Aaron Mooy scored a brace to help Celtic produce one of the football results of the weekend in the Scottish Premiership. After Daizen Maeda’s incredible goal, the Australian international scored twice before Kyogo Furuhashi finished off a commanding performance in the capital. In the first two minutes, Hibs had a goal disallowed and also struck the woodwork, but they were unable to compete as the Hoops won their 12th straight league game. Rangers, who had just one win in their past five games, fall to seventh in the standings as Ange Postecoglou’s team gears up for an Old Firm matchup with them.
James Forrest was replaced by Liel Abada, the sole change made by Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou. Following his return from World Cup duty, Josip Juranovic of Croatia sat on the sidelines as Anthony Ralston, who was injured, was replaced at right-back by Reo Hatate. While David Turnbull started serving a two-match suspension, Sead Haksabanovic was absent from the team. Following their 4-0 victory over Livingston, Hibs started the game with both wing-backs moving forward effectively. Offside rules prevented Chris Cadden from scoring, and Lewis Stevenson sent in two threatening crosses that Carl Starfelt turned behind.
Maeda had the greatest early opportunity for Celtic, but despite doing well to dive at Hatate’s cross, he misdirected his header over the far post. Josh Campbell received a direct throw-in from Hatate on the edge of the box, giving Hibs a chance, but the midfielder’s shot missed the far post. After setting up a half-chance for Furuhashi that David Marshall saved, Maeda got around Cadden to send in the cross that resulted in the game’s first goal. Mooy was mainly being shadowed by Ryan Porteous, who was positioned in front of center-backs Rocky Bushiri and Paul Hanlon. However, the Australian was unmarked when Maeda’s cross landed in his way off Joe Newel’s leg, and he blasted the ball home from 12 yards.
Marshall’s touch caused Abada’s cross to be deflected directly into the path of Maeda, who then headed off the crossbar from three yards out. However, the Japan international subsequently scored from a far more difficult opportunity. Maeda was able to cut inside and curl home from 20 yards as a result of Cadden’s slip, two Hibs players following Taylor’s overlap, and space created by Cadden’s slip. Both before and after the break, the hosts had opportunities to turn it into a contest. Hanlon received Newell’s long pass, but the defender deflected it off the goalpost. Even though Newell created a better opportunity, Kevin Nisbet botched a free header from six yards away.
Taylor inserted Maeda, whose cutback was behind Furuhashi and Abada, but the latter flicked the ball up onto Stevenson’s hand and referee Alan Muir pointed to the spot of the penalty right away, ending Hibs’ hopes. Mooy stepped up to send Marshall the wrong way after Juranovic and Giorgos Giakoumakis, neither of whom were on the field, had missed Celtic’s previous two penalties this season.
Six minutes later, Furuhashi sealed one of the convincing football results with a superb goal after Hatate’s forward play put him in the back. As Celtic coasted in the second half, Taylor’s replacement Alexandro Bernabei twice threatened and Marshall made some excellent saves from Matt O’Riley. Rocco Vata, the 17-year-old son of former Hoops and Albania defender Rudi Vata, received a late debut from Postecoglou, while fellow substitutes Forrest and Jota both came dangerously close to scoring a fifth.
“The boys should be proud of the outcome. I admitted before the game that I thought Hibs had something going for them. They came at us, especially at first, and the audience was ready for it. It’s fantastic to see that we persevered and played our game of football. The journey there is difficult,” Ange Postecoglou said.
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