Match Report


Ayr UnitedAyr United     CelticCeltic
Scott TubbrittScott Tubbritt darren Nicholls darren Nicholls
Andy McStayA. McStay83
G
1
G
73Neil BenaliN. Benali
Pierre MbambaP. Mbamba72
D
2
D
72Ebi IwanE. Iwan
Craig CollinsC. Collins70
D
3captain
D
77Tomas NordqvistT. Nordqvist
Emilio BustamanteE. Bustamante80
D
4
D
76Stjepan BoksicS. Boksic
Alpay AbdullahA. Abdullah76
D
captain5
M
84Stephen NaysmithS. Naysmith
Emmanuel NwakireE. Nwakire73
M
6
M
92Matt BradyM. Brady
Craig MccallC. Mccall78
M
7
M
86Craig McallisterC. Mcallister
Marcus CharltonM. Charlton73
M
8
M
79Kevin DalglishK. Dalglish
Gianfranco ZanettiG. Zanetti72
A
9
A
85Tony CarrickT. Carrick
Pablo PonceP. Ponce72
A
10
A
86Neil SounessN. Souness
Carlton BrandC. Brand72
A
11
A
82Robin FavreR. Favre
 
Alex CampbellA. Campbell52
G
12
A
77Julian BlancJ. Blanc
Magnus MoukokoM. Moukoko70
M
13
A
82Dominic CampbellD. Campbell
Maksym ValeevM. Valeev42
A
14
A
81León CarvajalL. Carvajal

Specialized
today's match is sponsored by Specialized
Match Report
It's a sunny day here at Somerset Park where Ayr United play host to Celtic. A crowd of 17,600 fill this 21,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in good condition.
Ayr United are playing in a 4-3-3 formation while Celtic appear to be shaped for 3-4-3.
Today's match is refereed by Matt Hutchison.


0.00
Celtic start the match!
2.20
Craig Mcallister flicks a high ball forward to Matt Brady who takes it down. Matt Brady knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
4.03
Stjepan Boksic knocks the ball to his team mate, Matt Brady. Matt Brady flicks a high ball forward to Neil Souness who gracefully takes it down. Neil Souness lofts in a cross ball towards Robin Favre. Robin Favre connects with a diving header but it is tipped over by Andy McStay.
5.55
Corner kick to Celtic. Kevin Dalglish chips it out wide. Neil Souness muscles his way past his marker and unleashes a shot at goal but is denied by Emilio Bustamante. Excellent block.
9.20
Stjepan Boksic receives the ball from a throw-in from Tomas Nordqvist. Stjepan Boksic controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Tony Carrick. Tony Carrick knocks the ball forward to Robin Favre. Robin Favre knocks in a cross ball towards Craig Mcallister. Emmanuel Nwakire barges into Craig Mcallister. Craig Mcallister appeals for a penalty! The referee hasn't seen anything wrong!!
10.11
Marcus Charlton sees Pablo Ponce in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Pablo Ponce shoots from 25 yards but it flies just off target!
16.29
Pierre Mbamba knocks the ball forward to Marcus Charlton. Marcus Charlton decides to run forward with the ball. Marcus Charlton whips in a cross ball towards Gianfranco Zanetti. Gianfranco Zanetti powers a header at goal but it's a woeful effort!
18.26
Craig Mccall flicks a high pass forward to Gianfranco Zanetti who brings the ball neatly under control. Gianfranco Zanetti shoots from outside the area but it's well over the bar!
20.39
Showing composure, Matt Brady laces a through ball forward to Tony Carrick. Tony Carrick passes the ball forward but Kevin Dalglish is offside!
24.11
With vision, Stjepan Boksic plays the ball forward to Matt Brady. Seeing a gap ahead, Matt Brady plays the ball forward to Stephen Naysmith. Stephen Naysmith shoots from distance. Andy McStay gets down and covers it.
26.57
Robin Favre controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Neil Souness. Neil Souness shoots from 25 yards but it's a lousy effort!
27.46
Craig Mccall hacks Tomas Nordqvist from behind! The referee calls over Craig Mccall and shows him a yellow card! Tomas Nordqvist runs off the knock.
30.01
Marcus Charlton knocks the ball to his team mate, Emmanuel Nwakire. Emmanuel Nwakire knocks in a cross ball towards Gianfranco Zanetti. Gianfranco Zanetti whips the ball goalwards with his head. Gianfranco Zanetti scores for Ayr United!!
33.34
Stjepan Boksic flicks the ball to his team mate, Craig Mcallister. Craig Mcallister threads the ball through to Robin Favre. Robin Favre knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Alpay Abdullah.
34.14
Matt Brady flicks a high pass forward to Kevin Dalglish who brings the ball under control. Kevin Dalglish controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal. The ball flies a good few feet wide of the post.
38.08
Stephen Naysmith flicks a high pass forward. Robin Favre collects the pass. Robin Favre shoots from 20 yards. Good keeping from Andy McStay as he gets his fingers to the ball and pushes it wide.
39.09
It's a corner kick which Matt Brady takes quickly, playing the ball short to Stjepan Boksic. Stjepan Boksic heads the ball, flicking it across the into the box. Marcus Charlton chests the ball down and quickly clears it out of the danger area!
44.11
Craig Collins threads a neat ball through to Craig Mccall. Craig Mccall threads a neat ball through to Marcus Charlton. Marcus Charlton finds some space and shoots from distance but is denied by Neil Benali. Excellent save.
45.00
Pierre Mbamba deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Marcus Charlton. Marcus Charlton makes a simple pass to Gianfranco Zanetti. Gianfranco Zanetti advances inside the box! Stjepan Boksic catches Gianfranco Zanetti on the ankles. Penalty for Ayr United!!
45.00
The referee points to the spot..
45.00
Pablo Ponce slowly runs up. The ball dips under the bar and into the back of the net. Goal!!
45.00
The referee blows for the end of the first half

Both teams emerge for the second half. Ayr United appear unchanged since the first half. Celtic also appear unchanged since the first half.

