Celtic defeat Manchester City 4-3 in a US pre-season friendly.

Chapel Hill, United States (AFP) Celtic defeated Manchester City 4-3 in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday, with Nicolas Kuhn scoring twice and Luis Palma scoring the winning goal in the 68th minute.

Manchester City’s Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, top, heads the ball into the goal in the 57th minute during his team’s 4-3 pre-season tuneup friendly against Celtic in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. © Peter Zay/AFP.
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Norway’s Erling Haaland, wearing the City captain’s armband for the first time, equalized in the 57th minute, only for Honduran international Palma to score the winning goal on a breakaway at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan Memorial Stadium.

Celtic, winner of the previous three Scottish Premiership titles, and four-time defending English Premier League champion Manchester City, who began a US tour, used the game to prepare for the start of the 2024-25 seasons next month.

With numerous top stars recovering after competing in the European Championships, City boss Pep Guardiola took advantage of the opportunity to assess fresh talent.

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, 37, made his Celtic debut after starting his career with City in 2006. He played the first half for the Hoops.

In Celtic’s fourth pre-season match, German right winger Kuhn scored twice in the first half.

City responded seconds into the second half with a goal from 21-year-old Argentine replacement Maximo Perrone, who fired a left-footed drive from the right side into the far corner on his first touch of the ball after being introduced.

In the 57th minute, Haaland scored on a centering pass from countryman Oscar Bobb to tie the score.

But Celtic scored the winner.

Kuhn and Schmeichel shine
Kuhn opened the scoring in the 13th minute, receiving a pass on the right side and sprinting in on City’s starting goalkeeper Stefan Ortega before hitting a left-footed drive just inside the far post.

Schmeichel denied Haaland in the 23rd minute with a right-handed save on a left-footed attempt off a James McAtee pass.

In the 31st minute, Schmeichel denied Haaland again, this time from the right side with a left-footed attempt that Schmeichel swatted away with his left hand.

But Man City equalized in the 33rd minute when Haaland flicked the ball left to the onrushing Bobb, who blasted a shot that deflected off Schmeichel and looped into the net.

Celtic’s German forward Nicolas Kühn (left) celebrates after scoring alongside teammates in the Scottish club’s 4-3 friendly victory over Manchester City. © Peter Zay/AFP.
Kuhn responded for Celtic in the 36th minute, running in from the right flank, pulling back the ball to dodge a defender, and curling a left-footed shot high into the net.

Celtic increased their lead to 3-1 in the 44th minute when Kuhn gave a brilliant centering pass to Japan’s speedy Kyogo Furuhashi, who split two players, avoided Ortega, and struck a left-footed shot from a steep angle.

Manchester City’s US trip resumes on Saturday with a match against AC Milan in New York’s Yankee Stadium, followed by games against Barcelona in Orlando and Chelsea in Columbus, Ohio, next week.

Celtic will face