LIVEWIRE Liel Abada set up both Celtic goals in the 2-1 win over Livingston at rain-lashed Parkhead last night.
Those two crucial contributions from the Israel international winger propelled the champions to a tenth successive league victory and restored their nine-point advantage at the Premiership pinnacle.
However, hard-to-please Ange Postecoglou insisted Abada could have done better on an evening where the hosts had to rely on an own goal from Ayo Obileye and a typical quickfire strike from Kyogo Furuhashi for the triumph.
FULL THROTTLE…Liel Abada on the run as he threatens on the right flank.
Abada was given the nod from his boss to start the match against the West Lothian outfit after sitting out the kick-off against Aberdeen at Pittodrie at the weekend.
He came off the bench to make an impact in the second-half in the north east after taking over from Daizen Maeda and he hit the ground running against Livi.
His flashing low cross from the right was turned into his own net by Obileye in the 22nd minute while another near-post finish just before the break from Kyogo proved to be the winner.
Postecoglou praised Abada and said: “I thought he was very good. He’s constantly improving and wanting to be better.
“That physical side of the game is something he has to deal with. He’s not the biggest guy, but he doesn’t lack courage.
“A couple of times in the first-half he should have been in areas where he’s scored from in the past, but wasn’t there.
“If one or two don’t do it, then it filters through the team. But, overall, his contribution was important.”
Abada had an effort chalked off following yet another controversial VAR decision that went against the Hoops and Postecoglou, speaking to the Daily Record, added: “I didn’t realise offside was something the referee gets sent to the monitor for.”
Livi defender Morgan Boyes’ touch could have been deemed to have played Abada onside, but referee Euan Anderson, after the intervention of the new technology team, had a look at the incident on the touchline and returned to the pitch to cancel the effort.
Unsurprisingly, rival gaffer David Martindale said: “I thought it was offside. He made a movement and Morgan stumbled slightly. I thought it was right.
“The referee had the option to look at the monitor to let him make that decision. VAR assisted the referee to referee the game.”
WINNING IN THE RAIN WITH KYOGO
