Match Pictures | Matches: 2025 – 2026
Trivia
- KO: 19:45, Friday;
- League Cup 2nd Round. Premier Sports Cup
- Celtic the holders, relatively more straight forward result than last season when Falkirk gave Celtic a very touch workout.
- Celtic will face Kairat Almaty in the Champions League play-offs after the Kazakhstan side defeated Slovan Bratislava following a penalty shoot-out in Slovakia.
- Ex-Celtic Scott Bain in goals for Falkirk; Note: Falkirk player Liam Henderson who score the own goal today is NOT the same player as the ex-Celtic player Liam Henderson.
- A century of games for Liam Scales.
- Esteemed Celtic historian Pat Woods passed away, RIP.
- Ex-Celt Ismaila Soro training with Falkirk after he left Beitar Jerusalem.
- A Celtic legends side will take on Feyenoord on October 12 in the inaugural Wim Jansen Cup.
- Dane Murray signed a new contract extension until June 2028, then scores debut goal on the same day!
- Reports:
- Celtic have joined Anderlecht and Besiktas in the race to sign 23-year-old Le Havre centre-half Etienne Youte at a price of £4.3m.
- Talk of Kenny & Inamura to go out on loan.
- Linked again with 23-year-old Le Havre centre-half Etienne Youte, and with Michel-Ange Balikwisha.
- Maeda: Japan-based journalist ‘quashed’ £27m transfer exit rumour.
- £2.2m offer for Andy Irving rejected by West Ham; reportedly by Celtic, West Ham wanting £3.5M.
- Reports grow of transfer interest to take Trusty.
- Celtic-linked Giuseppe Ambrosino could stay and fight for his future at Napoli.
- Maeda to Brentford for 20m? Rumours scorched.
- Transfers in: Kieran Tierney (free from Arsenal, 27 May 2025); Ross Doohan signed on a three-year deal. Isaac English from Morton; Benjamin Nygren undisclosed fee from Nordsjaelland (est €1.5/£1.3m); Callum Osmand development fee from Fulham; Hayato Inamura from Albirex Niigata fee £~250k; Shin Yamada est £1.2m from Kawasaki Frontal; Jahmai Simpson-Pusey from Man City, 1 year loan (no purchase option);
- Transfers out: Scott Bain released on a free, moved to Falkirk; Daniel Cummings (£300k, pre-contract signed last Jan with West Ham); Joey Dawson (free to Scunthorpe); Matt Anderson to KV Kortrijk (Belgium, Free); Maik Nawrocki year loan deal to German side Hannover 96 with purchase clause; Lagerbielke to Braga (est up to £2.7m with 10% sell on clause); Lenny Agbaire to Rotherham (free); Luis Palma to Lech Poznan on loan with purchase option; Kyle Ure to Ayr Utd on loan; Ben McPherson season-long loan move to Partick Thistle;
Summary
“I think Falkirk have shown they are a very good side and, if you step off them, they can be a threat. “In first half, we played well, but we were not aggressive enough and we stepped it up and did very well in the second half. “I thought our attitude in the game was excellent. Very pleasing to get through.”
“We started the game with the intensity and tempo we wanted. There were a couple of moments where we weren’t aggressive enough in the first half which we spoke about at half-time and in the second half we really dominated the game, didn’t give away anything and we were hungry in the game.
“Overall really pleased. A lot of the players who hadn’t played came in and gave great value to the team. We had good variety in attack tonight. We were precise around the box when we needed to be.
“It’s a big game for us on Wednesday here. We play with that same intensity and tempo as tonight and we’ll have a good night.
“We’ve named a squad and we’ll wait and see what happens before the game.”
Brendan Rodger post-match
“Celtic were very very good tonight. They were excellent in the way they moved the ball and the pace and intensity.
“We just couldn’t live with them. We tried our best but you see the difference.
“We have to do better. We lose the ball and we get punished.
“If we’re going to come here and give ourselves a chance, we have to learn quickly and can’t be giving up goals as cheaply as we did there.
“There were positives as well and of course Keelan Adams scored.
“We need reinforcements. We’re all going to play 38 games, others will get a march on us by getting points on the board but it’ll all equal out and hopefully we’ll get better as the games come around.
“We’ve targeted certain players and they’re still there or thereabouts and hopefully we’ll get them over the line.
Falkirk manager John McGlynn tells BBC Scotland
Lee Miller Former Falkirk manager on BBC Scotland “Arne Engels was excellent tonight, especially from his dead ball situations. He showed a good temperament and good character, he just has to do that more consistently.”
