Breakthrough day for Yang and Palma
Three goals after the 90-minute mark is a first for Celtic, as Aberdeen’s afternoon turned from a respectable-looking 2-0 deficit at 76 minutes, to a washout by fulltime. More on the visitors later. This was a breakthrough day for Celtic’s Yang and Luis Palma.
Palma hit the byline and crossed with his left on 9 minutes, this is noteworthy. When on the left, Luis normally looks to drop the shoulder and cut inside. It is his classic play; consider his goal against Motherwell and the disallowed effort against Lazio. The trouble is, defenders know this is what he likes to do, so are ready for it.
If he can regularly hit the byline and cross with his left, he will be even more effective cutting inside, as defenders would have to cover both options. This is the classic John Robertson play, cut inside for a shot (Hamburg), hit the byline and cross (Malmo). Luis added a third option, crossing from a deeper position with the outside of his right foot, for Oh to complete the rout. This demonstrated his fondness for his right and where the main development gains are to be made.
Yang Hyun-jun (21), got his landmark first goal for Celtic (see above left foot cross by Palma), even before this, he was a handful for the Aberdeen defence. So far this season, competition for space on the Celtic wings has been tough. Yang has had to wait for sporadic opportunities. Injuries to Abada and Maeda will see us lean on the young Korean during the busy period after the international break.
We will have a feel for his potential by Christmas. That blast of pace he has over 5 yards – and the ability to take the ball with him – is something no one else at the club can match. The material is there for Celtic to develop. Injuries have provided a pivotal moment in the development of Celtic players before, think of Leigh Griffiths’ injury in Augst 2016 which opened the door for Moussa Dembele. The wide-right jersey is up for grabs for the next six weeks, Yang has his stage.
I spent much of the second half wanting Aberdeen’s Rubezic to get a second yellow after his awful ‘challenge’ on Kyogo, which VAR should have adjusted to a straight red. This was tempered after I looked up Aberdeen’s next fixture. Being Aberdeen manager is not for the faint hearted. They kept Celtic out for an hour between the second and third goals, on that hill, Barry Robson has to build his fort.
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