ROSSONERI'S PRE‑SEASON BEGINS WITH A DRAW
Friendly
The Rossoneri's first pre-season friendly ends 2-2. In Glasgow, the friendly between Celtic and AC Milan produced two goals in each half. The hosts struck first, capitalising on two misunderstandings during AC Milan's build-up play. After the break, however, Amorim's side came out with real intent, drawing level within eight minutes thanks to a Francesco Camarda brace. The Rossoneri went on to create several more attacking opportunities and could easily have come away with a better result. Even so, the afternoon in Scotland provided plenty of encouraging signs, with the first rewards of the team's work on the training ground already beginning to show.
AC Milan showed lots of intent in possession and off the ball, while the patterns of their build-up play from the back will no doubt continue to be refined over the coming weeks of pre-season. It was also an important occasion for several youngsters from the Milan Futuro project, with a number making their First Team debut, some even earning a place in the starting XI. All in all, it was an encouraging first outing for Amorim's refreshed squad, regardless of the final score. The afternoon in Scotland brings the opening phase of pre-season preparations to a close, with the squad set to travel to Australia in the coming hours. The next stop on the Pre-Season Tour will be Wednesday 5 August's friendly against Inter in Perth.
CHECK OUT THE PHOTO GALLERY FROM CELTIC v AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
Three Under-20 players – Comotto, Kostić and Ossola – were named in Amorim's starting XI. The opening stages in Glasgow were played at a measured pace, with the hosts taking the lead in the 11th minute as Durán capitalised on a misunderstanding between Pavlović and Torriani during AC Milan's build-up play. The Rossoneri looked to respond by pushing forward, alternating their attacks down both flanks. It was from the right that the best opportunity arrived in the 21st minute, when Athekame picked out Kostić, but the Montenegrin was unable to turn and get his shot away. Celtic doubled their lead in the 28th minute through Forrest, who was quickest to convert Durán's assist after another mix-up in AC Milan's build-up. The Rossoneri spent much of the closing stages of the first half on the front foot, putting together some promising passing moves, but the opening 45 minutes ended without the Celtic goalkeeper being seriously tested, with Comotto's off-target effort being their only attempt.
Amorim made eight changes at half-time, and one of the substitutes made an immediate impact. Just over a minute after the restart, Camarda won a penalty and confidently converted it, firing an unstoppable right-footed strike into the top corner. The Rossoneri came close to levelling in the 50th minute when Chukwueze delivered a cross and Camarda's twisting header drifted just wide. The same combination produced the equaliser three minutes later: the Nigerian's cross with the outside of his left foot was met by the 2008-born striker, whose header found the one spot Sinisalo could not reach. The quickfire double gave AC Milan renewed belief, with the Rossoneri pushing higher up the pitch and looking to dictate possession, particularly through an inspired Chukwueze on the right flank. Celtic threatened again in the final 15 minutes, creating two chances either side of a Musah effort that was well blocked by the Scottish defence. In the 78th minute, Hatton fired narrowly wide, before Oxlade-Chamberlain's run into the box almost found the bottom corner five minutes later, his effort flashing just past the left-hand post of the AC Milan goalkeeper. It finished 2-2 in Glasgow.
MATCH DETAILS
CELTIC 2-2 AC MILAN
CELTIC (4-3-2-1): Sinisalo; Donovan (89' Montgomery), Carter-Vickers (63' Scales), Murray, Tierney (63' Ralston); McCowan (46' McArdle), McGregor (76' Bernardo), Engels (76' Hatton); Forrest (46' Oxlade-Chamberlain), Tounekti (63' Osmand); Durán (76' Hatate). Subs: Doohan, Gill; Turley; Balikwisha. Coach: O'Neill.
AC MILAN (3-4-2-1): Torriani; Tomori (46' Gila, 68' Vladimirov), Gabbia (46' Odogu), Pavlović (46' F. Terracciano); Athekame (46' Chukwueze), Ricci (46' Fofana), Comotto (46' Musah), Bartesaghi (60' Borsani); Ossola (46' Guernier, 76' Cissè), Loftus-Cheek (60' Vos); Kostić (46' Camarda). Subs: Bouyer, Pittarella. Coach: Amorim.
Referee: Nick Walsh (Scotland).
Goals: 11' Durán (C), 28' Forrest (C), 47' pen. and 53' Camarda (M).
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