MASTERFUL Matt O’Riley was a big noise in the midst of joyous bedlam at pulsating Parkhead yesterday.
The stylish playmaker was outstanding in the 4-0 demolition of the Ibrox visitors and paved the way for a rampant performance from the champions with his usual quick-thinking and immaculate delivery.
O’Riley swept the inviting ball across in the eighth minute for Liel Abada to thump beyond the exposed Jon McLaughlin for the opening strike.
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND…Matt O’Riley congratulates Liel Abada after netting No.3.
And it was the Danish Under-21 international playmaker, an astute £1.5million arrival from English third-tier club MK Dons in January, who accepted a swift free-kick from skipper Callum McGregor and immediately spied the run of Filipe Jota between James Tavernier and Connor Goldson.
The pass was taken in the stride of the Portuguese wizard as he homed in on McLaughlin before completing the breathtaking move with a deft flick to double the champions’ advantage in the 32nd minute.
Abada, before the interval, and David Turnbull, in the 78th minute, made certain the Hoops had maintained their 100 per cent record and moved five points clear at the top of the league after only six outings.
JOY BHOYS…Matt O’Riley joins in the celebrations with Josip Juranovic and Carl Starflet after Liel Abada had made it 3-0 at a rocking Parkhead.
Asked about the experience, O’Riley, speaking to Celtic TV, replied: “It was up there with the 3-0 game last season.
“It was bouncing out there, right from the warm-up it was bouncing and it really helped us.
“The goals were great goals. It was our football and the way we want to play, the patterns of play we work on all the time.
“The first and third goals are things we do in training, so to see the things we work on every day translate on to the pitch is really positive.”
With the players performing in their current manner and the fans in fine voice, Celtic must be in with a shout of making an impact when the Champions League Group F kicks off with a clash against holders Real Madrid in the east end of Glasgow on Tuesday night.
JUST PARADISE: ABADA AT THE DOUBLE WITH CHAMPS TO THE FOUR
