (Caddis 75), Kennedy, McManus, Naylor; Harrley, S.Brown, Donati (Caldwell 82), McGeady; Vennegoor of Hesselink (Miller 75), Zurawski (Killen 70)
Subs not used: McGovern, Jarosik, McDonald, Gravesen, Pressley, Riordan Balde
PARMA (4-4-2): Bucci, Morrone, Castellini (Paponi 67), Cigarini (Parravicini 46), Pisanu (Bocchetti 67), Rossi (Tombesi 67), Budan (Contini 67), Dessena, Couto (Paci 46), Coly (Ferronetti 46), Ferreira (Gasbarroni 75)

WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH: Scott Brown