Celtic lose Australian tour opener

Posted Sunday, July 03, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

SYDNEY (AFP) - Celtic's pre-season preparations got off to a sticky start as they lost the opening game of their Australian tour 1-0 to A-League outfit Central Coast Mariners in Sydney on Saturday.

Substitute Troy Hearfield netted the winner in the 87th minute after the Scottish giants had failed to clear a cross from the left.

Celtic had an appeal for handball turned down by the referee just before the end of the 90 minutes after another Mariners' substitute, Trent Sainsbury, cleared off the line.

Celtic handed debuts to two off-season signings, defenders Adam Matthews and Kelvin Wilson, and included just three starters from their Scottish Cup final-winning team.

The friendly match between last season's Australian and Scottish league runners-up produced few clear-cut chances and neither goalkeeper was forced into a significant save in the first half.

Celtic put a couple of attempts wide and the Mariners had a good spell just before the break, forcing several corners and having two shots blocked.

The game came to life after an hour, with each side earning good chances within the space of a minute.

Mariners goalkeeper Justin Pasfield foiled substitute Anthony Stokes with his legs before Adriano Pellegrino headed wide from a cross from Mariners left-back Josh Rose.

Celtic play Perth Glory next Saturday and Melbourne Victory four days later.