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Celtic Dominates Dundee in Impressive 6-0 Victory
Celtic secured a commanding 6-0 victory over Dundee at Celtic Park, extending their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 13 points. The scoring began when Arne Engels converted a penalty in the 18th minute after a VAR review, with Adam Idah doubling the lead just before halftime, marking his fourth goal in three matches.
In the second half, Japan international Daizen Maeda showcased his talent by netting two goals within four minutes, further solidifying Celtic’s dominance. Engels added a stunning fifth goal in the 71st minute, and substitute Nicolas Kühn capped the tally with a curling finish to finalize the rout for Brendan Rodgers’s team.
This match was rescheduled after a postponement last month caused by damage from Storm Éowyn, and Dundee faced a relentless onslaught from Celtic in this rearranged fixture. The home team demonstrated an impressive level of play, leaving little room for Dundee to establish any momentum.
Celtic’s squad saw the return of Portuguese winger Jota, who had recently come back to the team after stints in Saudi Arabia and France. He made his mark after scoring off the bench in the previous match against Motherwell. Alongside him, right-back Alistair Johnston and Engels started the game, while Anthony Ralston, Luke McCowan, and Kühn were left out of the lineup. Dundee’s bench saw the presence of Jeffrey Schlupp, a versatile player on loan from Crystal Palace for the remainder of the season.
Dundee was without Lyall Cameron, who is set to join Rangers in the summer due to an Achilles injury. However, they welcomed back Finlay Robertson and defensive players Antonio Portales and Ethan Ingram to their starting eleven.
Despite a couple of promising attacks from Dundee, their hopes quickly faded once Celtic took the lead. Initially, the referee pointed in favor of Dundee for a foul, but after consulting with VAR, he reversed his decision and awarded a penalty to Celtic. Engels found the net from the spot, marking his sixth penalty conversion in the league this season.
Although Dundee attempted to respond, their efforts were inconsistent, and various missed opportunities prevented Celtic from extending their lead sooner. Before the halftime break, however, Dundee’s defense faltered, allowing Idah to rebound a saved shot and score from close range.
The second half featured a clear display of Celtic’s attacking prowess. Jota skillfully assisted Maeda, who scored with a header, followed by Maeda’s impressive lob over the goalkeeper from the edge of the area. Engels then delivered a spectacular shot from 25 yards, striking the crossbar before finding the net.
Rodgers made quick substitutions to refresh his team, bringing on Johnny Kenny and Schlupp for Idah and Greg Taylor. The final goal came from Kühn, who rounded off the match with an elegant finish from the edge of the box, adding to the overwhelming victory enjoyed by the league leaders.
Celtic’s performance not only showcases their current form but also highlights their depth as they continue to push for the Premier League title in dominant fashion.
Source
www.theguardian.com