Pre-season friendly
Warsaw, Poland
July 20, 2022

LEGIA WARSAW… 2
(Rosolek 46, Josue 58)

CELTIC… 2
(Hatate 20, Maeda 43)

Celtic played out a competitive 2-2 draw in the last away match of pre-season against Legia Warsaw in the Polish capital city.

Goals from Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda gave the Hoops a commanding lead at half-time, before two second-half strikes from Legia meant the friendly would end all-square

It was an important exercise, but it was also an occasion where the Hoops celebrated a former Celtic hero, as Artur Boruc pulled on his goalkeeping gloves for the final time.

Making his name at Legia Warsaw, Boruc signed for the Hoops in 2005, winning three league titles, one Scottish Cup and two League Cups over five years, becoming a fans’ favourite along the way, and both teams entered the pitch with t-shirts honouring the keeper, while Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson presented Boruc with a special Celtic cross to mark the occasion.

When the game started, it seemed to motivate the home side who began the brightest inside the opening 10 minutes, testing the Celtic defence with two dangerous crosses from the right, but thereafter, the Hoops were in control.

Beginning to dominate the play, James Forrest almost made the possession count on 14 minutes, but the winger’s close-range attempt was denied by Boruc, who rolled back the years to produce a fine stop with his legs after Matt O’Riley’s defence-splitting pass set up the opportunity.

From the resulting corner, Forrest again went close, this time seeing his volley just steer wide of the top right corner.

It wouldn’t take long for Celtic to get the goal their play deserved, as Reo Hatate opened the scoring on 20 minutes with a goal of the highest quality.

A tremendous passing move pushed and pulled the Legia team, opening space for the midfielder to bomb inside the box. Callum McGregor picked out the Japanese internationalist with a sublime pass from deep and Hatate stretched to meet the ball and volley into the left of the net.

At this point, Ange Postecoglou’s side was brimming with confidence and their football displayed that.

The Legia goal was leading a charmed life and nine minutes after scoring, the bottom right post saved the Polish side from going two goals down on two quick occasions.

First, O’Riley clipped the upright from eight yards out after more quality build-up play and then McGregor smashed the same post after striking from distance following a short corner routine.

A minute later and it was Maeda’s turn to have an effort, the striker pouncing on a slack back-pass, but he could only just steer his shot wide from a dangerous position.

Having hit one post nine minutes earlier, O’Riley then proceeded to strike the other side of the goal frame, this time glancing a header from Anthony Ralston’s cross over Boruc but straight on to the foot of the post.

It was inevitable that Celtic would get the second goal and two minutes before the break they managed to grab it.

Hatate was the provider this time around, playing an inch-perfect through ball into Maeda, who beat the offside line and tucked beyond Boruc with a first-time left-footed shot.

Honours even in Warsaw as Celts help pay tribute to Artur Boruc