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SportsCeltic draw 2-2 with AC Milan in pre-season; Duran scores and assists
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Celtic concluded their pre-season campaign with an entertaining 2-2 draw against AC Milan at Celtic Park. Colombian forward Camilo Duran impressed, scoring the opening goal after a defensive error and later assisting James Forrest to make it 2-0. However, AC Milan fought back in the second half with a quick-fire double from teenager Francesco Camarda, who converted a penalty and headed in a cross from Samuel Chukwueze. Celtic manager Martin O'Neil praised Duran's potential and highlighted the performance of substitute Thomas Hatton. The match also marked the departure of Celtic cult hero Daizen Maeda, who completed a transfer to Premier League side Ipswich earlier in the day. Celtic begin their Scottish Premiership title defense against Dundee on August 3.
Source report
Camilo Duran impressed again as Celtic rounded off pre-season with an entertaining 2-2 draw against AC Milan at Celtic Park.
Duran scored and assisted to put Celtic in a commanding position, but a quick-fire double from teenager Francesco Camarda early in the second half proved enough to deny the home side victory.
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Match Report
Colombian frontman Duran scored his third goal in three games to give Celtic an early lead after a shocking back pass from Strahinja Pavlovic allowed him to slot home a left-footed shot into the corner.
Celtic's second also came from an AC Milan defensive error. Luke McCowan's pressure forced the mistake, allowing Duran to beat AC Milan goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani to the ball and cut back for James Forrest to lash home emphatically.
Image: James Forrest (right) celebrates with Camilo Duran after making it 2-0
The home side were comfortable heading into half-time, but – after a raft of AC Milan substitutions – the away side pulled a goal back just a minute after the restart.
Camarda stepped up and made no mistake from the spot after Cameron Carter-Vickers was adjudged to have brought him down in the penalty area.
Image: Francesco Camarda (middle) celebrates scoring to make it 2-2 at Celtic Park
Six minutes later, Camarda got AC Milan back on level terms after heading in a precision cross from the right-hand side from fellow substitute Samuel Chukwueze.
Celtic substitute Thomas Hatton put in a lively cameo performance, curling a shot wide before forcing a late save from the AC Milan goalkeeper.
O'Neil: Duran Can Be a Big Asset
Celtic manager Martin O'Neil said:
"In terms of pre-season, I really enjoyed it. I thought we did some really good things in the game. We just lost our concentration after half-time.
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"I think Camilo Duran is a really good player. If he steers clear of injury he'll be a big asset to us.
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"It would be nice to see some more of the young players, they've been with us in pre-season. Tam Hatton did well to take players on, which is a dying art. It's really encouraging and there is a battle on to get into the side."
Celtic Begin Title Defence Against Dundee
Celtic begin their Scottish Premiership title defence at home to Dundee on August 3, live on Sky Sports.
The Monday night clash, which will kick off at 7.30pm, rounds off a groundbreaking opening weekend that will see all six top-flight games shown live on Sky Sports for the first time.
Click here for all of Celtic's Premiership fixtures, including dates of the first Old Firm clash this season.
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Source
SkySports | NewsWestern
Part of this Story
Duran scores and assists as Celtic round off pre-season with AC Milan draw