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Showing posts with the label SPL

Scotland: Aberdeen keep up impressive form

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Aberdeen 2 - 1 Rangers Jimmy Thelin's unbeaten Aberdeen made their biggest statement yet, ramping up the pressure on Rangers manager Philippe Clement with a thrilling Scottish Premiership victory. Author - Mark Lee The pre-match show at Pittodrie set an electric tone, and the away side struggled to keep up in a sobering first half. Nicky Devlin, having a dream season, fired the intense hosts into an early lead, leaving Rangers overwhelmed. Aberdeen could easily have led by three at the break, as Graeme Shinnie hit the woodwork and Jamie McGrath saw his weak penalty saved by Jack Butland. Yet, it felt as though Aberdeen might rue those missed chances, especially when Rangers had a Ross McCausland goal ruled out for a marginal offside, before clawing their way back to level through Nedim Bajrami’s impressive solo effort. What's going on with Rangers? But Aberdeen, spurred on by a passionate home crowd, retook the lead when substitute Shayden Morris smashed home on the rebound

Scotland: Kilmarnock stun Rangers with late winner

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Kilmarnock 1 - 0 Rangers Rangers remain six points behind the Premiership leaders after suffering a late defeat against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. Author - Mark Lee In a lacklustre match, Rangers wasted several opportunities to secure three points. A combination of poor finishing and solid defending from Kilmarnock made it another frustrating afternoon for the Belgian manager. As the game was heading for a draw, David Watson's lob found Marley Watkins, who beat the offside trap and bundled the ball past Jack Butland. The Gers need to regroup quickly ahead of their Europa League match against FCSB on Thursday. Meanwhile, Derek McInnes' team has now moved to seventh place and are just outside the top six on goal difference. A closer look at how Kilmarnock stunned this Rangers side Home form has traditionally been a strength for Kilmarnock , but they had recorded five draws and one defeat in all competitions on their own pitch leading up to this game. ⚽️ Goal of the day: Mar

Scotland: Celtic leave it late to maintain 100% record

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Ross County 1 - 2 Celtic Celtic shook off their midweek Champions League setback to continue their flawless Premiership run, clinching a late victory in Dingwall.  Alistair Johnston and Nicolas Kuhn both found the net in the second half, sealing the win for the reigning champions. Brendan Rodgers' team remains unbeaten domestically this season, having won every match so far, as they head into the October international break in top form. A closer look at what happened For the first 70 minutes,  Celtic struggled to make an impact  against a well-organised Ross County. Their defensive solidity, discipline, and ability to take advantage of Celtic's lapses were exemplified by Ronan Hale’s first-half penalty. Michee Efete's cross struck Liam Scales' arm, and after a brief check on the monitor, referee Kevin Clancy awarded the penalty. Hale's initial shot was weak and comfortably saved by Kasper Schmeichel, but the goalkeeper was judged to have moved too early. Given a

Scotland: No let-up from Celtic in Perth

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St Johnstone 0 - 6 Celtic  Celtic surged to the top of the Scottish Premiership after a resounding 6-0 victory against St Johnstone.  The defending champions initially believed they had scored early on through Daizen Maeda, but VAR disallowed the goal due to a foul in the build-up. A closer look at what happened in Perth Kyogo Furuhashi eventually put the visitors in front with a typical run and finish and Paulo Bernardo completed an excellent move with a fine finish. Kyogo then headed a third in first-half added time and Callum McGregor, Maeda and substitute Adam Idah added more goals in the second period. Brendan Rodgers' side lead Aberdeen on goal difference at the top of the table while Saints are a point above second bottom. Celtic looking unstoppable in Scotland. Positive signs for their Champions League campaign? Celtic made several changes once again in their 5-2 Scottish League Cup victory over Falkirk last week, and it was a similar story in Perth, with the injured Ca

Scotland: Celtic keep up perfect start

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Celtic 2 - 0 Hearts Celtic maintained their perfect start to the season as both sides faced contrasting outcomes with VAR for the champions and Hearts. Early in the match, the visitors were initially awarded a penalty in the first half after Lawrence Shankland's header struck Liam Scales' arm. However, the decision was overturned after a VAR review. In the second half, a cross from Nicolas Kuhn made contact with James Penrice's hand, leading to another VAR review. This time, the result was a penalty, and record signing Arne Engels scored his first goal for Celtic from the spot. To seal the victory, Luke McCowan also scored his first goal for Celtic with a late strike.  What about Hearts? Hearts find themselves one point behind at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership. This was an improved performance from the visitors, but the match ultimately ended in a seventh straight defeat in all competitions. Referee Colin Steven had been quick to point to the spot after the Sca

