Celts hit Dundee for six with a dazzling display at Paradise | OneFootball

Scottish PremiershipWednesday, February 5, 2025Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC...6(Engels 18 & 71, Idah 46, Maeda 55 & 59, Kühn 81)

DUNDEE...0

In a season of memorable moments so far, the Celts’ performance at Celtic Park tonight will go down as a real high point, as the champions turned on the style and dismantled Dundee with a 6-0 victory which was littered with goal of the season contenders.

From the get-go tonight, the Celts were in full control of the match, with the champions intent on pressing aggressively and showing their quality under the lights.

An early ball in to the box from Reo Hatate looked destined to either find the in-form Daizen Maeda or end up in the back of the net, but the Dundee keeper was alert and punched the ball clear.

With just over 15 minutes gone, the referee was sent to the VAR monitor to assess a foul on Auston Trusty in the penalty area, which was ironic given that the ref had initially awarded the foul against Trusty. However, after a short review, he pointed to the spot and the Hoops had a penalty.

Arne Engels stepped up and, in his typically cool manner, he slotted the spot-kick in to the bottom corner to give the Celts a 1-0 lead.

Jota, fresh from his return to the club and his goal at Fir Park on Sunday, made his first appearance at Celtic Park tonight since rejoining the Bhoys, and his presence on the left wing had the Dundee defence worried, which is understandable given his quality.

The Portuguese winger looked like a man who is back where he belongs as he showed his creativity and skill throughout the first 45 minutes, much to the delight of the Celtic faithful.

Dundee were limited to almost no attacks throughout the first half, thanks in no small part to the relentless work of Alistair Johnston, who was involved in so much of Celtic’s attacking play but was a man on a mission every time Dundee tried to break forward as he charged down opposition players and won the ball back for the Celts.

It looked like the first half would finish 1-0 to the Celts, but in the 47th minute, Greg Taylor sent a great ball forward to Adam Idah, who fired a shot towards goal.

Carson made the save, and the rebounded effort from Jota was also saved. However, the keeper could do nothing about Adam Idah’s follow-up, as the big Irishman smashed the ball in to the roof of the net to double the advantage just before the break.

The second-half performance from the Celts and the goal-fest that it inspired was a joy to behold. Daizen Maeda made it 3-0 to the champions in the 55th minute as he got on to the end of a ball from Jota.

The Portuguese winger whipped a cross deep towards the back post and Daizen, launching himself at the ball with a diving header, found the back of the net to put the game beyond Dundee.

It was Daizen who had Celtic Park in raptures again less than five minutes later with arguably the goal of the night.

The Celtic defence, inspired by some brilliant work near the corner flag from Jota, worked the ball out from the back with the sort of composure and style that champions are made of.

Callum McGregor then found Arne Engels with a pass, and the Belgian sent a long ball forward to Daizen.

The Japanese forward raced on to the end of it and lifted the ball over Trevor Carson and in to the net from the edge of the box, capping off a move that truly was a work of art from the Hoops.

Then, it was Arne Engels’ turn to stake a claim for goal of the night. In the 71st minute, he picked up the ball on the edge of the box, drifted towards the right and unleashed a shot which battered the cross bar on its way in to the back of the net, giving the Celts a 5-0 lead.

A few minutes later, Brendan Rodgers gave Jeffrey Schlupp his Celtic debut, with the new bhoy replacing Greg Taylor for the closing stages of the match.

The Hoops’ boss had also taken Jota off, replacing him with Nicolas Kühn, with the former receiving a standing ovation as he made his way off the pitch.

However, Nicolas Kühn had the supporters back on their feet again in the 81st minute with a sensational finish of his own, as he bent a shot in to the top corner from the right-hand side of the penalty area, adding gloss to an already sparkling display from the champions.

After tonight’s blistering performance, the Bhoys can look forward to a Scottish Cup tie at home against Raith Rovers on Saturday evening.