Youths defeated by late Hibs winner
By: Laura Brannan on 09 May, 2013 21:15
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Under-20 Scottish Premier League
Easter Road, Edinburgh
HIBERNIAN 2
(Doyle 67, Horribine 89)
CELTIC 1
(Atajic 83)
HIBERNIAN´S 89th minute winner denied Celtic´s Under-20s a share of the spoils as they suffered a late 2-1 defeat at Easter Road.
Bahrudin Atajic came off to bench to score the equaliser in the 83rd minute, cancelling out Jay Doyle´s opener. But a wonder-strike by Dean Horribine in the closing seconds stole all three points for Hibs.
Celtic, playing in their black away strip, had their first effort on target nine minutes into the clash. Liam Henderson directed the free-kick into the box, but it went through everyone and straight into Paul Grant´s hands.
Both sides struggled to create any clear-cut chances following that effort, though, and instead the battle took place in the middle third.
There was a moment of stylish play just before the half hour mark when Paul McMullan played a crisp one-two with Patrik Twardzik, before Jamie Lindsay had the ball fed to his feet. He attempted to curl an effort from distance but there wasn’t enough on the shot.
It was a turning into a physical encounter and Hibs were proving hard to break down, but Denny Johnstone made a good turn away from his marker on 34 minutes and eventually the ball was played through to Patrik Twardzik. The Czech youngster fired his shot wide though.
The Edinburgh side were continuing to pose a threat but a perfectly timed tackle by Stuart Findlay denied Doyle from pulling the trigger inside the box. And despite having a free-kick on the cusp of half-time, Hibs couldn’t find an opener, sending the sides into the break goalless.
Similar to the first-half, Henderson had the first chance on target once the game restarted, but this time it was a long-range drive which didn’t have enough on it to trouble Grant.
Hibs were pushing forward, though, and a deflected effort almost opened the scoring just after the hour mark. Leo Fasan was able to get his fingertips to the ball to deny them at the far post.
But just five minutes later the home side found their way towards the same bottom corner and this time they were able to open the scoring. On the second attempt Doyle turned inside the box and took a swipe at the ball, tucking it past Fasan to put Hibs ahead.
Celtic never let their heads drop though, and the 60th minute double substitution looked to have paid off seven minutes from the end. A good run down the left flank by Paul George allowed him to tee up Atajic, and the striker struck a low drive into the bottom corner to bring the sides level again.
But it wasn’t enough to secure a share of the spoils as Hibs found the winner in the 89th minute. Unleashing a rocketing strike, Horribine fired into the top corner from just inside the box, sealing the victory for the home side.
CELTIC (4-4-2): Fasan; Miller, O´Connell, Findlay, Waters; Lindsay, McManus, Henderson, P. Twardzik (Atajic 60); Johnstone, McMullan (George 60)
Subs not used: Hart, Fisher, McNally
Five Filters recommends: Thatcher’s Tyrants – The Tanks, The Guns, The Christmas Cards.
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