CELTIC 2 DUNDEE UNITED 0
JAPANESE double-act Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate struck the goals that gave the champions a hard-fought win over a stubborn Dundee United to power Celtic to a 16-point advantage at the Premiership summit at Parkhead tonight.
The winger claimed the opener in the first-half and then set up No.2 seven minutes from time for his compatriot who had entered proceedings just after the half-hour mark.
There was a late change in the line-up just before kick-off when Nicolas Kuhn called off to be replaced by Yang Hyun-jun. The German, scorer of 16 goals this season, wasn’t even fit enough to make the stand-by squad.
The in-form forward looked uncomfortable in the warm-up and came off while rubbing his right thigh. Brendan Rodgers took no risks and immediately summoned the South Korean from the bench.
Twice within the first six minutes Arne Engels delivered swift crosses from the right, but, unfortunately, there were no takers in position to take advantage.
In the 14th minute, Auston Trusty was just out of luck when his flicked header from an Engels right-wing corner-kick clipped the crossbar on its way over.
A couple of minutes the energetic Engels popped on the left to race onto a through pass from Meada, but the Belgian’s cross was claimed by keeper Jack Walton at the near post.
THAT’S MY BHOY…Arne Engels congratulates Daizen Maeda after another goal.
The breakthrough goal arrived in the 23rd minute after Luke McCowan snapped onto a bit of loose play by the United rearguard on the edge of the box.
The midfielder attempted to curl a shot low into Walton’s right-hand corner of the net, but the diving keeper managed to paw the ball away.
However, it fell to the ever-alert Daizen Meads who reacted with his usual lightning-swift reflexes to slot the ball into the opposite corner.
The Hoops continued to dominate and that man Engels came close to adding a second with a smart shot from 20 yards that took a deflection to send the effort spiralling over the crossbar with Walton scrambling across his line.
To underline the hosts’ superiority it was just after the half-hour for Kasper Schmeichel to get a touch of the ball as he cleaned up a rare forward thrust from the purple-clad United.
It was a procession throughout the opening period as a corner-kick count of 10 testified, but, amazingly and frustratingly, they only had one goal to show for their almighty efforts.
WATCHING BRIEF…Brendan Rodgers looks on from the touchline.
Four minutes into the second-half, Engels threatened again with a clever dinked right-foot shot from just inside the box that swept just wide with Walton looking on in relief.
United proved the game is never over at 1-0 and forced three corner-kicks in a six-minute spell as the Hoops were taken on the back-foot.
in the 58th minute, Meada tried a first-time drive from eight yards after an inviting left-wing cross from Greg Taylor, but the Japanese speedster’s precision was out and his low effort whizzed yards past the right-hand post.
In the 62nd minute, Rodgers made a double substitution with Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi coming on for Yang and Adam Idah.
The champions took control again, but were too elaborate on occasion and Kygo was denied twice in quick succession by a packed defence.
And the prolific raider was thwarted in the 68th minute when a snap header from an Engels right-wing corner-kick delivery was pushed away by Walron at the near post.
Schmeichel was forced into his first save shortly afterwards as he pushed away a rasping left-foot drive from Glenn Middleton at the expense of a corner-kick.
PARADISE…Reo Hatate in goal salute.
In the 76th minute, McCowan was withdrawn as Luis Palma was introduced to give the team a better balance with the Honduran taking over on the left with the Japanese moving to the opposite flank.
Four minutes later, it was Engels’ turn to come off after a hard shift with Paulo Bernardo taking his place.
Hatate clattered in the killer second goal in the 83rd minute following a sweet-flowing move as Palma drifted ina cross from the left. Maeda collected the pass on the right side of the box before whipping over a low cross.
Bernardo cleverly dummied the ball to allow it to run to Hatate and the midfielder fairly thrashed an unstoppable left-foot shot high into the net.
A sigh of relief swept round the stadium amid the cheers.
In the fading moments Walton produced two outstanding saves to push away blistering shots from Bernardo and Palma as Celtic attempted to bring down the final curtain with a scoring flourish.
Now all eyes are on Dingwall for the 12.30pm kick-off against Ross County on Saturday as the quest for the fourth successive title rolls on in relentless fashion.
TEAM: Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Taylor; Engels (sub: Bernardo 80), McGregor, McCowan (sub: Palma 76); Yang (sub: Hatate 62), Idah (sub: Kyogo 62) and Maeda.
