CELTIC 3 DUNDEE UNITED 0
THREE SPECTACULAR strikes from Callum McGregor, Filipe Jota and Adam Idah illuminated a chilly afternoon at Parkhead as Celtic powered their way to a SIXTEEN point advantage on their inevitable course to a 55th title.
Dundee United arrived in the east end of Glasgow with a plan to frustrate the champions and they had succeeded in their quest until the 23rd minute when the Hoops skipper netted a memorable eighth strike of a prolific campaign.
McGregor eased onto a pass from the busy Yang Hyun-jun, jinked past a challenge, moved away from another and then swept a low left-foot past the sprawling Jack Walton at his far post.
It was a just reward for the domination of Brendan Rodgers’ men straight from the off.
A CAPTAIN’S SALUTE…Callum McGregor accepts the applause after another Celtic goal.
The Hoops came close twice before Jota doubled the advantage.
In the 34th minute, loan Bhoy Jeffrey Schlupp thundered one against the left-hand post with a ferocious drive from just outside the area that hurtled wide of the stranded Walton.
Within a minute, Jota teased and tormented the visitors’ defence before whipping in an inviting cross and Idah’s six-yard header was blocked on the line by the busy netminder.
Jota then scored his first goal in Paradise since his extraordinary return – and the Portuguese pin-up certainly enjoyed the moment.
Thirty-six minutes were on the clock when the former Benfica starlet accepted a pass from Auston Trusty wide on the left.
There was the only one thought as he went into overdrive, reached the edge of the box and then unleashed a mesmerising low right-foot curler wide of the keeper to continue the feelgood factor.
JOY BHOY…Filipe Jota celebrates another Celtic strike.
In the earlier moments, there was alarm for the visitors in the 17th minute when Luke McCowan delivered a wicked inswinging corner-kick from the right, but Walton got a touch at his postage-stamp corner of the near post to scramble it past for another set-play.
The resultant deadball effort from McCowan was cleared to Cameron Carter-Vickers on the edge of the box.
The centre-back attempted an ambitious volley which was of more danger to the fans high in the stands than it was Walton.
In the 29th minute, McGregor collected a pass just outside the box, danced away from challenge and then sent in a cunning right-foot drive that took a nick off a defender and edged wide of the left-hand post.
The hosts were in command as United chased shadows with Yang and Jota looking lively on the flanks and Idah menacing through the middle.
Early in the second period, Yang hesitated before releasing Jota who was racing clear into the box. The South Korean was then flattened by Glenn Middleton for a free-kick, but a bit more awareness would have seen the fans’ favourite in on the keeper with the virtual certainty of another goal.
A BIG HAND…Brendan Rodgers welcomes another three points for the champions.
In the 62nd minute, Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels were introduced to the action as they replaced Jota and Reo Hatate.
Nine minutes later, it was the turn of Greg Taylor and Nicolas Kuhn to come on for Schlupp and Yang.
The hosts were comfortably in control as they took their foot off the gas, possibly understandable when you consider what lies ahead in the Allianz Arena in three days’ time.
However, in the 83rd minute Idah brought down the curtain on another satisfying performance with a blistering right-foot drive from 18 yards that raged over Walton’s left hand into the top corner.
Anthony Ralston set up the chance with a strong cross from the right just moments after the keeper had denied Taylor with a smart save to his left.
The goal was the Republic of Ireland powerhouse’s last touch of the ball as he was replaced by countryman Johnny Kenny.
The last time United enjoyed a success in the east end of Glasgow was Boxing Day 1992. It could be a similar lapse of time before they celebrate again at this venue.
Meanwhile, it’s onto Munich on Champions League business.
Go for it, Brendan’s Bhoys!
TEAM: Schmeichel; Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Schlupp (sub: Taylor 71); McCowan, McGregor, Hatate (sub: Engels 62); Yang (sub: Kuhn 71), Idah (sub: Kenny 84), Jota (sub: Maeda 62).
