Celts are singing in the rain as Legends win Foundation Charity Match | OneFootball

Celtic FC Foundation Legends Charity MatchSunday, May 26, 2024Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC... 4(Samaras 12, Hooper 18 & 39, Mulgrew 87)

BORUSSIA DORTMUND... 2(Odonkor 26, Blaszczykowski 85)

Another celebratory weekend for Celtic was rounded off with an entertaining charity match at Paradise, with a Celtic legends team beating Borussia Dortmund 4-2.

The biggest winner, of course, was Celtic FC Foundation, and over 30,000 supporters enjoyed an afternoon of football fun in the rain, getting the chance to cheer on some of their former Hoops heroes, including Gary Hooper, who netted a double and Georgios Samaras, who opened the scoring.

Before the game, fans welcomed Brendan Rodgers and James Forrest on to the pitch as they carried out the Premiership and Scottish Cup trophies which the first-team secured this season.

And then there was an equally warm Celtic Park welcome for a Hoops legend and Borussia Dortund great, Murdo MacLeod, who came out to kick off the game.

The pace of the game may not have been as frantic and frenetic as that witnessed 24 hours beforehand at Hampden when Brendan Rodgers' side beat Rangers 1-0 to seal the Double.

But it was nevertheless an entertaining 90 minutes of football, with Scott Brown playing from first minute until last and running the show in the middle of the park.

Borussia Dortmund looked comfortable on the ball from the first whistle, but it was Celtic who scored the opening goal after 12 minutes.

Brown slid a perfect pass through the inside-right channel for the overlapping Mikael Lustig, and his low, first-time cross into the box was knocked into the net by Georgios Samaras.

Gary Hooper was looking lively up front and could well have scored when he was put through, but he couldn't fashion a clear opening. However, on 18 minutes he did get on the scoresheet with a blistering strike from outside the area.

David Odonkor reduced the deficit in the 26th minute when he fired in a blistering 25-yard shot which Artur Boruc in the Celtic goal could do nothing about.

That was a great strike, and Gary Hooper's second goal was equally impressive. The ball was played into the box, and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink laid it back to Hooper who blasted it high into the net from 15 yards out to make it 3-1 at half-time.

The second-half might have provided fewer goals for the crowd, but goalkeeper, Roman Weldenfeller, produced two superb saves to deny Simon Donnelly and then Gary Hooper.

Charlie Mulgrew managed to pick up a yellow card for a late challenge, although he redeemed himself with an 87th minute goal.

That restored Celtic's two-goal lead after Jakub Blaszczykowski had scored in the 87th minute, firing the ball into the net after substitute keeper, Michael McGovern had saved his initial effort.

Paul Lambert started the game in the Celtic dugout as manager of the Hoops, but then pulled on a Borussia Dortmund jersey and played the second half for the German side.

And at the final whistle, both sets of players received a well-deserved standing ovation for their efforts, not only in the course of the 90 minutes but also in helping to promote Celtic FC Foundation, who benefitted from the crowd that came along to Paradise.

Fixtures

Celtic Legends Vs. Borussia Dortmund Legends - Sun, May 26th 2024, 14:00 Match Report