Manchester City under-19s 2 Celtic under-19s 4

 

Heavy rain lashes down as a Celtic fan fills half the stand with smoke after setting off a Green flare

 
 Manchester City's under 19s, aka their EDS (Elite Development Squad), are little more than a miracle away from being knocked out in the group stage of the NextGen Series, after an impressive attacking performance from Celtic's under 19s earned them a 4-2 away win in front of a crowd of 825.

Both teams had no points from 2 games before this match, and with Barcelona on 9 points from 3 games and Marseille 6 points from 3, and only the top 2 in the group going to the knockout stage after each team plays each other twice, this match was vital for trying to close the gap.

Conditions were dreadful as the teams walked out with very heavy swirling winds, and just a couple of minutes after kick off heavy rain also kicked in, which was to ultimately continue without remotely easing off for the entire match.

Both teams early on discovered that any long balls would be harmlessly blown out for a throw in or kick off, and this forced them to get the ball down and find a way through with low passing moves.

You'd think this would suit Man City's under-19s, who are likely to be trained to play in a style like the first team, but it was Celtic who seemed more up for this in the early stages as they repeatedly played their way into decent attacking positions and created a couple of half chances.

Then in the 10th minute, against the run of play, City took the lead with their first attack. A low short cross was blocked and by a Celtic defender, but he got the ball trapped in his feet and fluffed his attempt at clearing it, and Juan Angel Roman nipped in and easily tapped in from little more than 3 yards out.

Celtic nearly levelled things immediately as a shot from the right edge of the penalty area was pushed onto the right post and went out for a corner. They continued to dominate although City themselves nearly got a second as a low shot from the right went just narrowly wide to the left.

Celtic's equaliser came in bizarre circumstances in the 25th minute, as an overhit ball ran through for either the goalkeeper or nearest defender to deal with. The defender left it for the keeper, the keeper left it for the defender. As the defender in the confusion touched the ball and the keeper then dithered about whether he could now pick it up or not as the defender continued to leave the ball, Herron had sneaked in and smashed it into the net.

Around 70 Celtic fans celebrated, one of them setting off a green flare which half filled the stand behind the goal with smoke as can be seen in the above picture - the stewards didn't look too impressed!

Celtic continued to press forward and they took the lead in the 39th minute, a corner from the left and a powerful header from Paul George bulleted into the bottom right corner. And with half time approaching they nearly added to this as a low cross found a Celtic man from close range wide right, the angle proving too difficult as the shot rippled the side netting. 1-2 at half time.


Rain - lots of it!

With the rain continuing to be very heavy for all the half and throughout the half time period, it was a credit to Hyde and their groundsman in particular that the pitch stayed smooth and fully playable.


The second half started with City pushing forward to get a much needed equaliser, a 53rd minute low shot went just wide left, and a minute later a long range low shot also went just wide to the left.



Celtic responded with a 57th minute brilliant curling shot from the left not quite curling enough and just going the wrong side of the right post, and then in the 60th minute a quick break led to a low cross from wide right setting up Paul George to tap in for his 2nd and Celtic's 3rd.

The relentless rain was by now beginning to turn some bits of the pitch waterlogged, some players skidding on water and the ball barely bouncing in parts. Both teams continued to attack though and this game was surprisingly open given that they were restricted to low passing.

City made it 2-3 in the 65th minute as Denis Suarez curled a shot from the rght side of the penalty area into the top left corner of the net. They pressed forward straight after this sensing the chance to get an equaliser and a low shot went just wide to the right a minute later.

As City continued to press, Celtic countered with a lightning quick break, the ball fed to the right corner of the penalty area and finished clinically into the left corner by Watt for a 69th minute sucker punch.

Celtic were happy to mainly defend and look to counter when the opportunity arose as the 2nd half went on, and in the final 20 minutes City found it very difficult to break through this defence. This was summed up by their only decent effort late on in the 85th minute being a free kick, Celtic's keeper Thomson pushing it wide as it headed for the top right corner.

From the resulting corner City again were exposed in their defence as Celtic counter attacked again. It was a similar counter down the left side as their 4th goal as the ball was again crossed to outside the right side of the penalty area, but this time the Celtic player who the ball was fed to attempted to find the top left corner, his powerful shot instead hitting the top of the bar.

The match finished 2-4 and in truth this was about a fair scoreline - Celtic created more chances, their passing was quick, inventive and unpredictable, and their finishing mainly clinical. City were made to look very predictable and ordinary by their opponents, and they next travel to tournament favourites Barcelona, somehow needing to get a win to keep up their faint hopes of still getting to the knockout stages.

Even if they manage to achieve this, they'll then have to win away at Celtic after this, and on last night's evidence that's unlikely. Celtic know a win in that match will put them level with Marseille, albeit having played a game more. After this impressive victory it's likely we may be seeing at least a couple of these Celtic under 19s make it into their first team in a few years.

Meanwhile given the strength and depth of City's first team, despite their big plans of multi million academy site developments, this current under 19 team is looking like it's going to struggle to make any impact on the first team aside from occasional appearances in league cup games.