Scotland: Celtic ease to win in Glasgow Derby

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Celtic 3 - 0 Rangers Celtic continued their recent dominance in the Glasgow derby with a straightforward win over Rangers in the Scottish Premiership. Arriving as strong favourites on their home turf, the champions weathered an early burst of energy from Rangers before reasserting their familiar control. Daizen Maeda calmly finished from close range after a cross from Alistair Johnston, with Rangers caught off guard from a simple throw-in. Earlier, Kyogo had a goal disallowed for offside against Nicolas Kuhn. Still, the Japanese striker soon added to his impressive derby tally with a precise strike from the edge of the box. Rangers were fortunate not to be further behind by half-time and came out with more intensity in the second half. However, Cyriel Dessers squandered a key chance, firing tamely at Kasper Schmeichel when a sharper finish could have reignited the game. The second half was more subdued, with chances for both sides. Kyogo surprisingly hit the side-netting after bein

Scotland, Celtic and Rangers prepare for Glasgow Derby with comfortable victories

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St Mirren 0 - 3 Celtic Celtic secured a convincing 3-0 victory over St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership, maintaining their perfect start to the season with three wins from three games.  The champions were in control from the outset, with Callum McGregor scoring within the first three minutes. Reo Hatate added a second goal before halftime, and Alistair Johnston completed the scoring in the second half, following a strong performance from Nicolas Kuhn. Despite the ongoing transfer saga involving Matt O'Riley, who is close to joining Brighton, Celtic's midfield performed exceptionally well. Paulo Bernardo stepped in for O'Riley, but it was the established players, McGregor and Hatate, who led the charge. Hatate was particularly impressive, creating five chances and showcasing his ability to fill the void left by O'Riley. St Mirren struggled to break through Celtic's relentless pressing and managed only one shot in the first half. Although they showed some impr

Scotland: Celtic cruise to a win at Easter Road

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Hibernian 0 - 2 Celtic A brilliant goal from Callum McGregor helped Celtic secure a comfortable Scottish Premiership victory over Hibernian at Easter Road. Nicolas Kuhn opened the scoring within three minutes, capitalising on a mistake by Hibs’ goalkeeper Josef Bursik, who failed to deal with Kyogo's initial shot. McGregor, who had announced his retirement from international football earlier in the week, then doubled Celtic's lead with a stunning left-footed strike from 25 yards, capping off an excellent first-half performance. Brendan Rodgers’ side could have added more goals if not for the woodwork, but they will be satisfied with taking three points from a ground where they have struggled at times under Rodgers' management. More Celtic news can be found by clicking here Sunshine on Leith: The place for more Hibs news and stories The home side were booed off at half-time, having failed to register a single shot, although they improved somewhat in the second half. Stri

Scotland: Celtic start title defence in style

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Celtic 4 - 0 Kilmarnock Celtic kicked off their Premiership title defence with a comfortable 4-0 victory at home against Kilmarnock. Reo Hatate opened the scoring after 17 minutes, coolly finishing from the edge of the box. Celtic doubled their advantage five minutes before half-time when Liam Scales headed a Matt O’Riley corner into the far post. Nicolas-Gerrit Kühn made it three on the hour mark with a deflected strike that looped over Kilmarnock’s goalkeeper, Robby McCrorie. Anthony Ralston sealed the win in stoppage time, netting his first goal for Celtic since 2021. Click here for more Celtic news and stories A closer look at the match Before the match, they were greeted to an impressive fan display when they took to the Parkhead turf. This created an amazing atmosphere and the Celtic players responded.  Reo Hatate put the champions ahead in the 17th minute, firing into the bottom corner from just inside the box. Earlier, Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi was denied by a brillia

Scotland: Dundee derby proves to be a thriller

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Dundee United 2 - 2 Dundee Dundee twice came from behind to deny Dundee United a victory in their Scottish Premiership return, as the first city derby in over two years lived up to its billing as the game of the weekend. There was a fantastic atmosphere created by both sets of fans. After a dull start on Saturday with two 0-0 draws, three early goals set the new top-flight season ablaze. Dundee gave their hosts a guard of honour before last season's Championship flag was raised, then left Kristijan Trapanovski plenty of space to slot the opener after just 13 minutes. Seb Palmer-Houlden equalised from close range five minutes later, but Miller Thomson restored United's lead with a similar finish—all within the first 15 minutes of the game. United deserved their lead, but Dundee finished stronger in a thrilling end that saw a Luke McCowan penalty 11 minutes from time. Dundee United now remain unbeaten in seven derbies , while Dundee have not won at Tannadice in their last 13

