CELTIC 4 MOTHERWELL 0
THE champions came firing back in breathtaking fashion as they walloped Well for four following their scoreless stutter at Tannadice last weekend.
The memory of the blankety-blank performance on Tayside was obliterated as Arne Engels (pen), Daizen Maeda, Nicolas Kuhn and Reo Hatate fired in the goals that got Celtic back to winning ways.
It was a Boxing Day of celebration as Brendan Rodgers’ men claimed three more points in a convincing win as they set up the visit of St Johnstone on Sunday before they bring down the curtain on action in Paradise for 2024.
In the 12th minute, Well’s Zimbabwean forward Tawanda Maswanhise was the first name in referee Ross Hardie’s book after a ridiculous dive in search of a penalty-kick as he was shadowed by Yang Hyun-jun.
The South Korean winger, so disappointing in his 61 minutes in the goalless draw against Dundee United at Tannadice, was looking a lot more lively on this occasion.
Aston Oxborough was brought into action in the 21st minute when he threw himself to the right to push away a close-range effort from Daizen Maeda after a drive from Callum McGregor had deflected into the path of the Japanese ace.
Instinctively, the pacy flanker thrust out a foot, but the keeper reacted swiftly to make the save.
WATCHING BRIEF…Brendan Rodgers maintains his concentration on the touchline.
The visitors had a remarkable escape just before the half-hour mark after a superb run and pass from Adam Idah on the right to set up Maeda, racing into the box.
The Hoops raider whipped in a low left-foot drive that struck Oxborough’s foot before spinning high into the air.
It was desperately cleared off the line and Maeda threw himself at the rebound, but once again he was denied and the opportunity was gone.
The persistent touchline ace tried again a few minutes later with an inviting low ball to the near post, but Idah’s neat side-flick was too close to the keeper who made the save.
The deadlock was brought to a welcome end when the champions took the lead with a penalty-kick from the ultra cool Engels in the 44th minute.
A ball from Paulo Bernardo on the left took a nick off a defender as it spun into the box.
Yang raced in to try to take advantage, but was sent crashing to the ground after a collision with Oxborough.
Match official Hardie didn’t hesitate as he pointed to the spot and – following the inevitable VAR check – Engels stepped up to roll the award into the right-hand corner of the net as the netminder took off in the opposite direction.
SPOT ON…Arne Engels celebrates another penalty-kick success with delighted team-mate Daizen Maeda about to add his congratulations.
In the 52nd minute, Maeda was clearly pushed in the back by Dan Casey to send the winger tumbling to the ground, but, after another VAR check, there was no spot-kick on this occasion.
Two minutes later, the Hoops sighed with relief when an effort from a dangerous cross from the flank looked to be heading on target until the ball struck ex-Celt Tony Watt and ricocheted over the bar.
In the 57th minute, the hosts doubled their advantage following a wonderfully-worked left-wing corner-kick.
Engels whipped in a cross to the near post, Liam Scales got a touch to flick the ball on and Maeda came racing in at speed to thump a header into the net past the stranded Oxborough.
Six minutes later, Brendan Rodgers introduced Reo Hatate, Nicolas Kuhn and Kyogo Furuhashi to the action as they replaced Bernardo, Yang and Idah.
In the 72nd minute, Engels made way for Luke McCowan just moments after whipping a 25-yard free-kick just over the bar.
Three minutes later, Kuhn’s ambition was rewarded when he snapped onto a pass inside from the right, lined up a left-wing drive from 30 yards and his low left-foot shot took a wicked deflection off a defender to leave the keeper helpless.
Alex Valle was next into the fray as the Spaniard took over from Greg Taylor in the 79th minute.
In the 81st minute, Hatate added a fourth after some superb lead-up play from Maeda, Kyogo and Valle and the Japanese international midfielder finished off the excellent work with a sizzling low 25-yard effort past the sprawling keeper.
Now all eyes are on Sunday when the title kings will get the opportunity to say farewell to 2024 in fine style.
TEAM: Schmeichel; Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor (sub: Valle 79); Bernardo (63), McGregor, Engels (sub: McCowan 72); Yang (sub: Kuhn 63), Idah (sub: Kyogo 63) and Maeda.
