Scottish PremiershipSunday, August 11, 2024Easter Road, Edinburgh HIBERNIAN 0 CELTIC 2(Kuhn 3, McGregor 19) After last week’s impressive Flag Day performance agianst Kilmarnock, the champions picked up where they left off, delivering a brilliant performance, two goals and three points at Easter Road this afternoon (Sunday). Sporting their striking new yellow away kit, it didn’t take long for the Celts to put the sunshine on Leith. With under five minutes played, Kyogo’s effort from outside the box was saved by the Hibs keeper and pushed it in to the path of James Forrest. The experienced winger, who is approaching 500 appearances for Celtic, calmly slipped the ball to Nicolas Kuhn who tucked it away from close range, giving the champions an early grip of the match. Brendan Rodgers’ men looked sharp and aggressive all afternoon and were in control of possession for large parts of the match. Kyogo had a good chance to make it 2-0 in the 18th minute when a bad back pass from a Hibs defender, who was being put under pressure by Reo Hatate and James Forrest, put the Hoops striker through against the goalkeeper, but he put his effort just wide of the post. However, the second goal came just a minute later from the left boot of Callum McGregor. The captain received the ball from Kuhn and sized up the chance before producing an excellent finish from 25 yards out as he fired the ball in to the top corner to make it 2-0. Inspired by the captain’s stunning strike, Matt O’Riley had a shot at goal from the edge of the area, with the Hibs keeper left rooted to his goal-line. However, his effort went narrowly wide. Moments in to the second half, Callum McGregor almost had his second goal of the afternoon, his shot from the edge of the area deflecting off of a Hibs defender and on to the post. Hibs had their first chance of the afternoon in the 50th minute when Martin Boyle burst in to the box with the ball from the right-hand side but his ball to the back post was put behind for a corner by Alistair Johnston. The hosts grew in to the game as the second half continued, but a resolute Celtic defence limited them to a handful of half-chances while remaining in control of the match. There was a big shout for a penalty from the travelling Celtic support after Mikey Johnston, who had replaced Kyogo, was clattered in the penalty area by the Hibs keeper in the 86th minute. The penalty wasn’t awarded, though Johnston did require lengthy treatment on the pitch from the Celtic medical staff and was eventually subbed off as he was unable to continue. The Celts saw out the rest of the match and left Easter Road with the three points and a clean sheet. The sides meet again next Sunday at Celtic Park in the League Cup.
Trending Now
