Rodgers lauds O’Riley for starring Celtic performance amid exit talk

Brendan Rodgers’ squad scored twice in every half to earn a 4-0 victory within the Nation’s Capital. Matt O’Riley scored twice in a seven-minute span earlier than half-time whereas second-half substitutes Mikey Johnston and James Forrest added objectives of their very own after the hour mark. 

17-year-old Colby Donovan and 20-year-old Matthew Anderson have been among the many Celtic starters whereas summer season signing Viljami Sinisalo performed 45 minutes off the bench. Dane Murray and Bosun Lawal additionally earned essential minutes, as did ahead Mikey Johnston. 

“There’s lots that I loved about tonight’s efficiency,” Rodgers mentioned to reporters put up match.

“I believed we have been dynamic and technically superb. We knew the pitch was going to be a problem, however the gamers noticed it first hand earlier than the match and I used to be happy with how they handled it.”

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“We’re persevering with to construct our health and I believe that when we’ve that defensive angle that we wish to have, it’s going to result in our offensive rhythm,” he added. “We did very nicely tonight in urgent and placing the work in so we might assault the sport once we had possession.

“We scored 4 objectives and I believed our younger gamers made essentially the most of their probabilities as nicely. It was one other good train for us and now we wish to take that into our remaining two matches of the pre-season.” 

Early strain from the Hoops nearly led to a stellar end from Tomoki Iwata simply inside the 18-yard field. Iwata managed possession earlier than flicking a right-footed overhead volley in the direction of the far put up, however the shot landed simply broad

A lucky bounce nearly led to Kyogo Furuhashi breaking the impasse within the seventeenth minute however the veteran attacker skied his effort over the crossbar. 

Luis Palma examined Luis Zamudio within the twentieth minute for the primary registered shot on the right track. The Honduran winger created room on the left facet earlier than drilling a shot throughout objective. Nevertheless, Zamudio dove to his left and punched away Palma’s effort. 

Zamudio denied Celtic once more within the twenty fourth minute, this time diving to his proper to punch away Kyogo’s point-blank header. 

Celtic’s strain lastly broke by within the twenty fifth minute as captain Matt O’Riley slotted house from shut vary. Iwata’s cross into the field wasn’t cleared by the DC United backline, permitting O’Riley to take benefit for his second objective of the summer season. 

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O’Riley doubled Celtic’s lead within the thirty second minute for his second objective of the half. Nicolas Kuhn’s over-the-top ball led to Kyogo’s authentic shot being saved by Zamudio, however O’Riley adopted up the play and slotted into an empty internet. 

It marked a constructive efficiency from the 23-year-old O’Riley, who has remained linked with a possible transfer away from Paradise. 

“His angle has been top notch,” Rodgers mentioned about Saturday night’s captain. “There’s completely been no change in Matt’s demeanor. I believe he is aware of the privileges of enjoying for Celtic and he is aware of what Celtic has given him. It’s not a burden for him to be at Celtic, he has developed right into a improbable participant.

“While you do what, there’s at all times going to be hypothesis and curiosity,” he added. “You’ll at all times work on enhancing and growing him. He has a firstclass angle, he is aware of what the scenario is and captained the group tonight. He’s a improbable skilled.” 

Celtic was denied a 3-0 first half lead within the fortieth minute after Nicolas Kuhn’s follow-up try was cleared by Zamudio. O’Riley by ball move allowed Kyogo to race in in the direction of objective, however Lucas Bartlett’s stretching clearance performed the ball to Kuhn for the shot. 

Scott Bain saved the clear sheet intact within the forty first minute, diving low to disclaim Dominique Badji inside the field. 

Viljami Sinisalo, Hyun-Jun Yang, Mikey Johnston, Dane Murray and Yuki Kobayashi all entered for Celtic at halftime. Callum McGregor, Bosun Lawal, Greg Taylor, James Forrest and Odin Holm proceeded to enter the fray within the 62nd minute, as Rodgers continued to offer equal alternatives for his full squad.  

Mikey Johnston made it 3-0 to Celtic within the sixty fifth minute, tapping house a cross from James Forrest. Forrest created house on the best wing earlier than drilling a low cross into the DC United field that fellow substitute Johnston might simply slot house.

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Rodgers’ second-half substitutes continued to make an influence within the remaining third as Forrest prolonged Celtic’s result in 4-0 within the seventieth minute. Yang began a two-on-one upfield earlier than sliding a move to Forrest for a easy tap-in. 

Sinisalo’s lone save of the second half got here off a tame long-range try from Mateusz Klich within the 78th minute. 

Johnston got here near registering a brace on the night time, however his penalty-kick try was saved by Nathan Crockford. Yang drew the spot kick after Hayden Sargis tripped him within the field, however Johnston couldn’t benefit from the chance because the DC United goalkeeper delivered a lone shiny spot for the MLS hosts.

The Hoops proceed their preseason tour by dealing with reigning English Premier League champions Manchester Metropolis on Tuesday, July 23 in Chapel Hill, N.C. earlier than closing out their worldwide schedule on Saturday, July 27 in opposition to Chelsea in South Bend, Ind. 

“For us, we’ve two improbable preparation video games in opposition to two world class golf equipment,” Rodgers mentioned. “I’m trying ahead to them and they’re two groups that I do know very nicely. We is likely to be a step forward of them when it comes to our schedule, however that shouldn’t actually matter.”