Scottish PremiershipSunday, February 2, 2025Fir Park, Motherwell
MOTHERWELL…1(Armstrong 23)
CELTIC…3(Maeda 1, Idah 30, Jota 94)
After their Champions League exploits within the midweek, the champions returned to home motion with a 3-1 victory over Motherwell at Fir Park because of targets from Daizen Meada and Adam Idah.
The Celts received off to the right begin when, with lower than a minute performed, Daizen Maeda discovered the again of the online.
After some pretty passing play outdoors the field on the left-hand aspect, the ball discovered its method to Anthony Ralston on the proper wing. The suitable again whipped a cross in the direction of the again submit, the place Daizen was ready to go it again throughout objective and away from the Motherwell keeper to make it 1-0.
For the subsequent 20 minutes or so, Brendan Rodgers’ males had been comfy within the sport and continued to maneuver the ball nicely, significantly on the left-hand aspect the place Taylor, McCowan, Hatate, and Maeda had been linking up brilliantly.
Then, within the twenty third minute of the match, the house aspect drew themselves stage. A ball in to the field from Dom Thompson deflected off of Auston Trusty and straight in to the trail of Luke Armstrong, who smashed his effort past Kasper Schmeichel to make it 1-1.
There seemed to be a shove on Carter-Vickers from Armstrong within the quick lead-up to the objective, nevertheless the objective was given, and the sport was stage.
Motherwell’s equaliser appeared to spark the champions again in to life, and with half-hour on the clock, the Hoops had the lead once more.
And as soon as once more, the objective got here from some good link-up play on the left wing between Reo Hatate, Luke McCowan and Daizen Maeda, with the latter firing the ball throughout the face of objective in the direction of Adam Idah, who knocked it in to the again of the online from shut vary.
Simply over 5 minutes later, the Celts virtually took a two-goal lead when Luke McCowan whipped a cross in from a nook kick which evaded all the Motherwell defence and located Daizen Maeda unmarked on the again submit, however the Japanese ahead’s header crept simply broad of the goal.
The identical Celtic duo linked up once more simply after the 40-minute mark when McCowan clipped a intelligent ball over the house aspect’s defence and in to Daizen’s path, however his effort from simply outdoors the six-yard field sailed over the bar.
With lower than 5 minutes of the second half gone, the champions seemed to have taken a 3-1 lead when Reo Hatate despatched a sensational ball ahead which discovered Adam Idah.
The Irishman tried to flash the ball throughout the face of objective, but it surely was turned in to the online by a Motherwell defender. VAR got here to the house aspect’s rescue, nevertheless, judging that Idah had been offside within the build-up, and the objective was dominated out.
Celtic had the ball within the web once more on the hour mark, this time via Nicolas Kuhn who produced an acrobatic overhead kick to search out the goal, however as soon as once more the objective was dominated out for offside, denying the German winger a objective of the season contender.
The Hoops had been in full management of the sport within the second half and with 65 minutes gone, Adam Idah rattled the submit with an effort from the sting of the field which had the Motherwell keeper fully crushed.
Simply after Idah’s try, Brendan made two subs, bringing Luke McCowan and Nicolas Kuhn off and changing them with Arne Engels and Jota, with the latter receiving a heat welcome again from the Celtic trustworthy.
Celtic continued to press ahead in quest of a 3rd objective which might safe the three factors, and while the work within the ahead areas was wonderful all afternoon, credit score additionally has to go to the Hoops’ again line for the work that they put in to nullify any threats from the Motherwell assault.
With three minutes left to play, Jota picked up the ball on the left wing and drove in the direction of the sting of the field. He managed to search out house for a shot at objective however, on this event, the Motherwell keeper was equal to it and he was in a position to hold it from getting in.
Nevertheless, there was no stopping the Portuguese winger’s effort within the 94th minute which sealed a 3-1 victory for the Bhoys.
A sensational ball ahead from Engels discovered Maeda, whose cutback throughout objective reached Jota, and the Portuguese wanted no invitation as he slammed the ball dwelling from shut vary.
Subsequent up for the Celts is a house match towards Dundee at Paradise on Wednesday night time the place the Hoops will look to seize one other three factors.
Fixtures
Motherwell Vs. Celtic – Solar, Feb 2nd 2025, 15:00 Ultimate rating: 1 – 3
