A WORLD CUP legend who liked a dive took his seat at Rugby Park.
But it was Kilmarnock who went down far too easily yesterday.
Jurgen Klinsmann looked on as the home side handed victory to the Premiership leaders inside 20 minutes.
The ex-Germany and Spurs striker was there to run his eye over Hyeongyu Oh in his role as South Korea’s national boss.
He had to wait till the start of the second half to watch the Hoops striker in action.
But it had been game over long before that thanks to four of the most gift-wrapped goals you’ll ever see.
Killie boss Derek McInnes had started with an attacking line-up, with Christian Doidge and the fit-again Kyle Vassell up front.
Fraser Murray was handed a first league start since November 12 down the left flank.
But it might be a while until the winger is seen again after the part he played in three of those opening goals.
Matt O’Riley scored twice after Kyogo and Daizen Maeda had put the Hoops two ahead by the 12th minute.
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They could even afford to have Kyogo hit the post from the penalty spot and Callum McGregor to uncharacteristically blunder for Killie’s consolation.
It’s now 30 wins from 31 domestic games for the Hoops – and their restored 12-point lead leaves them on track to be crowned champions on Coronation Day on May 6.
Brendan Rodgers’ Invincibles’ record return of 106 points remains beatable too.
They coasted to victory despite the fact they missed Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota and Aaron Mooy started on the bench.
Ange Postecoglou had claimed pre-match that was down to a combination of injury niggles and concerns about Kilmarnock’s artificial surface.
But very quickly it was McInnes who had plenty to be worried about.
He could have worked all week on shape and tactics.
But he was powerless in the seventh minute when Murray played a needless backpass from inside the Celtic half towards Joe Wright.
It was hopelessly short and the last person he’d want to have seen in the vicinity was Kyogo.
The Japanese frontman latched onto the loose ball but still had plenty to do.
Wright’s decision to stand off him allowed him to pick his spot and drill past Sam Walker for his 29th of the season.
McInnes simmered in the home dugout as Killie conceded in the meekest of fashions.
But his anger wasn’t about to soothe as the Hoops scored twice more in the space of 11 minutes.
Johnston got the better of Murray then dinked up a ball to the back post which Maeda nodded back in the direction it had come and past a helpless Walker.
It was far too simple again from Killie, as it was for the third. Yuki Kobayashi fed Greg Taylor who had come inside off the left flank.
Former Rugby Park star Taylor played a short pass to O’Riley inside the box and with the home defence again hesitant the midfielder coolly stroked home.
Despite sitting second bottom Killie hadn’t lost any of their previous five home league games.
Yet boos rang out after that third strike as the true extent of the potential damage if this continued started to sink in.
Truth is it could have got a whole lot worse in the 21st minute when Christian Doidge tripped Taylor inside the box for a certain penalty.
But Kyogo’s spotkick smashed off the left upright and Maeda could only poke the rebound past the post.
It was only delaying the inevitable though, especially with the way Killie were repeatedly making a mess of clearing their lines.
Danny Amrstrong’s header fell to Murray standing outside his box but his horror swipe skied the ball back towards his own goal.
O’Riley was there again to control and finish to make it 4-0.
McInnes had to try and stem the bleeding and made a double substitution.
Unsurprisingly Murray was hooked, with Doidge also sacrificed for Alan Power and Jeriel Dorsett as Killie switched to a back five and one up front.
But Power then gifted the ball to O’Riley who found Kyogo and his shot was beaten away by Walker.
The selfless Kyogo then appeared in his OWN box after tracking Kyle Vassell’s run forwards then playing the ball back to Joe Hart.
Armstrong’s fifth minute nutmeg past Carl Starfelt then driven shot at Hart must have felt a long time ago for the home side.
But on the stroke of half-time it was Celtic who handed a goal to Killie.
An even bigger surprise was the fact McGregor was the culprit.
When the skipper delayed on the ball inside his box Liam Donnelly pounced and saw his shot saved by Hart’s legs.
But the Hoops couldn’t properly clear the danger and eventually it was Donnelly who stroked into the net.
Incredibly it was the first time Killie had scored against Celtic since Chris Burke netted back in August 2020.
But it didn’t stop more groans coming from the stands as ref David Dickinson blew for the break.
Klinsmann’s trip to watch Oh ahead of January’s Asia Cup was made worthwhile when he was sent on for Kyogo as the teams resumed for the second half.
His main action of note was a booking for a late challenge and sweeping a shot wide of goal after a brilliant cross from Rocco Vata.
There was no doubt the Hoopos let their tempo drop and a reorganised Killie nearly took advantage.
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Hart brilliantly blocked Luke Chambers’ header then Vassell went close with two late efforts.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