“Delighted. We set out to win these comps every year, so it’s a strong start. I don’t score much so I was more shocked than anything.”
Celtic defender Dane Murray on scoring his debut goal on same day he got a contract extension (4-1 win in League Cup v Falkirk Aug 2025)
Inside The SPFL @AgentScotland · 11h Arnie Engels is having a really good game. He’s played on the left-hand side of the midfield three in every game so far this season, can’t remember him playing there once last season.
Hellas 67 of KDS: Very good perfomance, never in doubt, we should still have too much for the league in most games, but I’m pretty sure we all want to see another 2 or 3 quality first team starters brought in to kick on in the CL, yeah we’re never going to win it, but let’s for once try and go one better than the year before, which not only brings in even more money but makes us more attractive to decent talent!
E-Tims @ETimsNet · 10h FT #Celtic 4 Falkirk 1 An entertaining match. Celtic played some really good fitba and zipped it about well. First goal for Dane Murray. Cracker from AJ. Falkirk always trying to play good fitba. Job done. Wee nod to ex-Celt, Scott Skoosh Bain. Some fine saves tonight. Hope he does well with the Bairns.
Teams
Celtic
Manager: Brendan Rodgers
Formation: 4 – 5 – 1
12 V. Sinisalo
63 K. Tierney, subbed for L. Scales at 63mins
06 A. Trusty
47 D. Murray
02 A. Johnston
38 D. Maeda, subbed for Yang Hyun-Jun at 63mins
14 L. McCowan
42 C. McGregor (c), Captain
27 A. Engels, subbed for Paulo Bernardo at 77mins
49 J. Forrest, subbed for B. Nygren at 77mins
24 J. Kenny, subbed for S. Yamada at 63mins
Subs:
28 Paulo Bernardo
41 R. Hatate
09 A. Idah
08 B. Nygren
56 A. Ralston
05 L. Scales
01 K. Schmeichel
18 S. Yamada
13 Yang Hyun-Jun
Goals:
D. Maeda (26′)
A. Johnston (54′)
D. Murray (61′)
L. Henderson (64′ og) Own Goal 64mins [Kudos to Yang who created this]
Assists:
D. Tait (67′)
Falkirk
Manager: John McGlynn
Formation: 4 – 5 – 1
19 S. Bain
03 L. McCann
05 L. Henderson
15 L. Neilson
02 K. Adams
11 A. Agyeman, subbed for A. Nesbitt at 54mins
21 D. Tait, subbed for G. Oliver at 78mins
08 B. Spencer (c), Captain
17 H. Cartwright, subbed for C. Allan at 54mins
29 C. Miller, subbed for S. Arfield at 66mins
09 R. MacIver, subbed for B. Graham at 66mins
Subs:
20 C. Allan 74′, Yellow Card at 74mins
37 S. Arfield
07 B. Graham 78′, Yellow Card at 78mins
01 N. Hogarth
26 S. Mackie
34 C. McCrone
10 A. Nesbitt
18 G. Oliver
32 R. Walker
Goals:
K. Adams (67′)
Assists:
K. Tierney (26′), A. Engels (61′)
Venue:Celtic Park
Referee Lloyd Wilson
Video Assistant Referee John Beaton
Assistant Referee 1 Chris Rae
Assistant Referee 2 Graham McNeillie
Assistant VAR Official David Roome
Att:
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
Stats
Overall possession
Celtic 76% Falkirk 24%
Shots
Celtic 19 Falkirk 6
Shots on target
Celtic 8 Falkirk 5
Goalkeeper saves
Celtic 4 Falkirk 4
Fouls committed
Celtic 8 Falkirk 8
Corners
Celtic 16 Falkirk 2
In-depth match stats
Attack
Shots
Celtic 19 Falkirk 6
Shots on target
Celtic 8 Falkirk 5
Shots off target
Celtic 6 Falkirk 1
Attempts out of box
Celtic 8 Falkirk 5
Hit woodwork
Celtic 1 Falkirk 0
Total offsides
Celtic 1 Falkirk 2
Distribution
Successful final third passes
Celtic 2 Falkirk 6
Total crosses
Celtic 16 Falkirk 2
Defence
Fouls committed
Celtic 8 Falkirk 8
Total yellow cards
Celtic 0 Falkirk 2
Articles
Stylish Celtic deliver emphatic cup win over Falkirk
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/august/15/stylish-celtic-deliver-emphatic-cup-win-over-falkirk/
First Team
By Paul Cuddihy, Celtic View Editor
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15 Aug 2025, 9:59 pm
Premier Sports Cup
Friday, August 15, 2025
Celtic Park, Glasgow
CELTIC…4
(Maeda 25, Johnston 51, Murray 61, Henderson 64og)
FALKIRK…1
(Adams 67)
Celtic cruised into the last eight of the Premier Sports Cup with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Falkirk at Paradise.
