Celtic FC Foundation Legends Charity Match
Saturday, September 6, 2025
Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC… 2
(McDonald 75, Maloney 78

MANCHESTER UNITED… 2
(Fletcher 20, Berbatov 29

Celtic win 4-3 on penalties.

It was a day when charity was the winner at Paradise in the Celtic FC Foundation Legends Charity Match, although at the end of the game, it was Celtic who came out on top, winning the match following a penalty shoot-out, with Lee Naylor netting the winning penalty.

The primary aim of the game was to raise money to support Celtic FC Foundation projects, specifically Paradise Pit Stop.

It provides a free warm meal and a selection of hot and soft drinks, in a safe, non-judgmental and welcoming environment for individuals and families even Monday and Thursday evening, and every Wednesday and Friday afternoon.

It’s also an inclusive space where people from some of Glasgow’s most vulnerable communities can access essential support services.

The aim of the project is to provide relief from food poverty and tackle the increasing issue of loneliness and isolation in our communities.

And since its inception, Paradise Pit Stop has supported over 30,000 individuals and provided over 61,500 hot meals and drinks, as the project has been a vital resource for so many within our communities.

All the supporters who came along to Celtic Park played their part in raising vital funds as well as enjoying a trip down memory lane as they cheered on some of their former Hoops heroes.

It was Manchester United who opened the scoring after 20 minutes when lifelong Celtic fan, Darren Fletcher, fired in a powerful shot from the edge of the box which evaded Joe Hart in the Celtic goal.

And nine minutes later, the English side made it 2-0. This time, Nani showed great skill down the left flank before slotting the ball back to Dimitar Berbatov who unleashed an unstoppable shot from 12 yards out

Celtic’s best chances of the first-half fell to Scott McDonald, who knocked the ball over from six yards out after it had been played over the top of the United defence.
And Charlie Mulgrew came close towards the end of the half with a powerful shot inside the area which was well saved by Raimond van der Gouw.

The second-half saw a number of changes to the line-ups, with one of those, Shaun Maloney, coming close to a goal in the 50 minute, but his free-kick from 23 yards out flashed just wide of the target.

But the Hoops did get a goal back with 15 minutes remaining, courtesy of Scott McDonald.

The ball was threaded through to Georgios Samaras who, in turn, fed McDonald. And while his initial effort was blocked on the line, he took aim again and fired the ball into the roof of the net.

Just three minutes later, it was 2-2 and this time Maloney was on target, pouncing on the ball on the edge of the six-yard box to steer the ball into the back of the net.

Celtic came close to a winner when Scott McDonald intercepted a cross-field pass, but his effort from 25 yards out went just wide.

The game was decided by a penalty shoot-out and it was Celtic who came out on top, with Lee Naylor scoring the all-important winning goal.

CELTIC: Hart, Lustig, Loovens, Ambrose, Mulgrew, Naylor, Crosas, Ledley, Rogic, McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink.
Subs: Boruc, Johansen, Hinkel, Donnelly, Maloney, Petrov, Samaras

MANCHESTER UNITED: van der Gouw, Simpson, Pugh, Blackett, Silvestre, Fletcher, Berbatov, Djemba Djemba, Carrick, Saha, Nani.
Subs: Pilkington, Poborsky, Webber, Chadwick, Campbell, Eagles, Gibson, Blackmore

Celtic shoot-out success in Foundation Legends Match