A late strike from the superb Callum McGregor saw Celtic seal a much-deserved 1-0 victory over Aberdeen on Saturday.
Celtic attempted to set the tone early and Daizen Maeda’s low cross inside the first minute had Aberdeen scrambling to get the ball away.
The hosts tried to be stubborn at the back and dangerous on the counter, although Celtic perhaps should have done better with quick-fire chances from Matt O’Riley and Reo Hatate shortly after ten minutes. Jota, sporting a fancy new moustache, also stung the gloves of Kelle Roos in the Aberdeen net with a powerful drive from range.
Roos was even to another strike from Hatate soon after, getting down well to deny the Japan international when it looked like a certain goal.
Aberdeen calmed themselves down as the half progressed but rarely threatened a Celtic side who were dominating possession and will have been furious not to have found the back of the net at least once before the interval.
Ange Postecoglou had his head in his hands just a few minutes after the break as substitute Liel Abada’s cross found Kyogo Furuhashi, who just needed to tap home but somehow sent his effort wide of the post.
Kyogo could have had a few more as the half progressed but Celtic were looking sloppy in front of goal and struggled to find their way through Roos, until the metronomic McGregor popped up with a crucial goal three minutes from time.
Having already passed Aberdeen into submission, the midfielder powered home in the dying embers to net the 200th goal of Postecoglou’s reign and seal a richly deserved victory.
GK: Kelle Roos (8); CB: Ross McCrorie (6); CB: Anthony Stewart (7); CB: Jack MacKenzie (7); RM: Matthew Kennedy (6); CM: Connor Barron (6); CM: Ylber Ramadani (7); CM: Leighton Clarkson (6); LM: Hayden Coulson (6); ST: Duk (5); ST: Bojan Miovski (5)
SUB: Jonathan Hayes (5), Ryan Duncan (5), Shayden Morris (N/A)
GK: Joe Hart (6); RB: Anthony Ralston (8); CB: Cameron Carter-Vickers (8); CB: Carl Starfelt (8); LB: Greg Taylor (8); CM: Callum McGregor (9); CM: Matt O’Riley (8); CM: Reo Hatate (7); RW: Daizen Maeda (7); ST: Kyogo Furuhashi (6); LW: Jota (6)
SUB: Liel Abada (7), Georgios Giakoumakis (6), James Forrest (7), David Turnbull (6), Aaron Mooy (N/A)
Credit: 90min.com