Nicolas Kuhn scored twice and Luis Palma netted the winner in the 68th minute to give Celtic a 4-3 victory over Manchester City in their pre-season friendly on Tuesday.
Norwegian Erling Haaland, wearing the City captain's armband for the first time, nodded in a 57th-minute equalizer, only for Honduran international Palma to score the winning goal on a breakaway at the University of North Carolina's Kenan Memorial Stadium.
The game was a build-up to next month's opening of the 2024-25 campaign for Celtic, winners of the last three Scottish Premiership crowns, and four-time English Premier League champions Manchester City, who began their tour of the US.
With several top stars left over from the European Championship, City manager Pep Guardiola took the opportunity to analyze the younger talent.
The game marked the Celtic debut for goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, a 37-year-old Dane who began his career at City in 2006. He played the first half for the Hoops.
German right winger Kuhn netted in the first half for Celtic, who are playing their fourth pre-season friendly.
Down 3-1 at half-time, City responded seconds into the second half with 21-year-old Argentine substitute Maximo Perrone's just-placed goal, a left-footed shot from the right into the far corner on his first touch. ball.
Haaland leveled City in the 57th minute after a cross from compatriot Oscar Bobb.
But Celtic scored in the 68th minute when Palma, who had come on three minutes earlier, completed a three-man breakaway as the City defenders were caught flat near the middle of the pitch after pushing through the backline.
City substitute Ben Knight was denied an equalizer in the 76th minute when Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo of Finland tipped the ball over the bar in the second half.
Kuhn opened the scoring in the 13th minute, passing down the right and charging past City keeper Stefano Ortega before firing a left-footed shot just wide of the far post.
Schmeichel denied Haaland in the 23rd minute with a right-footed save from James McAtee's left-footed shot.
In the 31st, Schmeichel denied Haaland again, with a left-footed shot from the right side that Schmeichel deflected with his left foot.
But Man City equalized in the 33rd minute when Haaland flicked the ball down the left to the onrushing Bobb, who fired a shot past Schmeichel and into the net.
Kuhn responded for Celtic in the 36th minute, charging in from the right wing, then pulling the ball back to avoid a defender and driving high into the goal with his left foot.
Celtic made it 3-1 in the 44th minute when Kuhn produced a perfect cross to the onrushing Japanese Kyogo Furuhashi, who split between two defenders, eluded Ortega and fired home from an acute angle.
Man City's American tour continues on Saturday against AC Milan at New York's Yankee Stadium with other games next week against Barcelona in Orlando and Chelsea in Columbus, Ohio.
Celtic will face Chelsea in South Bend, Indiana on Saturday.
