Celtic were held to a 1-1 draw by Ayr United in their first pre-season friendly of the 2024/25 season.
The Scottish Championship outfit, managed by former captain, Scott Brown, proved a real test for a Hoops squad that included Kyogo Furuhashi, Odin Thiago Holm, Maik Nawrocki, Yuki Kobayashi and Nicolas Kuhn.
Brendan Rodgers did rotate heavily throughout the match, with all 22 players who travelled down the M77 handed game time.
Furuhashi opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Anton Dowds netted himself from 12-yards during a frantic first half.
The match was played in front of a packed crowd, who had gathered to celebrate the grand opening of Ayr's brand-new North Stand.
Out of favour defender, Mike Nawrocki, saw his night end early as Rodgers took no risks with the centre-back's fitness just 16 minutes into the clash.
Celtic were awarded a penalty shortly after following a foul on Furuhashi. And it was the Japanese internationalist who stepped up from the spot to dispatch emphatically and put the visitors into the lead.
Ayr did pose a reaction to going a goal down and they were given a penalty of their own when George Oakley's shirt was pulled inside the box. Dowds coolly sent Scott Bain the wrong way to equalise and lift the spirits of the home faithful inside Somerset Park.
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The second half saw Ayr United spur several chances as Celtic give valuable minutes to many youngsters and fringe men.
Substitute goalkeeper, Josh Clarke, made a crucial save late on from Frankie Musonda diving header that prevented the Honest Men from scoring a certain winner, leading to a draw between the two sides.
Ayr begin their competitive campaign on July 16 when they host Falkirk in Premier Sports Cup group stage action.
While Celtic will face Queen’s Park on Wednesday before jetting out to the United States to go head-to-head with DC United, Manchester City and Chelsea.
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