Celtic bounced back from their friendly defeat against Manchester United
with a 2-1 win over MLS franchise Seattle Sounders.
Seattle lost the initiative after 29 minutes when goalkeeper Terry Boss
was dismissed for a foul on Georgios Samaras, who converted the penalty.
The 45,631 strong crowd then saw second-half goals from Patrick McCourt
and David Estrada as the Scots held on.
After half an hour Samaras found space to run at the Sounders back line
and tempted Boss into a trip that cost his side a penalty and him a red
card.
Jordan Jennings was immediately summoned from the bench but could
not stop Samaras' spot-kick.
Andreas Hinkel went close for the Hoops nine minutes into the second
period, Jennings keeping his shot out.
But he could not repeat the trick
10 minutes later when Milan Misun played in McCourt, who finished with
aplomb.
To their credit, the MLS franchise hit back within two minutes, Estrada
combining with Taylor Graham before hammering his shot high into the
net.
Queen of the South 0-1 Rangers
Kenny Miller was the match-winner as Rangers began their pre-season
campaign with a 1-0 victory over Queen of the South.
Boss Walter Smith named an experienced side for Queens' veteran Jim
Thomson's testimonial at Palmerston Park.
Miller had the best of the chances early on, before Steven Davis was
denied by the post from a free-kick.
The Irn-Bru First Division outfit suffered a blow shortly before
half-time when goalkeeper Roddy McKenzie was forced out of the action.
And, with no substitute keeper on the bench, Neil Scally was forced to
take over between the sticks.
However, in a sporting gesture, Rangers offered their own replacement
keeper, Neil Alexander, to their hosts for the second half.
But Alexander was left picking the ball out of the back of the net as
Miller raced on to a Steven Naismith ball to lash the only goal of the
game past his Ibrox team-mate with 54 minutes gone.
Manchester City 3-0 Portland Timbers
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini declared himself satisfied after
his side kicked off their pre-season tour of the United States with a
3-0 victory over Portland Timbers.
Goals from Stephen Ireland, Emmanuel Adebayor and Jo ensured City eased
to a routine win.
Mancini told the club's official website: "The main thing is that we
came through without any serious injuries and that is important.
"I am sure the players were glad to get into action after two weeks of
hard work and I thought we did well against a side that is progressing
in the United States and which was well prepared and fought hard all
night.
"It was good for the young players to show what they could do. We used
the defensive ones in the first half and the midfielders and strikers in
the second half.
"This was only a first step but a big one on the way to the start of the
Premier League season."
Brisbane Roar 1-2 Everton
Young French striker Magaye Gueye scored the winner as Everton beat
A-League club Brisbane Roar 2-1 to complete a clean sweep of wins from
their three-match pre-season tour of Australia.Gueye tapped home the
winner seven minutes from the end after Jack Rodwell's second-half
opener had been cancelled out by Kosta Barbarouses.
New signing Jermaine
Beckford made his first start in an Everton shirt and was almost gifted a
first goal when he just failed to reach an under-hit backpass.
Fellow
striker Louis Saha then warmed the gloves of former Norwich goalkeeper
Michael Theoklitos before ending a goalless first-half with a
disappointingly tame shot after his bursting run.Rodwell opened the
scoring four minutes after the re-start with a delightful curling shot
from outside the penalty area.
The visitors looked the most likely to add
a second with Seamus Coleman firing just over before Victor Anichebe,
who came on for Rodwell, was also off target.The Roar found an unlikely
equaliser after 66 minutes when Barbarouses fired home from a tight
angle after a quickly-taken free-kick.
But 20-year-old substitute Gueye
made sure Everton left Australia with a perfect record as he tapped in
Jose Baxter's cross from close range after 83 minutes.
San Jose Earthquakes 0-0 Tottenham
Tottenham began their pre-season campaign with a goalless draw against
the San Jose Earthquakes in the USA overnight.
Harry Redknapp's men, who are readying themselves for a
shot at the Champions League this season, failed to make a breakthrough
despite creating the better opportunities.
Spurs were missing the majority of their World Cup stars, with those who
graced the South African showpiece this summer given an extended break.
Robbie Keane, back from a loan spell at Celtic, was therefore given a
chance to shine up front and he came closest to breaking the deadlock.
The Irishman saw one effort ruled out for offside, before spurning the
best opening of the game as Tottenham toiled to no avail.
Understandably, Redknapp's side were far from their fluent best, with
the San Jose heat and a lack of activity leaving them a little rusty.
They will, however, be looking for continued improvement throughout
their time in the States, with Champions League qualifiers looming on
the horizon.
Their next opportunity to get a win under their belt will come on
Thursday when they meet the New York Red Bulls, who will have former
Arsenal striker Thierry Henry within their ranks.
Spurs will then wrap up their pre-season tour with a contest against
Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon on 25th July.
Crystal Palace 0-1 Chelsea
Michael Essien marked his return from injury with a goal as Barclays
Premier League champions Chelsea defeated Crystal Palace 1-0 at Selhurst
Park.
It was an eventful afternoon for the Ghanaian who has been
sidelined with a knee problem since the turn of the year.
