St.Johnstone(SC)
Celtic dispatched St.Johnstone 5-0 on Sunday, illustrating the ruthless superiority that has put them on the cusp of another domestic treble – their 6th in 9 seasons.
An electric display of pressing, incisive passing and first-time finishing saw St.Johnstone blown away by 4 first-half goals in 12 minutes. This was as dominant a performance as we’ve seen all season, and off the back of a 5-1 rout of Kilmarnock, the team looks back to their merciless best, just at the right time.
It was the captain, Callum McGregor, who kicked things off with a trademark goal – his 10th of the season – from the edge of the area. Having walked onto Reo Hatate’s back heel, McGregor toyed with his marker, before calmly finishing inside the post from 12 yards. The 31-year-old was having a day - as he usually does at Hampden – and 3 minutes later turned creator. Having followed, a pass into Adam Idah’s feet, he arrived punctually to receive the Irishman’s lay off, before slipping a slide rule pass in behind the St.Johnstone back line. Maeda met his slightly deflected pass, slotting it first time across the keeper to make it 2 nil.
Game over but Celtic were just getting going, still smarting from the defeat in Perth two weeks ago, retribution was to be taken.
The 3rd goal was devastatingly swift and concise. The patient rotation of possession arrived at the feet of Liam Scales, who had time to lift his head, spotting a cunning run by Reo Hatate. Scales opened his body and fed a perfectly weighted pass inside the full-back, into the path of the Japanese midfielder. Without having to take a touch, Hatate squared the ball first-time, for Adam Idah to tap home his 15th goal of the season.
An almost, blink and you’ll miss it type move that looked well-rehearsed and was clinically executed.
Celtic had more punishment to dole out. This time it was Maeda again. Having hunted the ball back for the umpteenth time so far, Hatate fed the ball to his countryman, who, although never entirely in control, managed to squeeze a left-footed shot through a pack of bodies, low and to the keeper’s left. 4-0
It was a remarkable 12 minutes. The zip and verve that had been misplaced recently, has returned to the side, as has the hunger to press teams into submission. This was Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic, in full flow.
It was left to Jota to come on and add a picture book ending to the afternoon. A tantalising first-time cross from Alistair Johnston was begging to be swept home, and the Portuguese winger duly obliged. It was a goal we’ve seen him score many times, arriving late to finish at the back-post. The 26-year-old, all sun-kissed highlights and Hollywood smile, wheeled away in celebration at the Celtic end, only to be met by a young fan who had run on to greet his hero.
Without missing a beat, he scooped him up in his arms to celebrate.
Reo Hatate
We’ll only be able to define how good Reo Hatate is once he inevitably leaves Celtic. His talent and creativity are undeniable but there’s a lot more than that that goes into the mix of being a genuinely outstanding midfielder.
That said, the 27-year-old had a career high 12 minutes on Sunday, providing the assist for 3 of the 4 first-half goals.
His particular style of play is easy on the eye; an interesting mix of mastered improvisation and textbook technique. His unique gait, almost bow-legged, low to the ground, allows him to turn sharply in tight spaces and opening up the pitch in an instant.
Once in space with his head up, his passing – as we saw on Sunday – can be deadly.
The Cup Final
The Scottish Cup final at Hampden on Saturday, 24th May, now looms large on the horizon. Aberdeen stands in the way of another historic domestic treble, in what will be Celtic’s 57th and final game of the season.
Remarkably, Rodgers will go into the game, having never lost at Hampden, across both of his spells. He now has an opportunity to complete his 3rd treble and Celtic’s 9th in total. Incredible.