Celtic 3 Dundee 0: Kyogo eases shoulder injury fears after Turnbull penalty puts Hoops on easy street
KYOGO Furuhashi shouldered the responsibility again of inspiring the Hoops to victory.
But not after providing another scare with that part of his anatomy which has been a regular source of anxiety over the last year.
The lethal striker had to go off for a few minutes first half but soon went back on to the relief of everyone with Celtic at heart – and just 72-hours from the Champions League opener against Feyenoord.
David Turnbull netted a penalty opener after the break before Furuhashi scored – his fourth goal in six games -and then set up Matt O’Riley with a precision cut-back.
It was Celtic’s 150th league victory over Dundee.
Liel Abada’s long term injury shocker opened the door for Yang Hyunjun to get only his second start.
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Boss Brendan Rodgers also handed a debut to loan defender Nat Phillips with Gustaf Lagerbielke benched.
THE VERDICT
CELTIC
Joe Hart: 7, Alistair Johnston: 7, Nat Phillips: 4, Liam Scales: 7, Greg Taylor: 6, Callum McGregor: 7, Matt O’Riley: 8, David Turnbull: 6, Kyogo Furuhashi: 9, Yang Hyunjun: 6, Daizen Maeda: 6
SUBS: Gustaf Lagerbielke (Phillips, 45) 6; Luis Palma (Yang, 61) 4; Reo Hatate (Turnbull, 61) 4; Oh (Furuhashi, 69) 4; Paulo Bernardo (O’Riley, 73) 3.
DUNDEE
Trevor Carson: 6, Cammy Kerr: 6, Owen Beck: 7, Joe Shaughnessy: 6, Amadou Bakayoko: 5, Ricki Lamie: 5, Zach Robinson: 5, Luke McCowan: 6, Finlay Robertson: 6, Ryan Howley: 5, Malachi Boateng: 5
SUBS: Josh Mulligan (Howley, 64) 4; Scott Tiffoney (Robinson, 64) 4;
MAN OF THE MATCH
Kyogo Furuhashi had netted three goals in five games going into this and yet again he was there for Celtic when needed most. Ahead through a David Turnbull penalty but far from convincing, Celtic breathed easier after the Japanese striker ghosted into the box to superbly beat Trevor Carson with a clinical header. Player of the year Furuhashi then brilliantly teed up Matt O’Riley for the absolute killer third goal. First half he appeared to suffer another shoulder knock but recovered.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Grant Irvine got through this with the help of VAR, firstly disallowing a Daizen Maeda goal for offside and then giving Celtic a penalty for a Ryan Howley foul on David Turnbull who then scored. Overall, though, Irvine’s own efforts served him well. He was calm and collected, never flustered. There were no glaringly bad moments for Irvine and not a single card produced. It was the first time he’d officiated at Parkhead and earned a pat on the back.
MEN IN THE DUGOUT
Brendan Rodgers will be delighted Celtic ultimately got the job done but for long periods at 0-0 it was a laboured home display. But from the moment David Turnbull put them ahead the Hoops moved through the gears to back up the win over Rangers. Rodgers also gave debuts to three signings. Tony Docherty will be frustrated Luke McCowan couldn’t convert with the game goalless but his side worked hard.
It was Liverpool fringe man Phillips’ first competitive game since last January – but he wouldn’t last beyond the interval.
Tony Docherty’s Dundee had made a decent start to life back in the top flight, losing just one of their opening four matches.
Cammy Kerr and Ryan Howley were in for them for Jordan McGhee and Scott Tiffoney.
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Intriguingly, right from the off it became clear Celtic’s Greg Taylor had been instructed by Rodgers to operate again as an inverted left-back, just as he had for Ange Postecoglou.
Taylor came inside at every opportunity to try and bolster the midfield.
But the opening 45 minutes were a hard watch for the Celts supporters – encouraging for the travelling fans.
Phillips’ first pass after 30 seconds went straight out while 10 minutes later his rustiness was exposed again with a poor first touch which almost put the champions in trouble.
Taylor darted to the near post to meet a quickly taken O’Riley corner but his shot found the side-net.
The busy Taylor then linked well with Maeda and from the Scot’s lofted return pass the winger controlled on his chest before unleashing a powerful left foot shot which cannoned off Dundee keeper Trevor Carson’s chest and was cleared.
Celtic fans were left briefly alarmed by the sight of talisman Furuhashi suddenly coming off and going straight up the tunnel.
His left arm appeared limp and it all pointed to yet another shoulder episode.
Several minutes later, though, the lethal frontman was back on and seemingly okay.
Celtic were in total control and in the 20th minute O’Riley fired in a deflected left foot shot which beat a diving Carson but came off the post.
Yang hit the side-net with a left foot shot of his own as he continued to dart about, work hard – but suffer frustration when it came to the moment that mattered.
Then the biggest cheer of the game so far was reserved for the returning Reo Hatate – appearing from the dugout to race down the track to warm up and gaining warm applause to which he responded similarly.
It would be much louder when he was sent on later for goal-scorer Turnbull.
Celtic thought they’d gone ahead in the 29th minute, a superb Liam Scales pass from the back picking out Daizen Maeda in the box.
The attacker controlled it instantly 12-yards out and then fired past Carson into the far corner.
But just as quickly ref Grant Irvine signalled it would be the subject of a VAR check for possible offside – and sure enough it was disappointment for Celtic.
It was now laboured from Celtic with Dundee’s four-man defence and bank of three midfielders in front of them resolute.
This was FAR from what the Hoops fans had expected after the momentous victory at Ibrox.
And eight minutes from the break it took a brilliant reflex stop from Joe Hart to deny Luke McCowan at point-blank range after fine bye-line work by a tenacious Owen Beck.
Celtic had to up their game for the second half – and they went in front after just seven minutes.
A rash Howley challenge on Turnbull looked right on the line and whistler Irvine quickly agreed it was a foul.
But then it was over to VAR for a possible penalty – and that was indeed confirmed.
Turnbull stepped up and promptly blasted past Carson.
It felt like there was as much relief as joy for the Celtic fans who’d started to fear another St Johnstone-type stalemate.
Their team never looked back from it.
That said, McCowan soon curled a left foot shot inches past the far post for the Dark Blues.
Celts’ new £3 million winger Luis Palma came on for his debut.
And then they made it 2-0 in the 63rf minute – Furuhashi darting into the box with perfect timing to breach the defence and meet a superb Callum McGregor pick-out with a deft glancing header past Carson.
Alistair Johnston rattled the underside of the bar in the 66th minute.
Furuhashi turned provider in the 67th minute for 3-0 – racing on to a pin-point Johnston pass down the flank and then cutting back for O’Riley to side-foot home.
Loan midfielder Paulo Bernardo got his debut bow with 17 minutes left to another strong ovation.
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Amadou Bakayoko fired over when it looked easier to score.
But then in the dying moments Johnston hit the woodwork again before Hatate was denied by a Carson save.
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