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SPFLSaturday, September 28, 2024

McDiarmid Park

ST JOHNSTONE… 0

CELTIC… 6

(Kyogo 35 & 45, Bernardo 43, McGregor 54, Maeda 72, Idah 83)

A brilliant performance from the Hoops in Perth resulted in a 6-0 victory for Brendan Rodgers’ men, which maintains their flawless start to season 2024/25.

There was a lot made in the build-up to today’s match about the inconvenient kick-off time, but as ever, the Celtic faithful travelled in great numbers and as the teams emerged for the start of the game, the atmosphere in the stadium was akin to a home match at Celtic Park.

Four minutes in, the Hoops created the first opportunity of the match when Callum McGregor sent a brilliant pass over the Saints’ defence from the midfield which found Daizen Maeda in the box. The forward managed to get a good touch on the ball, but the St Johnstone keeper was able to intercept.

With six minutes played, the hosts sent a dangerous looking ball over the Celtic defence which Makenzie Kirk attempted to latch on to, but an excellent challenge from Auston Trusty on the edge of the area put an end to the attack.

In the 12th minute, Alistair Johnston swung a cross in to the St Johnstone penalty area which Kyogo brought under control, however the ball was turned behind for a Celtic corner before the Japanese striker could get a shot on goal.

Kyogo found himself with another opportunity four minutes later, this time the pass coming from McGregor. The forward’s effort on goal was saved by Ross Sinclair, with Nicolas Kuhn unable to hit the target from the rebound.

With just over 25 minutes played, Alistair Johnston was fouled just outside the box on the right-hand side. The resultant free kick was taken by Arne Engels who cut the ball to Nicolas Kuhn on the edge of the area.

Kuhn’s shot rebounded to Daizen Maeda who slammed a volley in to the back of the net which looked to have given Celtic a deserved lead. However, after a VAR review, which resulted in Don Robertson being sent to the monitor, Trusty was judged to have fouled a Saints defender in the build-up, and the goal was ruled out.

The Celts continued to apply the pressure, and with 35 minutes played, Kyogo broke the deadlock and gave Brendan Rodgers’ side the lead. Kuhn headed the ball through to the Japanese forward who found himself one-on-one against the Saints’ keeper, and he was clinical as he buried his effort in to the far corner of the net and put the Hoops 1-0 up.

The hosts had their first shot on goal in the 40th minute, but Kasper Schmeichel was able to punch it clear to prevent an equaliser.

Two minutes before the end of the first half, Paulo Bernardo doubled Celtic’s lead with a shot from outside the box after a brilliant ball from Johnston to Kuhn started a dangerous attack.

Kuhn’s cross in to the box found Kyogo who laid it off to Bernardo. The midfielder needed no further invitation as he unleashed a stunning strike which cruised in to the bottom corner.

Then, with 45 minutes on the clock, Kyogo made it 3-0 to the Hoops after he headed Greg Taylor’s pinpoint cross beyond Ross Sinclair to give the Celts total control of the match.

Brendan Rodgers made one change at half time, bringing Alex Valle on in place of Greg Taylor, and whilst the temperature in Perth may have dropped by the time the second half started, the intensity of Celtic’s play certainly did not.

Kyogo had a chance early in the half after Bernardo slipped a good pass in behind the St Johnstone defence, however the forward’s strike sailed over the bar.

Then, less than 10 minutes in to the second period, Callum McGregor made it 4-0 to the Hoops. The Celts’ captain has made a habit of scoring from outside the area this season and he continued that trend tonight.

Arne Engels played a short corner to Nicolas Kuhn, who then laid the ball off to McGregor. The captain’s low strike left Sinclair rooted to his line and gave the Celts a four-goal lead.

Schmeichel was called upon in the 64th minute when Aaron Essel had a shot on goal for the hosts, but the Celts’ keeper got down to his left and kept the strike out.

With the points secured and with one eye on Tuesday’s UCL match against Borussia Dortmund, Brendan Rodgers made a triple substitution in the 65th minute with Arne Engels, Nicolas Kuhn and Kyogo making way for James Forrest, Adam Idah and Reo Hatate.

Daizen Maeda was the next Celt to get his name on the scoresheet when, in the 72nd minute, his bullet header from a Bernardo cross found the top corner and made it 5-0 to Celtic.

Just before the 80 minute mark, Trusty had a strike from outside the area after he chested the ball forward in to space for himself. His effort, which had it gone in would have been a goal of the season contender, drifted just wide of the post.

In the 83rd minute, a brilliant bit of link up play between Luke McCowan (who had come on in place of McGregor), Valle and Idah gave Celtic a six-goal lead after Idah found the net from close range.

With 86 minutes played, St Johnstone broke forward at pace and with space to run in to. As ever, though, Daizen Maeda sprinted back from deep in the attacking third and made a challenge to halt the attack, which drew a brilliant reaction from the travelling Celtic support.

In the 88th minute, McCowan saw two excellent strikes on goal saved by Sinclair, the first of which had to be touched on to the post by the keeper.

The Celts’ excellent performance sent the Hoops’ supporters home delighted, but the clean sheet, the sixth consecutive shut-out that Schmeichel has kept since the season began, means that the Danish internationalist has equalled a 118 year-old club record for consecutive clean sheets at the start of a league campaign set by Tom Sinclair at the start of the 1906//07 season.

Brendan Rodgers’ men will now turn their attention to the Champions League and the trip to Dortmund on Tuesday.

Fixtures

St. Johnstone Vs. Celtic - Sat, Sep 28th 2024, 17:45 Final score: 0 - 6