On This Day in 2013, Celtic travelled to Perth to face St Johnstone. Despite the goal ending in a draw, Virgil Van Dijk scored a spectacular volley as the game ended 3-3.
McDiarmid Park has been a notoriously tough place to visit with St Johnstone’s usually well drilled sides under Callum Davidson and Tommy Wright usually causing Celtic some difficulties in the past. Whilst Celtic have a good record against the Perth side in recent seasons, Celtic travelled to McDiarmid Park with the league already won in 2014. The Scottish Cup finalists warmed up by coming from 3-1 down to draw with Neil Lennon’s side.
The game featured an incredible solo goal from the now Liverpool superstar, Virgil Van Dijk. It is a marvellous volley from the Dutch defender and deserved to be on the winning team. Liverpool have missed the Dutchman this year but Celtic fans saw flashes of brilliance from Virgil, something that we probably did not appreciate as much at the time.
He is perhaps known for a better goal at McDiarmid Park but the goal, included in the highlights package, is certainly worthy of the winner.
St Johnstone had opened the scoring from a Tim Clancy tap in giving the Saints the lead. Lukasz Zaluska denied Stevie May from the spot to keep the score at 1-0 going into half time. Celtic scored ten minutes after the restart as Kris Commons scored from the spot.
Pukki and van Dijk scored, appearing to put the game beyond doubt; however, two late goals from Brown and O’Halloran meant that the points were shared between the two sides.