THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES: KYOGO’S EIGHT DERBY WONDERS

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IT TOOK Kyogo Furuhashi 18 months to score his first goal against Rangers.

And the little Japanese striker enjoyed the sensation so much, he claimed SEVEN throughout 2023 as he teased, tormented and tortured the Ibrox opponents.

The city rivals had no answer to the quick thrusts from Kyogo as the goals – and trophies – mounted up in a glorious 12-month sequence.

We weren’t to realise it, but we were witnessing his last strike against the Govan club when he neatly whipped in a low drive from outside the box that left keeper Jack Butland dumbfounded in the champions’ 3-0 success at a rocking Parkhead on September 1 last year.

PARADISE…Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates one of his 85 Celtic goals.

Kyogo thumped in his first goal against Celtic’s neighbours in the 2-2 draw at Ibrox on January 2 2023.

The lively raider, who was a £4.6million recruit from J-League Vissel Kobe in July 2021, had fired in blanks in the derby duels after making his second appearance for Celtic in a 1-0 loss in Govan two months after his arrival.

But once the lively frontman got the Govan club in his sights there was no stopping him.

Kyogo brought his personal misfiring run to a halt with an equaliser two minutes from time to give the visitors a well-deserved 2-2 draw two days into 2023.

THE VICTOR AND THE VANQUISHED…Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates in front of the joyous Celtic fans as keeper Jack Butland can only look on in dismay.

On February 26 that year, the pacy raider walloped in two as Celtic won 2-1 in the League Cup Final and he followed that up with another twosome on April 8 in the Hoops’ 3-2 triumph in the league in the east end of Glasgow.

Kyogo hit the ground running last season when he volleyed in the only goal of the game on September 3 and he repeated the achievement on December 30 with his blistering 25-yard left-foot drive that thumped into the net behind Butland for the hosts’ second strike.

It was the effort that separated the sides after James Tavernier’s late free-kick made it 2-1. Paulo Bernardo had given Brendan Rodgers’ side the first-half lead with another breathtaking strike.

Kyogo claimed his eighth wonder goal against Rangers back in September – and, alas, the fabulous scoring run is now at and end with the fans’ favourite’s £10million move to French club Rennes.

We thank him for the breathtaking memories and wish him good luck on his travels.

Here is a pictorial parade of Kyogo’s conquests against the Govan club.

Please enjoy!

NUMBER ONE…Kyogo Furuhashi is outnumbered as he nets the late leveller at Ibrox on January 2 2023.

NUMBER TWO…Kyogo prepares to knock in the opener in the League Cup Final in February.

NUMBER THREE…the deciding goal as Kyogo almost ends in the net alongside Borna Barisic after turning in a low cross from Reo Hatate for the League Cup winner.

NUMBER FOUR…Kyogo thumps Celtic into the lead in the 3-2 Premiership triumph at Parkhead in March.

NUMBER FIVE…Allan McGregor has no chance as Kyogo finishes from close range to calim his second goal of the afternoon.

NUMBER SIX…Kyogo Furuhashi thunders in the winner as John Souttar can only look on at Ibrox in September 2023.

NUMBER SEVEN…Kyogo Furuhashi draws back his left foot before unleashing an unstoppable drive for Celtic’s winner at Parkhead in the 2-1 win on December 30 2023.
NUMBER EIGHT…Kyogo sidefoots in a superb drive to leave Jack Butland helpless in Celtic’s 3-0 win at Parkhead on September 1 2024.
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