Scotland: Motherwell and Ross County play out dull draw

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Motherwell 0 - 0 Ross County Motherwell and Ross County couldn't be separated on the opening day of the new season, ending in a goalless draw at Fir Park. The home side had several chances, but either missed the target or were thwarted by goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw. Academy graduate Ewan Wilson came closest to scoring five minutes from the end, but his powerful shot was tipped away by Laidlaw. Ross County, buoyed by their relegation play-off win in May, struggled to create significant chances and were likely happier with the point. The first real opportunity came after 20 minutes and should have resulted in a goal. Zach Robinson dispossessed Will Nightingale near the halfway line but shot wide when one-on-one with the keeper. Motherwell's next chance tested Laidlaw. A clever chip found Wilson, who cut the ball back to Moses Ebiye, but his close-range shot was brilliantly saved by Laidlaw. Keeping a clean sheet on his first Premiership appearance 🧤 pic.twitter.com/Ws3m8nYAk

Scotland: Hearts hold Rangers

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Hearts 0 - 0 Rangers Hearts and Rangers kicked off the Scottish Premiership season with a draw, highlighting that last season's runners-up are still finding their footing after a turbulent summer. The teams met again at Tynecastle, where they had concluded the previous season with a thrilling 3-3 draw. In that match, Hearts secured a point with a last-minute equaliser from Kyosuke Tagawa . This time, Hearts, who finished third last season, were unlucky not to edge out an evenly-matched contest, indicating they have closed the gap on Rangers over the summer. Hearts' head coach Steven Naismith extended his unbeaten home streak to 12 games. Still, it is Philippe Clement, the Rangers' manager, who may feel more satisfied with the result, as it maintains Rangers' 16-game unbeaten run against Hearts. The draw gives champions Celtic a chance to end the opening weekend two points ahead of two potential top-of-the-table rivals when they host Kilmarnock on Sunday. Where

Pre Season: Celtic edge out City

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Celtic 4 - 3 Manchester City Manchester City's pre-season tour of the United States began with a 4-3 defeat to Celtic in North Carolina. The match was billed as the 'battle of the champions'. Despite the empty seats at the stadium, there was still a fantastic atmosphere.  Two first half goals from Nicolas Kuhn and a smart Kyogo Furuhashi finish meant City went in behind at the break despite Oscar Bobb also finding the net. The blues fought back in the second half. An almost defiant display, spearheaded by the irrepressible Bobb, brought City level with Maximo Perrone and Erling Haaland both on target. The Scottish champions eventuallày took the lead again through substitute Luis Palma Celtic impressed at times but fans are still concerned about the club's like of signings in the transfer window. Transfer News: Celtic sign Kasper Schmeichel (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) More Celtic news and stories Premier League: Summer 2024 news and stories (eurosuperfootball.b

Transfer News: Celtic sign Kasper Schmeichel

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The Scottish champions have replaced former keeper Joe Hart Celtic have signed Denmark captain Kasper Schmeichel on a one-year deal after the goalkeeper led his country to the last 16 at Euro 24. Schmeichel, 37, was a free agent after leaving the Belgian club Anderlecht at the end of last season and replaces former Manchester City club-mate Joe Hart, who has now retired. International goalkeeper, an English Premier league winner. We've seen this movie before. Welcome to the finest team in Scotland Kasper Schmeichel. 🍀 pic.twitter.com/QSpjihOfhT — Boyle (@Boyle_67) July 18, 2024 The Dane has earned 105 international caps and will join his new teammates in the United States, where the Scottish champions are on tour. Schmeichel is best known for his 11-year stint with Leicester City, during which the club won an improbable Premier League crown in 2016. He would later work with Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers at King Power Stadium, where the pair claimed the 2021 FA Cup and subs

Scotland: Hearts fight back to draw against Rangers

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Hearts 3 - 3 Rangers Hearts clinched a dramatic draw with the final kick of their Scottish Premiership season, ending a five-game losing streak against Rangers. With no stakes on the line, the teams delivered an entertaining match that could have featured even more goals. Lawrence Shankland scored his 31st goal of a remarkable season, putting Hearts ahead. However, their dreadful winless run against Rangers, which had lasted four years, seemed destined to continue as the visitors netted three times without reply after the break. Ross McCausland equalised with a stunning strike, evading two players before firing in off the post from long range. Click here to discover more news and stories from across Scotland Todd Cantwell then found the net, also using the inside of the post to beat Zander Clark, following some excellent play by Cyriel Dessers. Fabio Silva appeared to secure the win with a powerful shot from inside the box, but the match remained frenetic until the very end. Dexte