The cup holders started the defence of their trophy in a positive manner, attacking Falkirk down either flank and delivering a number of dangerous balls into the box without anyone getting on the end of them.
Johnny Kenny had a great chance for the opener after 10 minutes when he latched on to a lay-off from James Forrest, but his first-time shot from the edge of the six-yard box flashed just wide of the target.
Former Celtic keeper, Scott Bain, now between the sticks for Falkirk, then denied Callum McGregor after the Celtic captain tried his luck from the edge of the box.
The visitors’ first effort came in the 13th minute when Ross MacIver was put through on goal, but his weak effort went wide of the target.
Celtic went straight up the park, and Bain was on call to deny Kieran Tierney his first goal since returning to the club after he tried his luck from 20 yards out.
Arne Engels came even closer on 24 minutes when his free-kick from the edge of the area came back off the post, but just a minute later the Hoops took the lead.
A ball clipped in to the back post was knocked across goal by Tierney, and Daizen Maeda was on hand to head home from six yards out to make it 1-0.
Falkirk tested Viljami Sinisalo just two minutes later with a powerful 25-yard strike, but the Finnish keeper produced a superb save to push the ball round the post.
James Forrest passed up an opportunity to double Celtic’s lead on 37 minutes when he headed a Luke McCowan cross over from six yards out, while Sinisalo saved from MacIver just three minutes later to ensure Celtic remained 1-0 ahead at the break.
76%
Possession
24%
19
Shots
6
8
Shots On Target
5
16
Corners
2
8
Fouls
8
0
0
Cards
2
0
James Forrest came close to his first goal of the campaign when he fired in a powerful shot just four minutes after the break, but Scott Bain produced another good save to deny him.
But on 53 minutes, the Hoops did double their lead and it was a wonderful finish from Alistair Johnston.
The Canadian defender surged into the box and fired home an unstoppable left-foot shot to make it 2-0.
And just after the hour mark, Dane Murray scored his first goal for Celtic to make it 3-0. He rose highest to head home an Arne Engels corner, and it capped a great day for the young defender, having signed a new deal with the club earlier in the day before making a start against Falkirk.
And just three minutes after that goal, it was 4-0 to the cup holders when Liam Henderson turned a Yang cross into his own net.
Falkirk did score a consolation strike in the 67th minute when Keelan Adams blasted a shot into the top corner of the net.
There was to be no further scoring, although Celtic remained in control and Paulo Bernardo came closest with an effort from the edge of the box that was deflected wide for a corner.
Celtic: Sinisalo, Johnston, Murray, Trusty, Tierney (Scales 63′), Forrest (Nygren 77′), Engels (Paulo Bernardo 77′), McGregor, McCowan, Maeda (Hyunjun Yang 63′), Kenny (Yamada 63′)
Subs: Schmeichel, Scales, Nygren, Idah, Hyunjun Yang, Yamada, Paulo Bernardo, Hatate, Ralston
Falkirk: Bain, Adams, Neilson, Henderson, McCann, Miller (Arfield 66′), Cartwright (Allan 54′), Spencer, Tait (Oliver 78′), Agyeman (Nesbitt 54′), MacIver (Graham 66′)
Subs: Hogarth, Graham, Nesbitt, Oliver, Allan, Mackie, Walker, McCrone, Arfield
Brendan Rodgers delighted with Friday night victory under the lights at Paradise
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/august/15/brendan-rodgers-delighted-with-friday-night-victory-under-the-lights-at-paradise/
First Team
By Paul Cuddihy, Celtic View Editor
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15 Aug 2025, 10:24 pm
Brendan Rodgers was delighted with his side’s performance as they defeated Falkirk 4-1 at home to progress to the last eight of the Premier Sports Cup.
Daizen Maeda gave the Hoops a first-half lead, while second-half goals from Alistair Johnston, Dane Murray and a Falkirk own goal set the seal on an emphatic victory for the cup holders.
