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DAFABET CUP: SATURDAY 29TH JULY; SUNDERLAND 0 CELTIC 5 (McGREGOR 5, 15, 57’(PEN), HAYES 38’, ARMSTRONG 70’)
Callum McGregor was the star man in today’s Dafabet Cup game against Sunderland, scoring a hat-trick in Celtic’s comfortable 5-0 victory, and perhaps more importantly playing himself into the side for Wednesday’s match against Rosenborg, after being left out of the first leg.
As predicted, Celtic made changes with the likes of de Vries and Ralston starting, Miller, Kouassi and Hayes also started, with Kieran Tierney captaining the side. Former Celtic Aiden McGeady started for Sunderland.
Backed by a huge travelling support, Celtic took the lead after only five minutes, Callum McGregor taking advantage of a defensive mistake to score (1-0). The second goal arrived ten minutes later, after a good passing move that involved McGregor, Forrest and Sinclair McGregor slotted the ball home for his second goal. (2-0).
Sunderland were awarded a penalty in the 34th minute after a foul by Ntcham on Honeyman, but de Vries pulled off a superb double save from Vaughn’s penalty and the rebound. (Penalty save).
The third Celtic goal arrived in the 38th minute, Jonny Hayes with a nice controlled shot and finish after Ntcham’s initial shot had been saved (3-0).
The second-half inevitably featured a host of changes but Celtic kept the pressure on, with McGregor getting his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 57th minute after Ralston had been brought down. (4-0).
The scoring was completed in the 70th minute, substitute Stuart Armstrong scoring a trademark goal from outside the box (5-0).
Final score five-nil to Celtic, and captain Keiran Tierney lifted the Dafabet Cup as Celtic added yet another trophy to our vast collection. Brendan Rodgers will be delighted that there have been no injuries suffered today as far as we know and by the performance of Callum McGregor, who seems a cert to start on Wednesday night...who knows, we might even play him up-front, after his finishing today!