Celtic left it late in Ireland tonight as a Luis Palma hat-trick gave the Hoops a narrow 3-2 victory over Sligo Rovers.
The Bhoys travelled across the Irish sea for a mid-season friendly at the Showgrounds this evening, and despite a duo of calamitous errors from Scott Bain, fringe winger Palma saved the day with three goals.
Palma opened the scoring early doors, tapping home at the back post from a teasing Yang Hyun-jun cross:
Así fue el gol de Luis Palma ante Sligo Rovers en partido amistoso. pic.twitter.com/w3eZC5ZzrF
— Felipe Valencia (@Luiselpipe) October 9, 2024
Sligo then turned the game on its head as strikes from Kailin Barlow and Simon Power put the hosts ahead.
Rodgers made several changes throughout the game, bringing on numerous academy talents.
Going into the dying embers, it looked as though the Scottish Premiership champions were heading for a narrow defeat, but up stepped Palma.
In the dying embers, the 24-year-old struck twice to give the Celts a victory in their spiritual home.
Palma made it 2-2, slamming home at the back post from a teasing delivery from academy midfielder Sean McArdle.
Lightning then struck twice as Palma put his side ahead two minutes into stoppage time. The attacker, once more, popped up at the back post, this time converting from a teasing Samuel Iziguso cross.
Both late goals can be viewed below:
Hatricki de Luis Palma en amistoso con Celtic. El hondureño jugó los 90 minutos y logró anotar el 1-0, 2-2 y 3-2 para ganarlo frente Sligo de Irlanda.
Ritmo y confianza.
Que sea el resurgir, Luis. 🇭🇳 pic.twitter.com/Jd9fNIX7yE— De La Rocha 𝕏 (@AlvaroDLaRocha) October 9, 2024
A match-winning hat-trick might just be what Palma’s confidence needed. The winger has struggled to impress this season, but his contributions tonight could revive his campaign.
