CELTIC 7 DUNDEE 1
UNSTOPPABLE Celtic stormed to a spectacular triumph in a lopsided confrontation at rain-lashed Parkhead this evening.
The fans were singing in the rain as the champions blew Dundee away with a breathtaking display that saw them lead by six at the interval.
The rollicking procession saw Cameron Carter-Vickers, Adam Idah, Matt O’Riley, Daizen Maeda, Greg Taylor, Callum McGregor and Daniel Kelly share the goals.
The Hoops remain in second place, however, with the news that Philippe Clement’s Ibrox side had come back from a goal down to win 2-1 over Kilmanock at Rugby Park.
Still, with 10 games to play, this was a welcome return to genuine form by the Hoops.
The goal spree didn’t look likely right at the start when Joe Hart was in action as he had to dive swiftly to his left to push an angled drive from Jordan McGhee for a corner-kick.
However, Carter-Vickers got the show on the road when he marked his first start in four games with his debut goal of the season in the seventh minute.
Owen Beck, linked with a loan move to the Hoops from Liverpool last month, was booked for hauling Yang Hyun-jun to the ground on the right and O’Riley sized up the opportunity from the free-kick.
The stylish playmaker sent over an inviting cross to the far post and the USA World Cup defender rose strongly to thump a four-yard header past the stranded Trevor Carson.
It was a late – but most welcome – contribution to the Celtic goals for column.
ROARING SUCCESS…Cameron Carter-Vickers celebrated his return with his first goal of the season.
In the 11th minute, only a desperate right-foot save from Carson denied O’Riley’s low drive after a neat pass inside from Alistair Johnston.
Idah doubled the Hoops’ advantage in the 18th minute with his first goal in Paradise after netting his other four strikes on his travels.
The powerhouse Republic of Ireland international frontman outjumped two defenders to get his head to another excellent cross from Johnston.
Idah snapped his neck muscles and sent the ball hurtling away from the sprawling Carson to his right.
Remarkably, the hosts claimed a third in the 22nd minute when McGregor picked out Taylor surging forward to add his weight to the attack.
The left-back whipped in a diagonal cross and, while the visitors appeared preoccuppied by the presence of Idah, O’Riley stole in unmarked to take off and send a diving header from six yards away from the static Carson who must have been wondering what was happening after being hit by a Hoops whirlwind.
HANDS UP IF YOU’RE HAPPY…Matt O’Riley celebrates a Celtic goal.
On the half-hour mark, Johnston and Maeda combined to set up O’Riley wide on the right. The Danish international slipped a pass in front of the pacy Japanese ace who stepped inside a challenge from Joe Shaugnessey before lashing a left-foot effort towards the bottom right-hand corner of the net for the fourth goal.
Five minutes later, the bombardment continued when O’Riley first-timed a stunning left-foot drive high past the stretching Carson only to be thwarted by the crossbar.
Sixty seconds afterwards, Taylor grabbed No.5 when a Johnston right-wing cross was deflected into the path of the defender who toe-poked it over the line from close-range.
Just before the interval, Curtis Main outmuscled Liam Scales and Carter-Vickers to knock the ball wide of Hart, but the visitors’ joy was short-lived when VAR proved the frontman was just offside in the build-up.
In the sixth minute of first-half stoppage-time, McGregor got in on the scoring act when he rattled No.6 past the bewildered Dens keeper.
Yang got the ball rolling with a pass to the Hoops skipper who touched the ball left to Taylor. With the visitors’ defence all over the place, it was returned to McGregor and he swiftly tucked ball low past the overworked Carson to his right from 14 yards.
A BIG HAND…Brendan Rodgers enjoys Celtic’s goal romp.
Teenager Kelly was introduced for McGregor at the start of the second-half with Brendan Rodgers obviously looking forward to the visit to Tynecastle to face Hearts on Sunday.
The Hoops gaffer then made a triple change on the hour mark when he replaced Carter-Vickers, Taylor and Idah with Stephen Welsh, Anthony Ralston and Kyogo Furuhashi.
Three minutes later, Kelly claimed his first Celtic goal with a spectacular right-foot drive from the edge of the box after Yang had zipped in another superb cross after being released by Johnston.
The Hoops players rushed to congratulate the 18-year-old midfielder while Rodgers beamed with delight on the touchline.
Luis Palma then came on for Yang in the 76th minute with the South Korean, who had been busy throughout, getting a warm reception from the fans.
Moments later, Finlay Robertson collected a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Johnston and the devastated visitors were reduced to 10 men for the remainder of the one-sided encounter.
In the 79th minute, Palma came so close to grabbing the eighth with an angled curling shot from the left that clipped the crossbar with Carson once again looking on helplessly.
In the 84th minute, Celtic were punished for a brief moment of hesitancy when Michael Mellon was left unguarded at the far post to volley the ball past the exposed Hart for a consolation effort for the Taysiders.
Kyogo was denied a goal when his first-time close=range shot was pushed away by Carson.
It was a rare moment of disappointment for the champions who will be aiming to maintain the momentum in the capital on Sunday.
TEAM: Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers (sub: Welsh 60), Scales, Taylor (sub: Ralston 60); Iwata, McGregor (sub: Kelly 46), O’Riley; Yang (sub: Palma 76), Idah (sub: Kyogo 60) and Maeda.