Scotland: Celtic almost clinch another title

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 Celtic 2 - 1 Rangers Celtic practically secured their third consecutive Scottish Premiership title with a win against a 10-player Rangers team in an intense Glasgow Derby. In a match pulsating with energy, Brendan Rodgers' side , sitting three points ahead with just three games to go, knew that securing a victory would almost clinch glory.  Right from the start, the Hoops asserted their dominance over their Glasgow rivals. It was Matt O'Riley who finally broke the deadlock in the 35th minute, capitalising on numerous earlier opportunities. Immediately after the break, John Lundstram inadvertently turned the ball into his own net and was subsequently shown a red card for a reckless challenge, leaving Rangers depleted.  Just before that, Cyriel Dessers managed to pull one back for the visitors. Game on? Celtic earned a penalty when Mohamed Diomande fouled Alistair Johnston in the box. O'Riley stepped up, but his effort was saved by Jack Butland. Although Rodgers' te

Scotland: Celtic ease to win against Hearts

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 Celtic 3 - 0 Hearts Celtic moved a little bit closer to the title after easing past Hearts in Glasgow.  They face Rangers next weekend in a match that could decide the title. If Celtic avoid defeat, they will almost certainly end up as champions.  Kyogo Furuhashi scored the opening goal for Celtic in a fast-paced match at Celtic Park. He nodded the ball in from a cross by his fellow countryman Reo Hatate.  The Hearts team responded quickly, but Celtic extended their lead when Matt O'Riley's impressive long-range pass found Kyogo, who scored with a first-time shot and got his second of the match.  Kyogo then  had chances to score more goals in the first half, but Zander Clark, the Hearts goalkeeper, made some excellent saves. He also made a fantastic double save in the second half to deny Hatate and O'Riley. Celtic were awarded a late penalty after an on-field review showed that Lawrence Shankland had handled the ball in the box. O'Riley stepped up to take the penal

Scotland: Celtic remain in charge of title race

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Dundee 1 - 2 Celtic A double from James Forrest helped Celtic beat Dundee and maintained their three-point Scottish Premiership lead. A screen grab from a Twitter video showing Celtic players celebrating. Forrest marked his return to the Celtic starting line-up with a stunning first-half volley from the edge of the box and low drive midway through the second period. Dundee got back into the game after Adam Idah deflected an Antonio Portales shot past Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart. Despite some late pressure, they were unable to deny the visitors victory. Despite another win for Rangers, the title is still Celtic's to lose with four rounds of fixtures to play and the Old Firm still to meet.  Dundee remain two points behind fifth-placed St Mirren and remain in contention for a Europa Conference qualifying place. Should they achieve that, it would surely be the best season in their recent history.  You can find out what the Celtic manager thought by watching the video below. The int

Scotland: Ross County dent Rangers title hopes

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 Ross County 3 - 2 Rangers Ross County managed to secure their first-ever victory over Rangers, coming from behind and dealing a significant blow to the visitors' Scottish Premiership title hopes.  More reaction to this match coming up: https://t.co/Mu4Cn3wz9B https://t.co/8o4bBLKQZQ — European Super Football (@ESFootballNews) April 15, 2024 Despite Rangers leading at halftime thanks to Jack Baldwin's own goal, County sensed that history could be made. Simon Murray and George Harmon's strikes on the rebound turned the game on its head, and Josh Sims' close-range finish left the visitors struggling for ideas.  James Tavernier's late penalty reply was not enough for Rangers, who suffered their first away defeat in eight games since losing at Celtic Park in December.  Click here for more Rangers news and stories The defeat leaves Philippe Clement's side four points adrift at the top, while County's victory narrowed the gap with St Johnstone to one point,

Scotland: Celtic eventually ease to win over Dundee

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 Dundee 0 - 3 Celtic Paulo Bernardo and Mikey Johnston emerged as the unexpected goal heroes for Celtic in their match against Dundee.  However, there is now a concern about Cameron Carter‑Vickers' injury ahead of the upcoming clash with Rangers at Parkhead on Saturday. Bernardo slotted in the opening goal in the 52nd minute at Dens Park, marking his inaugural goal for Celtic. Johnston, coming on as a substitute, netted his first two goals for the Hoops since December 2019, securing a 3-0 victory. Despite leading by five points, the champions face a challenge from Rangers, who have two games in hand, including their midweek match against Ross County at Ibrox on Wednesday. Manager Rodgers stuck with the same starting lineup from the 2-0 win against Livingston. Dundee, on the other hand, had Cammy Kerr in for the absent Ricki Lamie, and Zak Rudden returned as one of the two strikers. Celtic took control early on without breaking down Dundee's defence. Kyogo Furuhashi's