KYOGO FURUHASHI scored just his second goal since his first-half hat-trick against Dundee United in August when he snapped up Celtic’s fourth strike in the 4-0 win over Motherwell at Fir Park.
The Japanese international frontman was unlucky with a whizzbang 30-yarder that crashed off the underside of the crossbar and bounced on the line as the hosts survived one moment of danger in the opening half.
However, Kyogo passed up two reasonable opportunities he would almost certainly have put away at the start of the season before he got on the scoresheet when he turned in a rebound off the post that denied the impressive Liel Abada a hat-trick.
ONE…Kyogo Furuhashi speeds through the Motherwell rearguard.
TWO…the Celtic striker fires for goal.
THREE…Kyogo Furuhashi’s shot hits keeper Liam Lelly and flies high over the bar.
The fans’ favourite’s previous goal had also come against Steven Hammell’s side in the 2-1 Premiership victory at Parkhead at the start of this month.
His countryman Reo Hatate netted a sublime effort in the rout in Lanarkshire to set up a semi-final meeting with Kilmarnock at Hampden in January as the holders go in pursuit of a second successive triumph in the competition.
A delighted Ange Postecoglou said: “Kyogo’s like all strikers. They go a couple of games without scoring and the world collapses in on them.
“You are trying to tell them they haven’t lost any of the ability they have and I’ve still been pleased with his general play. He’s been getting in those areas and it’s just a matter of him, like any striker, believing in what we are doing, keep hitting those areas and the goal will come.
KNOCK ON WOOD…Kyogo Furuhashi watches as his long-range drive beats keeper Liam Kelly, but hits the underside of the bar and rebounds onto the line.
“He had a great shot in the first-half and he hit the post last weekend. Those are the fine margins for strikers.
“Probably earlier in the year, they both would have gone in, but the key for me is that I’m still pleased with the way he is playing. He‘s causing problems for the opposition.”
Postecoglou, speaking to the Daily Record, added: “I’m pleased for him to get the goal, but it doesn’t change my assessment on how he’s been playing. He’s still been a contributor.”
PICK IT OUT…Kyogo Furuhashi prepares to finish the job after Liel Abada’s shot had struck the inside of the Well post and rebounded across the face of the goal.
ON THE CREST OF A WAVE…Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates his goal in front of the Celtic fans.
Kyogo’s team-mates left the stage clear for the pacy attacker to complete the celebrations with the fans after full-time.
Asked if that was in appreciation of their colleague, Postecoglou, joked: “I don’t know, mate, Kyogo just went in on his own!
“Look, I think there is a general sort of respect among the boys. I left out a couple of guys, one scored a hat-trick [James Forrest], the other a couple of goals [Giorgos Giakoumakis], but we brought in a couple.
“We all know what we are trying to achieve and that means that no-one is more important than anyone else.”
FOUR-MIDABLE: TWO-GOAL ABADA LEADS CUP ROUT