They will find out who they face when the draw for the last eight is made on Saturday night, and while the focus from tomorrow will be on the UEFA Champions League play-off tie against FC Kairat on Wednesday night, the Celtic manager reflected on an impressive display from his side under the lights on Friday night.
Speaking to Celtic TV after the game, he said: “I thought it was a very good performance. We started the game where we wanted to in that first five minutes.
“The tempo was really good, we were precise in our passing and scored some outstanding goals.
“To be fair to Scott Bain, he’s made some very good saves for them.
“Falkirk are a dangerous team if you let them play because they’ve got good flexibility and good technical players, but I think we dominated the game and, overall, I’m really pleased.”
Alistair Johnston’s performance, including his superb goal, earned him a well-deserved Man of the Match Award, and his manager was pleased with his contribution.
“We said to him at half-time that he needed to come inside the pressure, and that was a great example,” said Brendan Rodgers, “and it was a wonderful finish. He guided it into the far corner, so I’m really pleased for him.
“Every game, the opening five minutes is very important for us, so that’s something we want to bring to the game on Wednesday.
“Being at home in the first leg, you want to bring an advantage away with you, so if we play like that and put in that performance then we can have a really good opportunity to take a lead away with us.”
‘His ceiling is so high’ – Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers believes sky is limit for up and coming star
By Ross McLeish
0Comments
Published 15th Aug 2025, 23:13 BST
Defender celebrates new contract with maiden senior goal
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers claimed the sky’s the limit for Dane Murray after the centre-back celebrated his new contract with a maiden goal in first-team football.
The 22-year-old headed home Celtic’s third goal from an Arne Engels corner as the Hoops beat Falkirk 4-1 at Parkhead to reach the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals.
The central defender made his first appearances for Celtic in the Champions League play-offs against Midtjylland in 2021 but subsequently suffered two separate cruciate ligament injuries and did not play another first-team game for three years.
He was recalled from a loan spell at Queen’s Park midway through last season but injury ended his campaign prematurely after he returned to the Celtic team. However, he was one of six players drafted in by Rodgers for the cup tie and he took his chance with a deft header from close range.
Rodgers said: “It’s great for him because he’s a great boy. He’s got a lot of potential. And I think over the next 12 to 18 months, he’s going to really grow.
“His ceiling is so high. There’s areas of the game that he needs to clearly, obviously, work on. But he’s 6ft 4in, he’s quick, he can take the ball. He has a comfort with the ball which aligns with top players.
“Just, concentration is something that’s key for defenders. But I really, really like him and that’s hence the reason we’ve tied him down – and I think he’s got a great future.”
Daizen Maeda scored the only goal of an open first half with a diving header and Celtic took full control after the break with a flurry of goals from Alistair Johnston, Murray and Liam Henderson’s own goal, before Keelan Adams notched an impressive consolation.
“I thought the performance was very, very good from the first whistle,” Rodgers said. “You’ve seen the hunger in the team and the intensity in the team.
“The first half we were good with the ball, but not so good without it. It gave Falkirk a couple of wee opportunities to break through. We weren’t aggressive enough and tight enough. When we corrected that at half-time, we really dominated the second half. The goals were excellent and I thought we played really, really well.”
Falkirk manager John McGlynn was frustrated that two Celtic goals came from set-pieces and two others came from his side losing possession deep in their own half. But he was pleased with the way his top-flight newcomers approached the challenge.
“Kind of cheap goals, but Celtic deserved to win by that margin,” he said. “Of course they did with the amount of pressure they had on us, the amount of corners and the amount of attempts. So I didn’t have any complaints about that.
“We were kind of causing our own downfall, but I thought Celtic were very, very good. And we’ll need to take learnings from that. But you’re spending millions of pounds building a team like that. And I know the Celtic fans are still wanting more signings, but there didn’t look much wrong with that team to me.”
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c33665040rzt#Report
Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland
Holders Celtic scored three goals in 10 second-half minutes to ease into the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals, as Falkirk were given another insight into how tough life will be against top-flight teams.
Falkirk, then a Scottish Championship side, gave Celtic a fright in last season’s last eight, leading 2-1 at half-time in Glasgow before going down 5-2.
This time, arriving as a fellow Premiership team, they found themselves on the back foot from the off against a side showing impressive early fluency despite manager Brendan Rodgers making six changes from their weekend win in Aberdeen.
And John McGlynn’s never looked like denying their hosts a third straight win.
