CELTIC 1 DUNDEE 0
BENJAMIN NYGREN showed Kasper Hogh how it’s done with the only goal on a tense opening-day Premiership encounter against Dundee at Parkhead this evening.
Last season’s 21-goal man in his debut season made certain the champions got off to a winning start with a superb glancing header seven minutes after the interval.
Kierney Tierney set up the opportunity with an exquisite delivery from the left and the Swede rose above friend and foe to glide the points-clincher into the net.
That was enough to give the hosts the victory they required to get off to the perfect start in their bid for a sixth successive title.
Following the unveiling of the club’s 56th flag and the accompanying fireworks, all eyes were on debut Bhoys Hogh and Camilo Duran.
The Danish dangerman, the champions’ record £11million-plus signing, had the opportunity in the ninth minute to get off to a dream start in his Hoops career.
HEAD BHOY…Benjamin Nygren nods in the winner against Dundee.
Drey Wright hit a risky ball across from the right that was seized upon by Nygren who hit a first-time pass into the tracks of Hogh.
The striker took a touch to set himself up, but, unfortunately, he dragged his shot wide of the target.
Four minutes later, Hogh’s accuracy was out again after Yang Hyun-jun, Keiran Tierney and Nygren were involved in a quickfire passing movement before the Swede thumped an effort at goal.
The former Bodo/Glimt hitman instinctively stuck out a foot to divert the ball and once again it flew past the same upright.
There was a scare a minute later for the hosts who faced a bombardment of right-wing shies from Ryan Astley throughout the opening 45 minutes.
The defence toiled to clear one of his massive throw-ins and the ball dropped at the unguarded Charlie Reilly who sent a left-foot drive just wide of a relieved Viljami Sinisalo’s right-hand post.
The spotlight fell again on the eager Hogh in the 27th minute after a strong run from Yang from inside his own half allowed Nygren to knock another well-timed pass into the tracks of his new team-mate.
Hogh made a good connection with his left foot, but a defender managed to block the effort and the ball flew over the crossbar.
Arne Engels blew the opportunity of the opening goal in the 38th minute when he was picked out by a neat cross from the left by Tierney, but the Belgian’s header from eight yards flew harmlessly wide of the target. It should at least have been on target.
In the 42nd minute, Tierney hit Celtic’s only effort on target in the first-half, but was denied by a reflex save from keeper Owen Goodman who reacted quickly to dive to his right to push away a thumping drive.
Celtic required something special to break the Dundee barrier and that arrived in the 62nd minute after Yang and Tierney combined on the left and Nygren timed his run and jump to perfection to nod in the breakthrough goal.
Tierney and Callum McGregor were both out of luck with finishing efforts before Martin O’Neill made his first substitutions in the 79th minute.
SWEDE DREAMS…matchwinner Benjamin Nygren celebrates with the Celtic fans.
Duran, who tried hard throughout in a wide right role, and Yang were replaced by Sebastian Tounekti and James Forrest.
Two minutes later, Sinisalo produced a wonder save to deny Ashley Hay an equaliser. Allan Forrest, brother of James, sent over an inviting cross from the right and the Dundee striker thumped in a header that was arrowing in at the right-hand post.
However, the athletic Finnish keeper took off on a swallow dive across his line to push the ball to safety.
In the 83rd minute, O’Neill replaced Tierney and Nygren with Colby Donovan and Luke McCowan.
The drama, though, was far from over.
Hogh was just wide when he managed to get to a low Donovan delivery from the right and then McGregor shuddered the left-hand upright with a superb curling effort from outside the box.
Forrest snatched at the rebound and sent an effort sailing harmlessly wide of the target.
At the end of an often-nervy occasion, the champions had earned three points from opponents who came to the east end of Glasgow to make a fight of it.
Things will get better for Hogh and Duran, that’s for sure. Neither could be faulted for their lack of enthusiasm.
As far as the Premiership is concerned, that’s one down and 37 to go!
TEAM: Sinisalo; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Tierney (sub: Donovan 83); Nygren (sub: McCowan 83), McGregor, Engels; Duran (sub: Tounekti 79), Hogh, Yang (sub: Forrest 79).
WANT TO KNOW A SECRET? Celtic Confidential is the stunning book that brings the exclusive inside stories behind the headlines. Who was the tycoon who would have ruined Celtic? What really happened the night Kenny Dalglish quit the club? The real story behind Mo Johnston’s sensational move to Ibrox. All is revealed in Alex Gordon’s sixteenth Celtic book which is available NOW. Order a copy and get £5 OFF the cover price of £25. Just click SHOP HERE and your book will be on its way. Enjoy the revelations!
