DUNDEE 1 CELTIC 2
CRACKSHOT Kelechi Iheanacho walloped in Celtic’s dramatic late winner against Dundee at Dens Park this afternoon.
And it was a crucial strike that kept the champions in the chase for a fifth successive title.
The Hoops are now three points behind leaders Hearts and two adrift of Rangers with just six games to go. Both the Tynecastle and Ibrox clubs will have to visit Parkhead after the break.
Until the Nigerian hitman’s venomous six-yard strike, it appeared any hopes and aspirations of another crowning glory were ebbing away with the match on Tayside stalemated at 1-1.
CRASH…Kelechi Iheanacho thunders in Celtic’s late winner at Dundee.
Celtic had got off to the perfect start with an eighth-minute opener from Yang Hyun-jun, had then passed up several excellent chances – with Tomas Cvancara the main culprit – and had allowed the hosts back into the contest in the 58th minute.
Some lacklustre defending from Colby Donovan had seen him hang out a lazy left arm that got in the way of a shot from Ryan Astley. VAR had a look and there was never any doubt they would award a penalty-kick.
Simon Murray levelled with a shot to Viljami Sinisalo’s right as the keeper took off to the left.
That’s the way it stood until substitute Iheanacho, on for the toiling Cvancara, displayed his penalty-box prowess – something that Celtic have lacked throughout the campaign – as he battled for a left-wing cross from Marcelo Saracchi.
He magically opened up a shooting opportunity for himself and almost ripped a hole in the net with a close-range left-foot drive that was a winner all the way.
Astley was red-carded shortly afterwards for wiping out Yang as he raced in on goal and then Martin O’Neill and his players were forced to endure seven minutes of stoppage time.
The Hoops had gone in at the interval a goal to the good, but were unfortunate to strike the woodwork and come within inches of at least one more goal.
TWIN STRIKERS…Yanh Hyun-jun and Benjamin Nygren dash forward as Celtic claim the breakthrough goal at Dens Park. The grounded Jon McCracken is helpless.
O’Neill could have no complaints with his side’s commitment or attitude as they came out of the blocks at a ferocious pace, could have scored in the fifth minute and did score three minutes.
It was a whirlwind start from the visitors who looked in the mood to obliterate the memory of the dismal 2-0 loss to Dundee United the last time they were on Tayside a fortnight ago.
Daizen Maeda, as usual, looked up for the challenge as he raced around chasing down passes and putting the hosts’ rearguard under pressure.
Liam Scales sent through a perfect pass down the left channel and the Japanese speedster got it under control before whipping over an inviting left-wing cross.
It just needed the merest of touches in front of goal, but Yang seemed to hesitate in plunging in and that allowed Drey Wright to clear.
But the Hoops were celebrating in the eighth minute when Maeda and Kieran Tierney combined on the left flank before the Scotland international lashed in a low ball.
It fell to Cvancara who bulleted a shot goalwards only to be thwarted by a full-length dive to his left by keeper Jon McCracken.
THE CELTIC TWO-STEP…Yang Hyun-jun and Benjamin Nygren look to get the final touch, but the the goal was credited to the South Korean.
The rebound broke to Yang who maintained his composure and refused to fire in a shot that could have been blocked by the Dens shotstopper.
The South Korean clipped the ball over McCracken before racing in to apply the finish. Benjamin Nygren, on the look-out to pounce as ever, also made his move before the ball ended in the back of the net.
Both players celebrated the goal to confuse onlookers as to who got the last touch, but TV images showed it was Yang by a stud.
Not that it mattered who scored the goal. The main thing was that Celtic had taken the lead as a reward for their fast start.
Only moments after the breakthrough strike, Cvancara lined up a drive just outside the box, but, unfortunately, the towering frontman’s blast headed high, wide and horrible.
He had the opportunity to double the visitors’ advantage just after the half-hour mark when he was sent clear to run in on the unprotected McCracken.
The on-loan Borussia Monchengladbach forward dinked the ball over the keeper, but his accuracy failed him and the ball bounced off the right-hand post before being belted to safety.
It should have been a goal.
THAT’S MY BHOY…Yang Hyun-jun congratulates matchwinner Kelechi Iheanacho.
Earlier, Nygren had flashed over an angled ball from the right which was missed by Yang at the near post and then Maeda behind him as the home team’s goal led a charmed life.
Two minutes after the turnaround, Nygren slipped in a killer pass to set Cvancara free, but his first touch was clumsy as McCracken snatched the ball to safety.
Watching Cvancara in this form it is not difficult to see why he has scored only five goals in the past three seasons.
Just before the hour mark, Steven Pressley’s side were thrown a lifeline with a cheap penalty-kick award and in the same 58th minute O’Neill sent on Iheanacho for the ineffective and frustrating Cvancara.
It turned out to be a match winning substitution.
In the 67th minute, Anthony Ralston and Luke McCowan replaced Donovan and Oxlade-Chamberlain as the Hoops chased the precious points.
Nine minutes later, Saracchi and James Forrest joined them as they took over from Tierney and Maeda.
And, with just four minutes of the regulation 90 to play, Iheanacho rolled back the years to show why he won a reputation as a prolific penalty-box operator.
How precious will that blistering strike prove to be? We’ll find out soon enough.
TEAM: Sinisalo; Donovan (sub: Ralston 67), Trusty, Scales, Tierney (Saracchi 76); Nygren, McGregor, Oxlade-Chamberlain (sub: McCowan 67); Yang, Cvancara (sub: Iheanacho 58), Meada (sub: Forrest 76).
IT’S THE BOOK DEAL OF THE YEAR! You can now own a copy of ‘Celtic 50 Flags Plus One’ AND ‘Celtic Treble Treble’ for only £9.95 plus postage. Two stunning Celtic publications and you can save a massive £20! Order now! Just click the image for details and your books will be on their way. Happy reading!