The
27-year-old came close to opening the scoring but his shot hit the
crossbar.It looked like Essien suffered an injury towards the end of the
first half but he emerged after the restart and scored the only goal of
the game late on, curling a shot beyond Julian Speroni from the edge of
the area.
Ventura County Fusion 1-2 Portsmouth
Goals from Marlon Pack and David
Nugent saw Pompey record a 2-1 victory over Ventura County Fusion at
Oxnard.Only Nugent and Hughes were the recognised players in a Blues
starting XI that had an average age of just 21.
Former Burnley defender
Stephen Jordan played and Hayden Mullins and Michael Brown also joined
in as substitutes.Marlon Pack opened the scoring after VC 'keeper Bryan
Hill couldn't hold Matt Ritchie's shot, which allowed Pack to tap the
ball in from all of two yards.
Armenian midfielder Hakop Avesyan levelled
for Fusion with a powerful strike but Nugent won the game after curling
in a free kick that had been laid off by Mullins.
Pompey's next game on
tour will take place in Canada where they will play FC Edmonton.
Arka Gdynia 0-0 Dundee United
United were held to a goalless draw by Polish side Arka Gdynia in
their pre-season clash in Austria on Sunday.
Tannadice boss Peter Houston named a strong starting
line-up for the clash with the Polish Premier League side, with Sean
Dillon, Garry Kenneth, Jon Daly and David Goodwillie among those who
started the game.
United had the best of the chances, with Craig Conway hitting the post
from a free-kick, before Daly also hit the woodwork with a header.
After the break, Daly, David Robertson, Damian Casalinouvo and Prince
Buaben all came close for the Tangerines but failed to break the
deadlock as the match ended in stalemate.
Peterhead 0-2 Aberdeen
Aberdeen bounced back from their defeat to Fraserburgh when they ran out
2-0 winners against Peterhead in a pre-season friendly on Sunday.
The Dons crashed to a surprise 3-1 defeat at Bellslea
Park yesterday but looked far more impressive in this outing.
Boss Mark McGhee opted not to make as many changes at the interval,
resulting in a more solid team performance.
The breakthrough came after 59 minutes when youngster Mitch Megginson
curled home the opener from all of 30 yards.
Michael Paton then sealed the win with just four minutes to go from the
penalty spot, after Clark Robertson was brought down in the box to win
the spot-kick.
SC Olhanense 1-2 Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest opened their pre-season friendly campaign with a 2-1
win over SC Olhanense in Portugal.
Robert Earnshaw, Forest's leading goalscorer last season, opened the
scoring in the first half and Matt Thornhill doubled the lead before the
break.
Olhansense reduced the deficit in the second period but Forest held on
for victory.
Manager Billy Davies gave 20 of his first-team squad game time, while
Joel Lynch (back) and goalkeeper Karl Darlow were the only players not
involved.
Darlington 0-1 Sunderland
Darlington kicked-off their pre-season schedule with a
encouraging display against Premier League Sunderland.
The Black Cats snatched victory in the closing stages at The Northern
Echo Arena with substitute Bolo Zenden scoring, but it was Quakers who
took the plaudits.
Mark Cooper's first game in the Darlington dug-out saw a resilient
performance from a side featuring most of the club's new signings.
But
an organised and defensively sound Quakers played like a team who
understand their roles.
Nine players have arrived since the end of last season, including
defender Danny Hone and striker Liam Hatch who joined on loan last week,
and both played yesterday while Sam Russell was impressive on his
return to the club.
The goalkeeper was named man of the match after making several fine
saves and providing an assured presence between the posts.
Russell was unable to stop Zenden's low strike from the edge of the
area finding the back of the net inside the final ten minutes, however,
if Quakers are able to replicate the same type of endeavour in the Blue
Square Bet Premier then an immediate return to the Football League
looks on the cards.
Portimonense 3-0 Cardiff City
Cardiff went down 3-0 to Portimonense in the final game of their
pre-season tour of Portugal.
The Bluebirds fell behind as early as the fifth minute when Candelas
followed up to steer the ball home after City goalkeeper David Marshall
had saved an initial shot.
The Portuguese side doubled their lead in the 30th minute when Marshall
fumbled Candelas' 25-yard free-kick.
Portimonense rounded off a deserved victory late on when Anderson's shot
on the turn beat substitute goalkeeper Tom Heaton.
Leek Town 1-7 Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield boss Gary Simpson was content with his side's performance
as they coasted to a 7-1 pre-season victory over Leek.
Emile Sinclair grabbed a hat-trick and there were also goals for Tyrone
Barnet, Adam Roberts, Shaun Brisley and Andy Nicholls in a one-sided
fixture at Harrison Park.
Simpson told the club's official website: "I'm very happy. Some people
might point out that we were playing Leek or whatever, but you can only
beat what is put in front of you.
"We'll come up against stiffer opposition before the season starts and
that will help answer a few more questions we might have about the
lads."
Nicholls was one of four trialists to feature for Macc and Simpson
added: "I'm getting closer to being able to make a decision I think.
"We've seen them in a few games so I'm making my mind up. Of course it
depends on what we might have in the budget."
Source: DSG