Full Time: Celtic 4-1 Falkirk | OneFootball

A much changed Celtic team was selected to start this Premier Sports Cup clash with Falkirk. Trusty, Murray, Kenny and Engels came into the side.

The match started with a series of crosses flying across the Falkirk box. Then, on 9 minutes Johnny Kenny almost broke the deadlock when another delivery found its way too him, and moments later Callum McGregor tested his former teammate Scott Bain with an effort from range.

The old Celtic stopper was soon scrambling once more, when a stray back pass almost went into his net, but fortunately for him it rolled just past the post. Meanwhile, at the other end, Falkirk broke clear when Celtic’s defence parted, but the attempt on goal was poor.

It was end to end stuff with Tierney and Kenny calling the keeper into action again before the 15 minute mark. Almost ten minutes later, Celtic came within inches of taking the lead as Arne Engels rattled the crossbar with a powerful free kick from the left edge of the box. The Hoops barely had to wait 30 seconds to make the breakthrough, when McGregor’s glorious chip was headed square by Trusty and Maeda then headed home from five yards. A wonderfully worked goal.

Falkirk hit back really well, with another ex Celt Calvin Miller stretching Sinisalo with a great left footed shot that was heading towards the corner. In reply, Celtic broke up field and Forrest supplied the pass to the overlapping Johnston, whose stabbed cross found Engels two yards from goal but somehow the midfielder couldn’t divert his header into the net.

Though Celtic were well on top, there were a number of occasions when Falkirk were able to find space and exploit it, getting a number of shots off. That said, Celtic’s chances were increasingly of the clear cut variety. Indeed, James Forrest put a header over the bar from close range – a golden opportunity that went begging. It was Forrest in the thick of things again before half time, when he misaimed a pass in his own half and the Falkirk midfield latched onto the ball, resulting in a smart save from Sinisalo after a speculative effort from range.

An entertaining half drew to a close with Celtic leading 1-0.

The second 45 started in similar fashion. Celtic were on the front foot and James Forrest smashed a shot from the edge of the box on his right foot, which Bain turned wide for a corner.

In the 52nd minute, sloppy play from Falkirk at the back, saw Alistair Johnston gain possession in acres of space. He moved into the box and coolly curled the ball beyond the goalkeeper with his left foot.

On the hour mark, Dane Murray made it 3-0 with a guided header into the corner, the result of a phenomenal Engels corner which had pace and precision combined to provide the opportunity.

With the game won, Brendan Rodgers rung the changes. Scales, Yamada and Yang came on to replace Tierney, Maeda and Kenny. Those swaps gave the subs half an hour to stake their claim for a starting berth. Yang did just that within seconds of entering the field. The winger danced up the left wing and his low cross struck the defender (Henderson) before bouncing cruelly into the goal.

Incredibly, by the 66th minute the score was 4-1 as Falkirk’s right back Keelan Adams took control of the ball on the right corner of the box and drove a piledriver into the far top corner. It was an outstanding goal, worthy of much more than a mere consolation.

The Bhoys ultimately eased to victory by four goals to one.