Photo credit: www.skysports.com
Celtic Soars to Victory with Hyun-Jun Yang’s Stellar Performance
Celtic put forth an impressive display, overcoming St Mirren 5-2 and reinforcing their dominance at the top of the Scottish Premiership by extending their lead to 16 points. The match was held in Paisley and was marked by several key moments, with substitute Hyun-Jun Yang playing a pivotal role in the team’s performance.
Entering the game at a critical point when the score was tied at 2-2, Yang’s influence was immediate. He netted his first goal in the 68th minute, allowing Celtic to take the lead. Just before the match concluded, he assisted Daizen Maeda’s goal in the 88th minute and capped off his outstanding performance with a second goal in the dying moments of the game (90+3).
Initially struggling to find the net, having scored just once in his first 48 appearances, Yang has significantly turned his fortunes around, now tallying five goals in just nine matches. Brendan Rodgers, the Celtic manager, attributed this positive change in form, in part, to Yang’s personal circumstances. “His girlfriend is here at the moment,” Rodgers noted, emphasizing the player’s improved mood and thereby, his performance level.
Rodgers expressed pride in Yang’s growth, highlighting his recent pass to Maeda as indicative of the young player’s evolving skills: “It hasn’t always come off for him… But now you’re seeing him evolve as a football player and as a person, and I’m so, so happy for him.”
The match itself featured a thrilling exchange of goals. Following the opener from Jeffrey Schlupp, who celebrated his first goal for Celtic, St Mirren’s Declan John drew level with a magnificent free-kick. Celtic briefly regained the lead through Arne Engels’ penalty before Killian Phillips equalized again for St Mirren shortly into the second half. However, Yang’s timely goals set the stage for Celtic’s victory, bringing them closer to securing their fourth consecutive Premiership crown.
Celtic’s upcoming league match will be a highly anticipated clash against local rivals Rangers on March 16, broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Manager Reactions
Brendan Rodgers highlighted the significance of the victory during his post-match remarks. “This is one of my favourite results of the season,” he stated. He praised his team’s performance against a formidable St Mirren side on a challenging pitch and noted the importance of fresh legs in the squad.
On the other side, St Mirren’s manager Stephen Robinson voiced his frustration regarding an unawarded penalty claim during a crucial moment of the match when his team trailed 3-2. He described the tackle on Roland Idowu by Alistair Johnston, asserting that it should have resulted in a penalty. Robinson reflected, “We were on top of the game at that stage… There were key moments in the game, of course.” He emphasized the need for such decisions to be in favor of teams facing top-tier opponents like Celtic.
Looking Ahead in the Scottish Premiership
With the season progressing, both teams face crucial upcoming fixtures that will significantly impact their standings in the league. Celtic’s pursuit of another title continues, while St Mirren must regroup to avoid slipping further from the top half of the table.
Source
www.skysports.com