ROSS COUNTY 1 CELTIC 2
IT TOOK a wonder goal from Nicolas Kuhn to earn Celtic their seventh successive league win at the start of the season.
It’s the first time the champions have achieved the feat since 2010 when Neil Lennon was the Hoops manager.
But Brendan Rodgers’ men had to dig deep before they completed the sequence with the visitors teetering on the edge of a sensational loss in Dingwall with 14 minutes to go.
They trailed to a first-half penalty-kick from Ronan Hale – a self-confessed Celtic fan! – before Alistair Johnston diverted a shot from Callum McGregor past the stranded Ross Laidlaw for the equaliser.
And, with two minutes of the regulation 90 to go, Kuhn put the finishing touches to a spirited late spurt from the Hoops when he raced on a raking long pass from Johnston before sweeping into the box and onto his left foot.
The German flying machine didn’t hesitate as he curled a low drive into the bottom right-hand corner.
Job done – but only after some inspired substitutions by Rodgers in the 61st minute.
THE EQUALISER…Alistair Johnston diverts Callum McGregor’s shot into the County net.
THE WINNER…Nicolas Kuhn scores the points-clincher.
The first-half was one of toil for the Hoops and it went from the dismantling in Dortmund to the dismal in Dingwall during an unimpressive period from the Parkhead men against disciplined opponents.
The only time the hosts had threatened a breakthrough in the opening period came in the 18th minute when Kasper Schmeichel dived full-length to his left to punch away an angled drive from the hard-working Hale as he sped in from the wing.
Before that plunging save, the Hoops had sent FOUR attempts off target in a fairly low-key opening as they attempted to get back on track after Tuesday’s 7-1 mauling in the Champions League in Germany.
Adam idah sent a header wide after a right-wing cross from Johnston and put another over following an Arne Engels corner-kick from the same wing.
Alex Valle fired wide of the left-hand post with a 25-yarder and Liam Scales was out in his judgement with a head flick from an Engels left-wing corner-kick delivery.
Then, in the 32nd minute, Daizen Maeda headed harmelessly past Laidlaw’s left-hand post following an excellent cross from Johnston.
The Japanese striker should have at least hit the target.
The visitors were stunned as the game ticked towards half-time when County were awarded a penalty-kick after a VAR intervention.
Kevin Clancy missed Scales’ handball following a right-wing cross, but Nick Walsh, at the controls in Glasgow, spotted it and evidence showed the Republic of Ireland international had used a hand for no good reason.
Hale stepped up to take the award, but Schmeichel thwarted him with a dive to his right to push the ball away.
Celtic’s relief lasted a few seconds before a retake was ordered with VAR showing the keeper was slightly off his line as the striker fired in his effort.
The Dane was helpless when Hale thumped the second effort low into the right-hand corner of the net to give the hosts a shock lead.
It was also Schmeichel’s first concession on a goal in the Premiership.
And the netminder was sighing with relief five minutes after the turnaround when a cheeky lofted 35-yard effort from Hale just carried over his crossbar as he scurried back to his goal.
In the 61st minute, Rodgers made a triple change as he took off the ineffective Engels, Hatate and Idah and put on on Paulo Bernardo, Luke McCowan and Kyogo Furuhashi.
Seven minutes later, James Forrest entered the fray to take over from Maeda.
The introduction of the new Bhoys gave the team a lift in energy and the rewards duly followed.
The leveller arrived in the 78th minute after Kyogo cleverly headed down a left-wing corner-kick from Bernardo.
Laidlaw scooped the netbound effort off the line, but the clearance dropped at the feet of McGregor who unhesitatingly fired in a low left-foot shot.
It may have been going past, but Johnston reacted with lightning reflexes to divert the ball off his right thigh.
It may not have been the most breathtaking goal Celtic have scored in this campaign, but it was certainly one of the most welcome.
And then Kuhn made certain with his eyectaching run and deadly finish to maintain the impressive early-season run of league victories.
It could prove to be a crucial goal in the race for the crown at the end of the term.
TEAM: Schmeichel; Johnston, Trusty, Scales, Valle; Engels (sub: Bernardo 61), McGregor, Hatate (sub: McCowan 61); Kuhn, Idah (sub: Kyogo 61), Maeda (sub: Forrest 68).