Turkish Airlines Antalya Cup TRABZONSPOR 1-3 Celtic 9th jan 2014-Report and Highlights

Turkish Airlines Antalya Cup
Antalya Akdeniz Universitesi Stadi
Thursday, January 9, 2014

CELTIC…3
Pukki 32, Bamba o.g. 37, Balde 57

TRABZONSPOR…1
Gural 42

A STUNNING second-half strike from Amido Balde was the highlight as Celtic started the Turkish Airlines Antalya Cup with a convincing 3-1 victory over Trabzonspor.

Teemu Pukki´s emphatic finish from 18 yards put the Hoops ahead and they doubled their advantage five minutes later through an own goal from defender Sol Bamba.

Although Emre Gural reduced arrears as half-time approached, Balde sealed the victory with a venomous shot from distance which left substitute Fatih Ozturk helpless. Neil Lennon´s men will now face either Ajax or Galatasaray in the final on Sunday.

Despite making five changes from the side that put St Mirren to the sword on Sunday, the manager named a strong team for Celtic´s opening match of the tournament.

Lukasz Zaluska was handed a place between the sticks, while Nir Biton, Derk Boerrigter, Pukki and Balde also came into the starting XI.

The Scottish champions made a positive start and quickly took the game to their opponents, with Emilio Izaguirre and Boerrigter having early efforts.

James Forrest´s pace and trickery was causing Trabzonspor huge problems in the early stages, and his inviting cross was close to being met by Balde, whose physical presence was also unsettling the Turkish side.

Celtic were playing with plenty of adventure, underlined when Virgil van Dijk strode forward from defence and unleashed a rasping drive on goal. It took a wicked deflection off a defender and forced Zeki Ayvas into an excellent reaction save.

Balde then showed good strength to win back possession on the halfway line before collecting return pass from Pukki. Scampering clear, he elected to take an early strike and was narrowly off target.

After another darting run at the heart of the opposition defence, Forrest picked out the run of Scott Brown in the box, and the skipper´s low shot skid inches wide of the far post.

It had been one-way traffic but Trabzonspor suddenly sparked into life midway through the half, threatening through Olcan Aydin and Gural, before Pukki deservedly fired Celtic in front.

The Finnish striker found himself with room at the edge of the box, took aim and rifled a shot beyond Ayvas into the corner.

The busy keeper had to make another smart stop minutes later as Balde´s low cross was turned towards his own goal by Mustafa Yumlu.

However, he could do nothing in the 37th minute as Celtic doubled their advantage in similar circumstances. Izaguirre crossed from the left and former Hibernian and Dunfermline defender Sol Bamba diverted it into the net under pressure from Balde.

The Hoops were in complete control but Gural gave Trabzonspor a glimmer of hope just before the break, converting from close range after Yusuf Erdogan´s shot ricocheted into his path.

Neil Lennon´s men swiftly shook off that setback, though, and took control once again after the interval.

Balde was close to connecting with Boerrigter´s cross, and Kris Commons, one of three changes at half-time, saw a shot blocked after tenacious play from Pukki.

Commons saw an ambitious chip creep over the bar, Pukki and Joe Ledley tried their luck and then Trabzonspor´s resistance was broken for a third time in spectacular style.

Balde surged forward towards the edge of the box and flashed a ferocious effort into the top corner, with goalkeeper Fatih Ozturk motionless.

As both sides made further changes in the closing stages, the game lost its earlier fluency and the chances dried up.

However, with the hardworking Balde and Pukki continuing to provide an excellent outlet for the Bhoys, they held on comfortably to progress to Sunday´s final.

CELTIC (4-2-3-1) Zaluska; Matthews (Fisher 60), Ambrose (Mulgrew 46(, van Dijk, Izaguirre; Biton, Brown (Ledley 46); Forrest (Commons 46), Pukki (Atajic 78), Boerrigter; Balde
Not Used: Fasan

TRABZONSPOR (4-2-3-1) Ayvaz (Ozturk 46), Bosigwa (Yavru 46), Yumlu, Bamba (Keles 46), Demir; Zokokra, Ozdemir; Aydin (Omanpasa 66), Mierzejewski, Erdogan (Akbas 72); Gural (Janko 46)
Not Used:

Website Man of the Match: Teemu Pukki