CELTIC continued their 100 per-cent start to the season with a total, full scale destruction of Dundee United at Tannadice.Kyogo and Liel Abada both scored hat-tricks as the Hoops recorded a quite unbelievable, record-setting NINE-NIL victory over Jack Ross’ beleaguered and battered men.
Kyogo celebrates his opening goal at TannadiceCredit: PA
Abada (left) got a treble of goals of his ownCredit: PA
Ross made several changes as United looked for a first league win of the season.
Charlie Mulgrew, Aziz Behich, Jamie McGrath, Tony Watt and Craig Sibbald ALL found themselves on the bench as the Tangerines looked to freshen things up to spark an impact.
Celtic were able to welcome back Reo Hatate, while Carl Starfelt returned in place of Moritz Jenz to rekindle last season’s centre back pairing with Cameron Carter-Vickers that brought so much success.
There was no Giorgos Giakoumakis, with Ange Postecoglou confirming the in-form striker had been feeling unwell.
United came out of the traps quickly, and almost took an early lead.
Former Rangers man Glenn Middleton found a bit of space in the penalty area, and from a tight angle fired a superb effort across goal that Joe Hart saved brilliantly.
Steven Fletcher came sliding in as he looked to pounce on the rebound, but instead caught Hart on the head with his boot.
It was a nasty coming together and the Hoops no.1 required lengthy treatment as the medical team looked to stem the flow of blood coming from a head wound.
In the end, the 35-year old was able to continue after a seven-minute delay and a quick change of shirt.
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Fletcher picked up a yellow card from ref Steven McLean, although the ex-Scotland striker will feel he was entitled to make the challenge.
Kyogo opened the scoring for the Hoops in each of their last three Premiership games – so it was little surprise when the Japanese talisman did it yet again here.
Liel Abada was back in the starting XI for Celtic, and it was his wonderful, threaded pass from the half way line that found Jota.
Jota, in turn, floated in a cross that found Kyogo, completely unmarked, on the edge of the box.
He had all the time in the world to steady his feet before firing into Carljohan Eriksson’s bottom right corner.
It was full control for the Hoops from that point on, and they nearly added a quickfire second.
Matt O’Riley was denied by an Eriksson save, before the Finland stopper was at his best to keep Reo Hatate out.
The midfielder saw two attempts blocked by some last ditch United defending, before his third strike was batted away by the ‘keeper.
The United goalie was in the thick of it again as the half-hour mark approached.
The Hoops unleashed a devastating breakaway from a United attack, with Kyogo feeding Abada who was denied by Eriksson.
United almost nabbed an equaliser out of nothing.
Scott McMann pressed brilliantly to nick the ball away from Josip Juranovic, with the ball following to the feet of Middleton.
He fired a powerful, low drive towards goal but it just went wide of Hart’s goal.
O’Riley had another go as half-time approached, but the midfielder’s curling effort turned away from goal and didn’t trouble Eriksson.
But the first half in the end was to be all about one man – Kyogo.
He added his – and Celtic’s second – on 40 minutes with a truly scintillating strike from outside the area.
25 yards from goal in a central area, the ball found its way to Kyogo who without a moment’s thought, curled a stunning, first time strike into the top corner.
Eriksson got a slight touch to it, but in truth, he was never going to keep out what was a goal of absolutely incredible quality.
There was still even more to come from the Celtic fans’ favourite who went and grabbed himself a first half hat trick.
United’s defence was completely sliced open by a brilliant O’Riley pass that sent Abada clear.
The Israeli international then had the simple task of playing the ball across goal where Kyogo – once again left all on his own – was waiting to blast into the empty net.
A sensational half for the Japanese striker who made it six goals in four games with his hat trick goal as the first half entered stoppage time.
Unfortunately for Dundee United, that wasn’t the end of the pain as the Hoops scored again before the whistle.
Once again, the backline was completely ripped apart as a phenomenal team move with some brilliant first touch football ended with O’Riley fizzing a tantalising cross across goal.
Kyogo wasn’t there this time, but instead Jota was there all by himself to take a touch and blast into what was another empty United goal.
Four goals to the good at the break, there was no let up into the second-half.
In fact, it was the exact opposite as Greg Taylor burst forward and fizzed an effort just wide as Celtic almost nabbed a fifth just three minutes into the second 45.
That was nothing more than an extremely brief reprieve for United, who did concede a fifth goal shortly after.
The Terrors defence was once again completely carved open and this time it was Abada who showed the desire and drive to get into the penalty area to finish off another sublime team move.
Goal number five was quickly followed by number six.
O’Riley saw a tame free-kick from the edge of the area easily blocked, but the ball broke to the man right next to him, Josip Juranovic.
The Croatian defender took a lovely touch to tee himself up before firing a driven, low effort below the unsighted Eriksson.
A sixth Celtic goal for Juranovic, but his first from open play.
There quite simply was zero let up, and United were all over the place and then some, although they did almost get a goal back when Fletcher hit the post.
Their defence was – yet again – absolutely nowhere to be seen as the Hoops carved them open once more to score a SEVENTH goal.
This time it was Hatate who was sent clear on the edge of the area, and he was able to coolly slot the ball across goal where Abada was once again waiting unmarked to score his second of the game.
Ange Postecoglou rang the changes immediately after, and one of the introduced players, David Turnbull, had a good chance for an eighth but this time Eriksson was there to make a save.
On 76 minutes, along came came goal number EIGHT and it was another super team move.
Subs Aaron Mooy and Daizen Maeda combined brilliantly, with the Japanese winger finding Abada at the back stick.
He controlled well before delightfully dinking the ball over Eriksson to make it 8-0.
Number NINE soon followed.
A corner floated into the box picked out Carl Starfelt who sent the ball goalwards with an excellently controlled header.
It was a big goal that ensured a record-setting away league win for Celtic, bettering an 8-0 win over Hamilton and 9-1 triumph over Clyde.
Callum McGregor fizzed an effort inches wide as the Hoops looked to make the fans’ chants of “we want ten” a reality.
Ultimately the 10th didn’t come, but what a statement from the champions.
Next up – it’s Rangers next week.
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