Just when Falkirk looked to have survived the early onslaught, Kieran Tierney headed a Callum McGregor cross into the path of the diving Daizen Maeda for the Japan forward’s ninth goal in nine League Cup appearances.
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Falkirk, though, frustrated the hosts until that flurry of goals around the hour mark.
Alistair Johnston dispossessed Calvin Miller before curling into the far corner; 22-year-old centre-half Dane Murray marked his new contract by heading his first Celtic goal; then substitute Yang Hyun-jun’s low cross deflected in off Falkirk defender Liam Henderson.
Henderson had almost passed into his own net early on, former Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain saved well from Tierney and McGregor, while an Arne Engels free-kick slammed off the face of the far post, all before Maeda’s breakthrough.
Falkirk’s failure to win either of their opening league fixtures has had some fearing their ability to compete in the top flight, but they did pose a threat of their own on the break.
Ross MacIver stabbed wide a chance to open the scoring, while Miller forced a fine save from Viljami Sinisalo and Alfredo Agyeman shot straight at the goalkeeper as the visitors sought an equaliser.
The game was over as a contest by the time they did become the first side to score against Celtic this season and what a beauty it was – Keelan Adams marking his 50th Falkirk appearance by thundering a drive home from the edge of the box.
Full Time: Celtic 4-1 Falkirk
By Liam Kelly 15 August, 2025 No Comments
The Premier Sports Cup
The Premier Sports Cup. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star
A much changed Celtic team was selected to start this Premier Sports Cup clash with Falkirk. Trusty, Murray, Kenny and Engels came into the side.
The match started with a series of crosses flying across the Falkirk box. Then, on 9 minutes Johnny Kenny almost broke the deadlock when another delivery found its way too him, and moments later Callum McGregor tested his former teammate Scott Bain with an effort from range.
The old Celtic stopper was soon scrambling once more, when a stray back pass almost went into his net, but fortunately for him it rolled just past the post. Meanwhile, at the other end, Falkirk broke clear when Celtic’s defence parted, but the attempt on goal was poor.
It was end to end stuff with Tierney and Kenny calling the keeper into action again before the 15 minute mark. Almost ten minutes later, Celtic came within inches of taking the lead as Arne Engels rattled the crossbar with a powerful free kick from the left edge of the box. The Hoops barely had to wait 30 seconds to make the breakthrough, when McGregor’s glorious chip was headed square by Trusty and Maeda then headed home from five yards. A wonderfully worked goal.
Falkirk hit back really well, with another ex Celt Calvin Miller stretching Sinisalo with a great left footed shot that was heading towards the corner. In reply, Celtic broke up field and Forrest supplied the pass to the overlapping Johnston, whose stabbed cross found Engels two yards from goal but somehow the midfielder couldn’t divert his header into the net.
Though Celtic were well on top, there were a number of occasions when Falkirk were able to find space and exploit it, getting a number of shots off. That said, Celtic’s chances were increasingly of the clear cut variety. Indeed, James Forrest put a header over the bar from close range – a golden opportunity that went begging. It was Forrest in the thick of things again before half time, when he misaimed a pass in his own half and the Falkirk midfield latched onto the ball, resulting in a smart save from Sinisalo after a speculative effort from range.
An entertaining half drew to a close with Celtic leading 1-0.
The second 45 started in similar fashion. Celtic were on the front foot and James Forrest smashed a shot from the edge of the box on his right foot, which Bain turned wide for a corner.
In the 52nd minute, sloppy play from Falkirk at the back, saw Alistair Johnston gain possession in acres of space. He moved into the box and coolly curled the ball beyond the goalkeeper with his left foot.
On the hour mark, Dane Murray made it 3-0 with a guided header into the corner, the result of a phenomenal Engels corner which had pace and precision combined to provide the opportunity.
With the game won, Brendan Rodgers rung the changes. Scales, Yamada and Yang came on to replace Tierney, Maeda and Kenny. Those swaps gave the subs half an hour to stake their claim for a starting berth. Yang did just that within seconds of entering the field. The winger danced up the left wing and his low cross struck the defender (Henderson) before bouncing cruelly into the goal.
Incredibly, by the 66th minute the score was 4-1 as Falkirk’s right back Keelan Adams took control of the ball on the right corner of the box and drove a piledriver into the far top corner. It was an outstanding goal, worthy of much more than a mere consolation.
The Bhoys ultimately eased to victory by four goals to one.