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  • Kick-off: 15:00
  • Venue: Celtic Park
  • Attendance: 56031
  • Referee: Brines, I

Live Commentary

90mins

The ref has blown his whistle for full time.

85mins

Patrick Cregg goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

84mins

Falkirk are replacing Gerard Aafjes with Chris Mitchell.

84mins

Falkirk are replacing Mark Stewart with Dayne Robertson.

84mins

Falkirk are replacing John Stewart with Dermott McCaffrey.

73mins

Scott Brown is being taken off, Marc Luque Crosas has come on in his place.

73mins

Georgios Samaras is replaced by Chris Killen.

68mins

Goal!! Georgios Samaras scores for Celtic.

55mins

Scott Brown is booked for unsporting behaviour.

48mins

The referee has booked Mark Stewart.

46mins

The second half is under way with the score currently at 2 v 0.

45mins

Half time whistle is blown by I Brines

44mins

Goal!! Georgios Samaras scores for Celtic.

32mins

Goal!! Stephen McManus scores for Celtic.

28mins

Celtic are replacing Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink with Shaun Maloney.

0mins

It's 3pm on Saturday, August 23rd, the match has kicked off.

Match Report

Reigning SPL champions Celtic cruised to an emphatic 3-0 victory over Falkirk.

New signing Shaun Maloney was an inspiration for the home team, creating two goals for Georgios Samaras and winning the foul for Stephen McManus to score Celtic's opening goal.

The only black spot for the home team was an injury to Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, who was stretchered off early in the match, though his absence was more than compensated by a virtuoso performance from Maloney.

This win put Celtic back to the top of the league and set-up the defending champions nicely for next week's Old Firm match.

Both teams had chances early on and Celtic keeper Artur Boruc did well to block Scott Arfield's powerful shot. Samaras failed to control a long ball which eluded Lee Bullen, before Mark Wilson shot straight at Robert Olejnik.

Celtic took the lead when Gerard Aafjes was too casual in possession, then fouled Maloney when he lost the ball. From Shunsuke Nakamura's free-kick McManus glanced the ball high past the keeper with the ball appearing to get in off his shoulder.

Michael Higden's volley was parried by Boruc before Maloney's superb pass put Samaras through and the striker rounded the keeper to put Celtic two ahead.

After the interval, John Stewart failed to get any power in his volley and Maloney should have scored from Aiden McGeady pass but pulled his shot wide.

Maloney's subtle flick put Samaras through again, but the striker shot weakly at the keeper. Samaras did better moments later, when after a slick interchange with Maloney, he slid the ball home from 20 yards, although the keeper looked slow to go down.
Olejnik did better with a marvellous double save to deny Chris Killen and then Maloney.

Celtic

Falkirk

Corners

53

Fouls

817

Goal attempts

168

Shots off target

73

Offsides

10

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