MATCH REPORT | Celtic 3-1 Saints

It was one-way traffic towards the Saints goal during the first half however, Saints were proving hard to break down. The pressure eventually told on 40 minutes as Kyogo Furuhashi headed home a Nicholas Kühn cross.

Furuhashi then turned provider at the start of the second half to setup Kühn who slotted home 40 seconds after the restart for the Hoops second of the afternoon.

Substitute James Forrest added a third for Celtic on 68 minutes before Connor Smith scored a consolation for Saints with 9 minutes remaining. The midfielder reacted quickest to the loose ball after Stevie May had seen his header saved by Joe Hart.

Saints are back in action in a fortnight as they welcome Dundee to McDiarmid Park, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints were on their travels today as they made the trip to Glasgow to take on Celtic. A superb header from Nicky Clark with 3 minutes remaining saw Saints battle out a 1-1 draw with Livingston a fortnight ago and Craig Levein made three changes to his starting eleven for this afternoon’s match against the champions. Andy Considine, Graham Carey and Adama Sidibeh came in to replace Nicky Clark and Benji Kimpioka who both dropped to the bench, whilst Diallang Jaiyesimi missed out due to injury. Celtic progressed to the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup last Sunday as they defeated Livingston 4-2 at Celtic Park. Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers made two changes to his starting eleven this afternoon as Cameron Carter-Vickers and Kyogo Furuhashi came in to replace Adam Idah, who dropped to the bench, whilst Liam Scales missed out due to injury.

Matt Smith got the match underway for Saints however, it was the hosts who would go on to dominate the opening proceedings.

Celtic were awarded a free kick on 13 minutes after Paulo Bernardo was fouled by Liam Gordon. Matt O’Riley took the free kick as he floated his delivery to the far side of the Saints box. Stephen Walsh got on the end of the delivery and the defender headed the ball back across goal however, Ryan McGowan was alert to the danger as he cleared the ball.

The hosts continued to apply the pressure and on 17 minutes Tomoki Iwata played a good long ball forward as Nicolas Kühn got in behind the Saints defence however, Luke Robinson was able to get back and put off the forward as Dimitar Mitov gathered the ball. Then 3 minutes later Cameron Carter-Vickers headed over from a O’Riley corner.

PHOTO: Luke Robinson gets away from Nicolas Kühn

Saints were forced into a change on 25 minutes as Sven Sprangler picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Max Kucheriavyi.

An O’Riley corner a minute later ricocheted around the Saints box as both Cameron Carter-Vickers and Daizen Maeda saw their efforts blocked by the Saints rearguard whilst there was also a VAR check for a potential handball by Luke Robinson which was dismissed by the VAR official.

Kühn played in Kyogo Furuhashi on 29 minutes however, the Japanese forward was unable to test Mitov with his effort.

The one-way traffic towards the Saints goal continued and on 32 minutes Iwata saw his effort cleared off the line by Robinson. Then 3 minutes later Celtic thought they had taken the lead when Furuhashi turned home O’Riley’s cross however, the Main Stand assistant had his flag up to indicate the forward was offside, which a quick VAR check confirmed and the goal was disallowed.

PHOTO: Adama Sidibeh is tackled by Greg Taylor

The Hoops continued to knock at the door and on 37 minutes Furuhashi saw his strike deflected for a corner by Gordon. Then a minute later Mitov made a brilliant save to deny Iwata.

However, the pressure eventually told as Celtic took the lead with 5 minutes of the first half remaining. Kühn sent over a good cross into the box and Furuhashi got across his marker to beat Mitov to the ball and head it into the net. A long VAR check then followed before the goal was confirmed.

6 minutes of additional time were added on at the end of the first half and halfway through that added on time Furuhashi had the ball in the net again as he headed home a Daizen Maeda cross however, the goal was again ruled out for offside.

It would take Celtic only 40 seconds into the second half to double their lead. Greg Taylor’s pass played in Furuhashi down the left and the forward sent a low cross across the face of the goal which was tapped home by Kühn.

The Celts almost scored a third goal on 52 minutes as Furuhashi latched onto O’Riley’s pass before unleashing a first-time effort which hit the underside of the crossbar before David Keltjens headed clear the danger.

PHOTO: David Keltjens breaks forward

On the hour mark Alistair Johnston won Celtic a free kick out on the right after he was fouled by Dan Phillips. O’Riley took the free kick and his curled effort was touched over by Mitov for a corner.

Saints made a double change on 64 minutes as Benji Kimpioka and Tony Gallacher came on to replace Adama Sidibeh and Luke Robinson.

However, 4 minutes later Celtic scored a third goal. O’Riley was again involved in the thick of the action as he played in substitute James Forrest and the winger fired a home fine strike from 16 yards.

Saints brought on more fresh legs on 74 minutes as Connor Smith and Stevie May came on to replace Matt Smith and Graham Carey.

Saints pulled a goal back with 9 minutes remaining. Gallacher sent over an inviting ball from the left and May got on the end of it to head the ball goal wards but Joe Hart made a brilliant one handed save. However, Connor Smith reacted quickest to the loose ball to slot it high into the net for his first Saints goal.

PHOTO: Connor Smith scores for Saints

The hosts responded by going back on the attack and they thought they had restored their 3 goal lead on 84 minutes when Alistair Johnston fired a strike into the net however, the flag was again up for offside which was confirmed by VAR as Celtic saw another goal disallowed.  

Celtic pressed hard in the closing stages for a fourth goal and deep into the 7 minutes of additional time Mitov made a good save to deny Taylor after he had been played in by Iwata. Then Iwata got a chance of his own however, the Japanese midfielder headed over from close range after getting on the end of a Welsh flick on following a corner from the right.

Celtic: Hart, Johnston, Taylor, Furuhashi (Idah 75’), Kühn (Forrest 63’), Carter-Vickers (Holm 75’), Iwata, Bernardo (Kelly 63’), O’Riley (Lagerbielke 86’), Maeda, Welsh  

Unused Substitutes: Bain (GK), Oh, Vata, Ralston

Booked: None

Scorers: Furuhashi (40’), Kühn (46’), Forrest (68’)

Saints: Mitov, Considine, McGowan, Gordon, Carey (May 74’), Sidibeh (Kimpioka 64’), Robinson (Gallacher 64’), M. Smith (C. Smith 74’), Sprangler (Kucheriavyi 25’), Keltjens, Phillips

Unused Substitutes: Richards (GK), Clark, Franczak

Booked: Sidibeh, McGowan, Phillips

Scorer: C. Smith (81’)

Referee: Euan Anderson

VAR: Chris Graham

Attendance: 58,880

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Connor Smith is closed down by Daizen Maeda and Daniel Kelly