45.00
Ayr United kick off and get the second half underway!
47.57
Marcus Charlton clumsily knocks into Stephen Naysmith. The referee warns Marcus Charlton to calm down! Stephen Naysmith runs off the knock.
51.49
Stjepan Boksic flicks a high pass forward. Robin Favre collects the pass. Robin Favre puts a great ball through. Craig Mcallister runs beyond the defensive line but is deemed offside!
53.20
Marcus Charlton threads a neat ball through to Gianfranco Zanetti. Gianfranco Zanetti sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal. The ball swerves viciously but the keeper is more than a match for it. He makes it look easy!
60.24
Emilio Bustamante flicks a high pass forward to Marcus Charlton who brings the ball under control. Marcus Charlton flicks a high pass forward. Carlton Brand holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Carlton Brand knocks in a poor cross ball which is cleared easily by Tomas Nordqvist.
61.29
Stjepan Boksic makes a simple pass to Tony Carrick. Tony Carrick knocks in a cross ball towards Matt Brady. Matt Brady whips the ball goalwards with his head but it is tipped over by Andy McStay.
62.57
Matt Brady takes a short corner kick, passing the ball to Tomas Nordqvist. Tomas Nordqvist comes in from the left and smashes a shot from 11 yards out. It curls slightly but is blocked by Marcus Charlton.
63.23
Seeing a gap ahead, Ebi Iwan plays the ball forward to Matt Brady. Matt Brady knocks in a cross ball towards Robin Favre. Robin Favre beats his man to it with a header. Andy McStay gathers the ball up comfortably. Good keeping!
65.19
Craig Collins plays the ball forward to Emmanuel Nwakire. Emmanuel Nwakire darts forward. Emmanuel Nwakire knocks in a cross ball towards Carlton Brand. Carlton Brand powers a header at goal. Carlton Brand scores for Ayr United!!
69.23
The play is deadlocked with neither team giving up possession lightly.
81.48
Emmanuel Nwakire clumsily knocks into Craig Mcallister. The referee reaches into his pocket ... it's a yellow card! Craig Mcallister runs off the knock.
83.16
Matt Brady knocks the ball forward to Tony Carrick. Tony Carrick whips in a cross ball towards Robin Favre. Robin Favre connects with the ball, driving a powerful header at goal but is denied by Andy McStay. Excellent save.
84.22
Alpay Abdullah knocks the ball forward to Craig Mccall. Without breaking stride, Craig Mccall plays the ball forward to Pablo Ponce. Pablo Ponce whips in a cross ball towards Carlton Brand. Carlton Brand outjumps his marker and heads the ball goalward. Neil Benali didn't know what hit him as the ball comes off him at close range. The loose ball is scrambled clear by the defence.
85.11
Kevin Dalglish makes a simple pass to Craig Mcallister. Craig Mcallister knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
89.32
Ebi Iwan knocks the ball to his team mate, Kevin Dalglish. With a delightful solo run, Kevin Dalglish stretches the opposition's defence. Kevin Dalglish whips in a cross ball towards Craig Mcallister. Craig Mcallister shows true skill creating a chance out of nothing and knocks the ball goalwards with his head. Andy McStay gathers the ball up comfortably. Top class keeping!
90.00
The whistle indicates full-time!

Match Statistics
 

Ayr United

Celtic
Goals
3
0
Shots on Target
6
9
Shots off Target
3
2
Offsides
0
2
Fouls
3
1
Yellow Cards
2
0
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
41.9%
58.1%
Play Area
30.2%
43%
26.7%

Scorers
Gianfranco Zanetti 30
Pablo Ponce 45 (p)
Carlton Brand 65

Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Andy McStay of Ayr United

Match Ratings
1.Andy McStay (GK)
9
2.Pierre Mbamba (DEF)
6
3.Craig Collins (DEF)
6
4.Emilio Bustamante (DEF)
6
5.Alpay Abdullah (DEF)
6
6.Emmanuel Nwakire (MID)yellow card
7
7.Craig Mccall (MID)yellow card
6
8.Marcus Charlton (MID)
8
9.Gianfranco Zanetti (ATT)goal scored
9
10.Pablo Ponce (ATT)goal scored
6
11.Carlton Brand (ATT)goal scored
8
 
12.Alex Campbell (GK)
0
13.Magnus Moukoko (MID)
0
14.Maksym Valeev (ATT)
0

1.Neil Benali (GK)
7
2.Ebi Iwan (DEF)
6
3.Tomas Nordqvist (DEF)
6
4.Stjepan Boksic (DEF)
7
5.Stephen Naysmith (MID)
6
6.Matt Brady (MID)
7
7.Craig Mcallister (MID)
6
8.Kevin Dalglish (MID)
6
9.Tony Carrick (ATT)
6
10.Neil Souness (ATT)
6
11.Robin Favre (ATT)
7
 
12.Julian Blanc (ATT)
0
13.Dominic Campbell (ATT)
0
14.León Carvajal (ATT)
0