Spirited young Celts progress in cup
SFA Youth Cup
Tynecastle, Edinburgh
Sunday, October 21, 2012
HEARTS…1
(Carrick 45)
CELTIC…2
Atajic 76, Lindsay 80
CELTIC Under-20s staged a superb second-half fightback to overcome Hearts 2-1 at Tynecastle and progress to the next round of the SFA Youth Cup.
Trailing to Dale Carrick´s header, the holders showed their determination to mount a fourth successive defence of the trophy with a spirited comeback after the interval.
Bahrudin Atajic´s spectacular scissor-kick restored parity for the young Celts, and several minutes later substitute Jamie Lindsay completed the turnaround following an incisive passing move.
There were a number of changes to the team that had faced St Johnstone in the league earlier in the week as those on national service with their countries in the past fortnight returned to the reckoning.
That saw the likes of Stuart Findlay, Joe Chalmers, Marcus Fraser, Jackson Irvine and John Herron all take their place in the starting XI for the testing third round tie.
The opening exchanges were typically frenetic of a cup tie with little space afforded to either side, limiting creative opportunities.
It was from a corner that Celtic came closest to testing the Hearts goal when Herron was inches away from connecting with Chalmers´ delivery in the second minute.
But the young Hoops had Glenn Daniels to thank for keeping them on level terms as the goalkeeper reacted brilliantly to push Dale Carrick´s close-range effort wide of the post.
The hosts then passed up another decent chance as Jamie Walker fired over from a cutback from their next attack.
That sparked a response from the youths as Chalmers and then Lewis Kidd made enterprising bursts down the left but their crosses had no takers.
Coming forward from right back, Michael Miller saw a shot deflected over from distance but that proved to the only effort on goal in a frustrating first half for the visitors.
And on the stroke of half time the home side opened the scoring when Carrick bulleted home a header from a left-wing cross.
Tommy McIntyre and John Kennedy made a double change at the break with Denny Johnstone and Jamie Lindsay replacing Miller and Paddy McNally.
And the changes appeared to have the desired effect as the youths started the second half with intent and purpose. Herron immediately won a free-kick on the byline before the young Hoops won a succession of corners.
Celtic were now in the ascendancy. Lindsay fired over after being teed-up by Stuart Findlay, Herron nearly fastened onto a through ball and Johnstone´s deflected shot nearly looped over Jack Hamilton but the Hearts shot-stopper gathered at the second attempt.
Chalmers had been a constant thorn in the Hearts side with his overlapping runs down the left and two of his searching crosses narrowly evaded Johnstone as the Hoops upped the pressure.
And the home side´s resistance was finally broken in 76th minute. Lindsay sent in a deep cross from the right and Atajic found the far top corner with a spectacular scissor kick.
Now brimming with renewed self-belief, they completed the turnaround several minutes later as Lindsay buried a shot beyond Hamilton after a neat exchange of passes.
And the young Celts were in mood to surrender their hard-fought advantage in the closing stages as they comfortably held on for a superb win, testament to the character and spirit among the squad.
CELTIC (4-4-2) Daniels; Miller (Lindsay 46) McNally (Johnstone 46), Findlay, Chalmers; Fisher, Fraser, Irvine, Kidd; Herron (O´Connell 90) , Atajic
Subs: Hart, McMullan
