Kyogo Furuhashi and classy Celtic warmed-up brilliantly for Borussia Dortmund by majestically maintaining their 100 per cent start.
Brendan Rodgers’ side ruthlessly swept St Johnstone away in stunning style to make it six from six in the Premiership. Kyogo led the way with two lethal first-half finishes with Paulo Bernardo’s strike ensuring the contest was over by the interval. Callum McGregor’s fourth of the season, all from outside of the penalty box, added to the tally and Daizen Maeda, who was unfortunate to have an opener chalked off, got his goal with a brilliant header for the fifth.
Sub Adam Idah then finished a terrific move to rack up a half-dozen and seal the evening. It was a quite blistering performance from the champions and, as well as scoring was style, the clean sheet saw them make it half-a-dozen to start a league term. Saints just couldn’t cope. It would have been hard enough for the hosts had Rodgers’ team been slightly off it, but given they were sizzling, it was a thankless task.
With a new boss heading into McDiarmid Park, the Perth team will look to recover quickly. Celtic, on the other hand, just don’t waste these displays to stop. Rodgers’ team are excited for the test in Germany and their anticipation only grows after this demolition job and 14th straight win at the venue.
It was dazzling at times. Celtic dominated possession and had plenty of sighters before they broke the deadlock and opened the floodgates. Kyogo was unable to finish on three occasions with the first 20 minutes. The third time, Nicolas Kuhn also slashed wide with a rebound.
Maeda first thought he’d notched with a thunderous volley when Kuhn’s shot was blocked, but referee Don Robertson was asked to go to the monitor by VAR Alan Muir to check Auston Trusty collision Graham Carey and ruled it out. However, when Kyogo got his next chance, he didn’t mess around. Kuhn’s neat header gave him the chance to race through one-on-one and the finish was clinical.
It sparked a rush before the interval with Celtic adding two more of brilliant quality. The second was exquisite, involving every player in the team except Arne Engels and Maeda.
Calmly out from the back through Kasper Schmeichel and nine players involved. The finale came as Kuhn got away for a cross into the box. Kyogo cushioned a lay-off into the path of Bernardo and the Portuguese struck home from the edge of the area.
It was reminiscent of the outrageous 24-pass goal in 2017 which was finished by Moussa Dembele and Rodgers’ men were flying. Having provided from Bernardo, Kyogo then headed home Greg Taylor’s cross from close range after another magical build-up, with Kuhn again key in it.
Celtic scored their fourth 10 minutes after the restart when a short-corner routine gave McGregor a chance to strike home from 20 yards. Saints were being swamped. Schmeichel had to save from sub Aaron Essel, but it was a rare moment and Maeda scored the fifth.
The Asian met Bernardo’s cross perfectly to bullet a fabulous header into the top corner beyond Ross Sinclair. Still Celtic weren’t finished and sealed the rout with another sizzling goal.
Sub Luke McCowan lifted a disguised chip into fellow replacement Alex Balle and his delightful back flick let Idah knock home. An offside flag initially ruled it out, but VAR checked the lines and the Irishman’s effort stood. Just as the fans did as they applauded. Saints just wanted it to end.
Here’s three talking points from Perth
Delight before Dortmund
Rodgers wanted a Champions League performance to take to Dortmund and he got one. Some of the quality within Celtic’s goals was simply majestic. Kyogo’s lethal movement and finishing put him in the mood and has him in pole position to start ahead of Adam Idah, who also got on the scoresheet during his cameo.
Paulo Bernardo’s goal and performance in the middle of the park after being selected to start ahead of Reo Hatate have strengthened his hand significantly. These are the types of choices the manager has been craving going into huge games at the highest level. The Signal Iduna Park will be a serious examination, but Rodgers’ team could barely be in better form going to Germany.
Change coming at Saints
Tiernan Lynch looks set to bring a new broom into McDiarmid Park with compensation talks underway with Larne. Barring a change of heart, the 44-year-old seems destined for Perth and he’ll take over a team who are now six without a win. Caretaker Andy Kirk did everything he could to set up as best he could, but the opposition were just way too good. There is a core of a good squad at the club and, although this was a heavy beating, the arival of Lynch would be timely and could everyone a lift as the squad moves on from the Craig Levein’s era.
A TRUSTY OPTION
Auston Trusty was signed for £6 million to join the backline and looked far-more like it as he deputised for the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers. The American international felt his way into things against Falkirk the previous week, yet this was strong. Powerful, he also showed recovery pace to thwart Makenzie Kirk in the opening stages. Moved it well, even on his wrong side playing on the right of Liam Scales. Unlucky to have a foul called against him when Maeda hit the net and he looked a threat in the opposing box. Also hit a dipping volley just wide. With the game won, Alex Balle was also given the second period in place of Greg Taylor as the manager got more valuable minutes into the young left-back. His flick at the sixth goal was lovely.
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