Sky Sports have released the highlights from today’s game at the Toni Macaroni Arena against Livingston. Brendan Rodgers had to pick his team up after that gutting defeat in Rotterdam on Tuesday night against Feyenoord and the talk before the match was about how it couldn’t have been a tougher venue after their European trip.
That didn’t stop the Irishman and his team though as they took the lead inside the first fifteen minutes thanks to a Reo Hatate penalty, after the Japanese midfielder was taken out by the Livingston centre-back, Luiyi de Lucas. The man who has been the subject of much scrutiny in the early part of the season took the responsibility of tucking the ball away under the grip of Shamal George.
Then about another quarter-of-an-hour later disaster struck – or so we all thought – when Celtic goalkeeper, Joe Hart, ran out his box to the onrushing Mo Sangare who had beaten the offside trap and took him clean out just at the edge of the Hoops’ penatly area. John Beaton was only too willing to dip into his pocket and send the big ‘keeper down the tunnel early.
Celtic rallied superbly though and arguably played far better with the Man less oddly enough and Scott Bain assumed goalkeeping duties for the remaining 70 minutes. The ex-Dundee and Hibernian stopper managed to keep a clean sheet on Saturday afternoon and helped his side to another great victory on the road too.
It was really the team spirit and togetherness that was the most welcoming to see today, particularly after the result in mid-week. Celtic grew in strength and eventually found the net again after Kyogo Furuhashi crossed to Daizen Maeda who couldn’t finish but managed to get the ball to land at Danish teammate, Matt O’Riley. He finished it off from close range and put the Bhoys in cruise control.
The industrious Maeda then finished the job in injury time and got the goal his wonderful performance deserved. Our team grafter managed to pull away from the Livingston players and find some space and rifled the ball high past the lowdown Shamal George in the opposition goal, capping off a great day when the Celtic won away!
🍀 A Joe Hart red card didn't stop Celtic from romping to a 3-0 victory over Livingston – Daizen Maeda with a sublime finish to round things off ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ULum4KHNVJ
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) September 23, 2023
Paul Gillespie
