ANGE POSTECOGLOU praised Celtic’s version of The Fast Show as his players overwhelmed Hearts 3-0 in the Scottish Cup quarter-final at Tynecastle yesterday.
The Hoops thundered out of the starting blocks as they swept Robbie Neilson’s team aside with a blistering performance right from the kick-off.
Aaron Mooy set the game in motion and, following 10 successive passes among his team-mates, Reo Hatate was presented with an opportunity inside the box. The impressive Japanese playmaker walloped in a ferocious drive which was superbly turned around the post for a corner-kick by the acrobatic Zander Clark.
There were only THIRTY-SIX seconds on the clock and no home player had even got close to getting a kick until they were bailed out by their keeper.
CAPITAL SHOW…Ange Postecoglou is all smiles as he salutes the Celtic support after the 3-0 win in Edinburgh.
Inside two minutes, even the towering netminder had no answer to a sublime first-timed left-foot effort from Aaron Mooy from around the penalty spot that hurtled over his shoulder high into the net.
After Kyogo Furuhashi and Cameron Carter-Vickers, an unlikely striking double-act, had added to the final scoreline, Postecoglou beamed: “We got off to a great start and that set us off, so it was a really strong performance away from home.
“I thought that was important, when you come to Tynecastle you don’t want to give their crowd too much to be up about, particularly early in the game.
“So, we spoke about that – again, speaking about it is one thing, but the lads really got into the game really quickly and with the quality of our football, we had a chance really early on and scored a good goal.
“The most important thing is that we didn’t really give them any oxygen to get a breather in that first part, and I thought that sent us away.”
NUMBER ONE…Aaron Mooy races away after leaving Zander Clark helpless. Kyogo Furuhashi joins in.
NUMBER TWO…Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates as Filipe Jota smiles.
NUMBER THREE…Cameron Carter-Vickers heads in the final goal in the Hoops’ Cup romp.
Postecoglou, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “We knew there would be moments, it doesn’t matter how much we dominate, they potentially could cause some problems.
“Joe’s made a great save – again, what he’s needed to do, he’s done for us – the back four, the two full-backs were outstanding.
“Unfortunately, Carl had a hip problem and he struggled through the first-half, but Yuki came on and it was great for him to get some game-time, and you saw his quality when he played so it was a pleasing all-round effort.”
CAPITAL PERFORMANCE FROM TREBLE YELL HOOPS
