American outfit NC Elite are the 2019 SuperCupNI Globe champions following a shock win over Celtic in what was a drab affair at the Coleraine Showgrounds.
The game started quietly, but soon sparked into life after 6 minutes, Jaden Ferguson opening the scoring for Celtic with a powerful near post finish that was past NC keeper Trace Alphin before he had a chance to react.
The men from North Carolina rallied well after conceding and had a great chance to equalise just four minutes later, Cole Frame firing over the bar from close range after superbly controlling a ball over the top of the Celtic defence.
The equaliser did eventually come after 16 minutes, Luke Hille connecting with Cole Frame’s well directed cross to head powerfully into the bottom corner.
The tide of the game changed after the goal, with NC Elite now looking the side most likely to score. On the stroke of half-time, they finally got the goal they deserved, Kyle Gee curling a shot past Vincent Angelini in the Celtic goal after the boys in green and white failed to properly clear a corner.
HT: NC Elite 2 – 1 Celtic
Just minutes into the second half, NC almost added a third, Kevan Kahoussi mis-hitting a cross that was well tipped over by Angelini in the Celtic goal.
From the resulting corner, NC captain Jake O’Connor was presented with an excellent opportunity to score, the NC captain left unmarked in the box and will feel he should have done better with his header.
The American side certainly didn’t look out of their depth against the Scottish champions and were just inches away from putting the game out of reach once more in the 50th minute, Hille almost grabbing his second with an excellent strike from just outside the box that sailed narrowly wide of the top corner.
Both sides were laboured in their play, the toil of playing five games in five days evident. Celtic pushed hard for an equaliser but failed to create any real problems for the under-worked Alphin, with the NC Elite defence standing firm and holding out for a famous victory over the hoops.
FT: NC Elite 2 – 1 Celtic