Celtic were hit by a Colombian one-two as Juan Pablo Angel and compatriot Juan Toja gave the Major League Soccer All-Stars a 2-0 victory at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Denver, Colorado.
Former Aston Villa striker Angel opened the scoring in the 36th minute after MLS team-mate Eddie Johnson had seen his penalty on the half hour saved by Artur Boruc.
Toja doubled the scoring just before half-time in front of a stadium record crowd of 18,861, which included the Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham on a cloudy, overcast and cool evening a mile above sea level.
It was the third successive defeat for a British club in this fixture with Fulham and Chelsea being defeated by the All-Stars on previous pre-season excursions across the Atlantic.
MLS All-Stars coach Steve Nicol oversaw a squad featuring 12 current or past USA internationals as well as capped players from Canada, Colombia and Grenada.
Angel came into the game as the MLS team's hottest property having scored 11 goals in as many games for the New York Red Bulls.
The MLS threat was quickly apparent as Boruc was called into service in the seventh minute as midfielder Ricardo Clark stole into the box, shrugging off a challenge from Stephen McManus and firing a shot straight at the Polish keeper.
Celtic were having their fair share of possession but made little impression in the MLS area and the All-Stars were causing problems again when Johnson broke free from Lee Naylor down the right wing in the 22nd minute, cutting back to cross left-footed.
The delivery to back post was brought down by Juan Toja who got the ball under control before lashing in a shot from close range that struck Boruc in the face as he rushed off his line.
There was further trouble when Pressley was booked in the 27th minute for bringing down Dwayne De Rosario on the edge of the area, although De Rosario's resulting free-kick sailed over the crossbar.
Two minutes later, Johnson again broke down the right and reached the byline only to see McManus to slide in and block the cross.
The corner that followed found an unmarked Johnson at the back post and as he attempted to get the ball out from his feet he went down under a challenge from Scott Brown.
Referee Baldomero Toldeo pointed to the penalty spot as Celtic claimed the Canadian had dived but they will have considered it justice done as Johnson's penalty was saved by Boruc as he dived to his right to push the ball wide.
Their relief was short-lived however as Angel struck on the half-hour, running on to a short De Rosario pass and rounding to Boruc to slot home from a tight angle.
MLS keeper Matt Kreis finally got a shot to deal with in the 39th minute when Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink teed up Socceroo Scott McDonald on the edge of the area. The striker rifled in a shot that had Kreis beaten but not the base of his left post.
It was the Scottish champions' only shot of the opening period and they were punished for it as Toja struck for MLS a minute before half-time. A De Rosario free-kick struck the wall and deflected into the Toja's path to drive left-footed past Boruc and leave Celtic 2-0 down a the break.
David Beckham made a half-time appearance on the pitch to great applause from the sell-out crowd but as he made way Celtic restarted with much more purpose.
In the 47th minute Scott Brown tested MLS keeper Kevin Hartman, on at the break for Kreis, with a long-range effort and with good effect as the sub spilled his low shot.
Hartman recovered quickly but he was in trouble again in the 51st minute as he spilled a Jarosik shot from the left straight to a fast reacting McDonald, who lifted the ball over the keeper into the net only to be given offside.
Substitutions were starting to interrupt the flow as Nicol began to give his benchwarmers some All-Star recognition.
But McDonald again came close as he slid in to meet sub Aidan McGeady's low cross from the left, his shot just going the wrong side of the post. It was the Australian's last contribution as he immediately made for Maciej Zurawski.
MLS sub striker and Celtic replacement Bobo Balde appeared to have equal contact on a ball that found the back of Boruc's net in the 81st minute after a goalmouth scramble but the goal was disallowed for an offside.
It was the last significant moment of the match as Celtic now move on to Chicago for a friendly against MLS side Chicago Fire.
Toja doubled the scoring just before half-time in front of a stadium record crowd of 18,861, which included the Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham on a cloudy, overcast and cool evening a mile above sea level.
It was the third successive defeat for a British club in this fixture with Fulham and Chelsea being defeated by the All-Stars on previous pre-season excursions across the Atlantic.
MLS All-Stars coach Steve Nicol oversaw a squad featuring 12 current or past USA internationals as well as capped players from Canada, Colombia and Grenada.
Angel came into the game as the MLS team's hottest property having scored 11 goals in as many games for the New York Red Bulls.
The MLS threat was quickly apparent as Boruc was called into service in the seventh minute as midfielder Ricardo Clark stole into the box, shrugging off a challenge from Stephen McManus and firing a shot straight at the Polish keeper.
Celtic were having their fair share of possession but made little impression in the MLS area and the All-Stars were causing problems again when Johnson broke free from Lee Naylor down the right wing in the 22nd minute, cutting back to cross left-footed.
The delivery to back post was brought down by Juan Toja who got the ball under control before lashing in a shot from close range that struck Boruc in the face as he rushed off his line.
There was further trouble when Pressley was booked in the 27th minute for bringing down Dwayne De Rosario on the edge of the area, although De Rosario's resulting free-kick sailed over the crossbar.
Two minutes later, Johnson again broke down the right and reached the byline only to see McManus to slide in and block the cross.
The corner that followed found an unmarked Johnson at the back post and as he attempted to get the ball out from his feet he went down under a challenge from Scott Brown.
Referee Baldomero Toldeo pointed to the penalty spot as Celtic claimed the Canadian had dived but they will have considered it justice done as Johnson's penalty was saved by Boruc as he dived to his right to push the ball wide.
Their relief was short-lived however as Angel struck on the half-hour, running on to a short De Rosario pass and rounding to Boruc to slot home from a tight angle.
MLS keeper Matt Kreis finally got a shot to deal with in the 39th minute when Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink teed up Socceroo Scott McDonald on the edge of the area. The striker rifled in a shot that had Kreis beaten but not the base of his left post.
It was the Scottish champions' only shot of the opening period and they were punished for it as Toja struck for MLS a minute before half-time. A De Rosario free-kick struck the wall and deflected into the Toja's path to drive left-footed past Boruc and leave Celtic 2-0 down a the break.
David Beckham made a half-time appearance on the pitch to great applause from the sell-out crowd but as he made way Celtic restarted with much more purpose.
In the 47th minute Scott Brown tested MLS keeper Kevin Hartman, on at the break for Kreis, with a long-range effort and with good effect as the sub spilled his low shot.
Hartman recovered quickly but he was in trouble again in the 51st minute as he spilled a Jarosik shot from the left straight to a fast reacting McDonald, who lifted the ball over the keeper into the net only to be given offside.
Substitutions were starting to interrupt the flow as Nicol began to give his benchwarmers some All-Star recognition.
But McDonald again came close as he slid in to meet sub Aidan McGeady's low cross from the left, his shot just going the wrong side of the post. It was the Australian's last contribution as he immediately made for Maciej Zurawski.
MLS sub striker and Celtic replacement Bobo Balde appeared to have equal contact on a ball that found the back of Boruc's net in the 81st minute after a goalmouth scramble but the goal was disallowed for an offside.
It was the last significant moment of the match as Celtic now move on to Chicago for a friendly against MLS side Chicago Fire.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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