celts slip to uhrencup loss

David Friel
CELTIC slipped to defeat in the second game of their Switzerland trip as Young Boys edged a hard-fought UhrenCup encounter.

Jiri Jarosik cancelled out Tiago Calvane’s opener, before Marco Schneuwly put the Swiss side ahead minutes after the break. Hakan Yakin then rounded off the scoring with a double to give Young Boys a 4-1 win.

Prior to this match, Celtic had encountered the Swiss side only once before – over two legs in the first round of the UEFA Cup in 1993. On that occasion, the Hoops triumphed 1-0 in the tie courtesy of an own goal.

Once again, Celtic boss Strachan opted to field almost entirely different sides in each half, with only Michael McGovern, Lee Naylor and Teddy Bjarnason playing the full 90 minutes.

There was a healthy sprinkling of Hoops supporters inside the Grenchen Stadium for the game, including members of the Glasgow Saltmarket CSC, who left Scotland on Tuesday to make the trip to Switzerland by bus for Celtic’s two friendlies.

However, it was Young Boys who had the first chance when Brazilian striker Daniel Paulo nicked a shot past Michael McGovern – only for Bobo Balde to clear the danger.

With players from both sides flying into tackles, Scott Brown found himself booked, while Young Boys striker Schneuwly was extremely lucky to escape any punishment for a wild swipe at the former Hibernian midfielder.

Few chances were being created, but officious referee Claudio Circhetta wasn’t helping matters in any way by continually stopping play for the slightest infringement.

With 25 minutes on the clock, Young Boys took the lead. A deep cross to the back post was met by Jarosik, but his header only found Calvano, who despatched the ball past McGovern and into the top corner.

Minutes later, Young Boys had the chance to make it 2-0. After a stramash in the box, Paulo found himself in space but his toe-poke was instinctively parried past the post by McGovern.

The Swiss side were creating a few half-chances, but mostly from long-range, with Gilles Yapi and Paulo trying their luck.

As half-time approached, Celtic were coming more and more into the match and they were rewarded with an equaliser from Jarosik.

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink was being blatantly held as he attempted to reach Naylor’s long throw-in, but – with everyone waiting for the whistle – the Czech star drilled a low shot into the corner.

Celtic should then have had a penalty following an incident that summed up the referee’s inconsistent first-half performance. Brown was grappled to the ground inside the box, but no foul was given. Seconds later, Vennegoor of Hesselink was instantly penalised for the same offence.

Minutes into the second half, Celtic fell 2-1 behind. Paulo’s cross from the right found Schneuwly in the box and he cushioned his finish past McGovern. The player then deservedly found himself booked for a hack at John Kennedy.

Substitute Aiden McGeady then displayed great pace and trickery to collect Bjarnason’s pass, dash forward and thread a perfect pass into the path of Maciej Zurawski – only for Marco Wolfli to save the Pole’s shot.

Evander Sno returned to the fray in place of Steven Pressley, who appeared to have picked up a knock. McGeady then spun spectacularly away from his marker, but his low cross was cleared.

Chris Killen became the latest player to make his Celtic debut when he was introduced with 70 minutes on the clock. However, the New Zealander was unable to haul Celtic back into the match. Yakin's two late goals sealing the win for the Swiss side.

UhrenCup
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Grenchen Stadium, Switzerland

CELTIC…1
(Jarosik 39)
BSC YOUNG BOYS…4
(Calvano 25, Schneuwly 47, Yakin 89, 90)

(1st Half)
CELTIC (4-4-2) McGovern; Bjarnason, Balde, McManus, Naylor; Sno, Jarosik, S. Brown, Riordan; Vennegoor of Hesselink, McDonald
(2nd Half)
CELTIC (4-4-2) McGovern, Virgo, Pressley (Sno 60) (Killen 70), Kennedy, Naylor; Bjarnason, Donati, Gravesen, McGeady; Miller, Zurawski

BSC YOUNG BOYS (4-4-2) Wolfli, Calvano, Mangane, Regazzoni, Schwegler, Raimondi (Kallio 60), Portilo, Varela (Madou 84), Yapi, Schneuwly (Kavak 60), Paulo (Yakin 75)
Subs: Collaviti, Hochstrasser, Frimpong