CELTIC 2 FALKIRK 0
TOMAS CVANCARA was in Paradise this afternoon as he scored his first goal for Celtic in another crucial Premiership weekend.
Benjamin Nygren netted his 15th goal of a prolific debut season when he claimed the second strike to give the champions some breathing space.
The victory saw the Hoops leapfrog Danny Rohl’s side into second place on goal difference after the Govan club drew 0-0 with Hibs at Easter Road earlier in the day.
Martin O’Neill’s men also clawed back three points on leaders Hearts and are now six behind the Edinburgh outfit.
It was yet another interesting day in the east end of Glasgow where the hosts got the job done.
Only a superb diving save from Kasper Schmeichel prevented the visitors taking the lead in the ninth minute.
A ball in from the left by Leon McCann eliminated the Hoops central defence and Barney Stewart was allowed a free header from eight yards.
The striker’s effort looked to be arrowing in low at the keeper’s left-hand post until the Great Dane took off in spectacular fashion to touch the ball wide for a corner-kick.
CZECHING IN…new Bhoy Tomas Cvancara netted his first goal at Parkhead against Falkirk.
The Hoops were slow to get into their stride, but Julian Araujo did create an opening with an astute pass into the tracks of Arne Engels in the 16th minute. Danger flashed for a moment, but the Belgian’s ball inside for Daizen Maeda lacked power and precision and the chance was lost.
New Bhoy Cvancara flitted around the edges of the action and looked eager to get involved, but knew he would have to remain patient as his team-mates attempted to settle into some sort of rhythm.
Araujo, who was looking extremely comfortable in his right-back role, sent Yang Hyun-jun clear with an excellent ball, but the South Korean’s blistering angled drive was punched away by an athletic Scott Bain.
Six minutes from the interval, Cvancara claimed the breakthrough goal and his first in his debut appearance at Parkhead.
The towering frontman made perfect contact with a left-wing cross from Kieran Tierney and his glanced 10-yard header whipped wide of the desperately diving Bain into the far corner.
The new Bhoy was clearly delighted and relieved as he saluted the home support who acclaimed the loan signing from Borussia Monchengladbach.
However, there was an anxious moment two minutes after the interval when Dane Murray backed off Calvin Miller and allowed the former Celtic prospect to lash in a low left-foot 25-yard drive that slipped just wide of Schmeichel’s left-hand post.
Shortly afterwards, Martin O’Neill made his first change when he took off Yang and threw on evergreen James Forrest as his replacement.
EAR WE GO…Benjamin Nygren celebrates another Celtic goal.
There was another flash of Cvancara’s menace in the 56th minute as Callum McGregor sent him scampering clear, coming in from the left, but his low attempt swept wide on Bain’s left-hand upright.
Six minutes later, Nygren had better luck with a superb finish to finish off a quick move down the left. The Swede played a one-two with McGregor, took the return and eased into the box before whipping in a looping left-foot drive.
Bain threw a desperate right hand at the ball as it flew past him into the far corner of the net.
Shortly afterwards, the keeper was right in line to deny Nygren a quickfire third goal for the Hoops after a ball in from the left by Tierney had been put back into the mix by Forrest. Engels had a swing and missed before the Swede thumped in a close-range effort that saw the ex-Celt punch clear.
In the 72nd minute, O’Neill made a double change as he took off a tiring Cvancara and Engels and put on Sebastian Tounekti and Reo Hatate.
Four minutes later, Tounekti had the ball in the net after another fine low cross from Araujo, but Maeda had strayed offside and the goal was immediately chalked off.
Kelechi Iheanacho and Stephen Welsh came off the bench to take over from Maeda and Tierney in the 84th minute.
Moments later, Schmeichel dived to his left to repel a low drive from Brian Graham.
Now all eyes are on Pittodrie on Wednesday with another three points up for grabs against Aberdeen.
TEAM: Schmeichel; Araujo, Murray, Scales, Tierney (sub: Welsh 84); Engels (sub: Hatate 72), McGregor, Nygren; Yang (sub: Forrest 48), Cvancara (sub: Tounekti 72), Maeda (sub: Iheanacho 84).
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