Celtic vs Dundee. Scottish Premiership.
Celtic ParkAttendance58,928.
Match report as Celtic beat Dundee 3-0; David Turnbull's penalty opened the scoring; Kyogo Furuhashi headed in the second then set-up Matt O'Riley; Brendan Rodgers' side are two points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership
Saturday 16 September 2023 21:10, UK
Celtic are two points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership after a comfortable 3-0 victory over Dundee.
After a goalless first half, David Turnbull made the breakthrough from the penalty spot after he was brought down on the edge of the box.
Kyogo Furuhashi headed in Celtic's second then set up Matt O'Riley to make it 3-0 for the Scottish champions.
Joe Hart produced a fine save at 0-0 to deny Luke McCowan for the visitors in a match Brendan Rodgers' side otherwise dominated.
The defeat leaves Dundee down in ninth with five points from their opening five games of the season.
Celtic handed debuts to Nat Phillips, Luis Palma and Paulo Bernardo, while Reo Hatate made a comeback from injury off the bench.
Brendan Rodgers was able to give each of his goalscorers an early finish, with Tuesday's Champions League opener against Feyenoord in Rotterdam in mind.
Phillips started ahead of Gustaf Lagerbielke as Celtic struggled to create space to get in behind Dundee for much of the first half.
Daizen Maeda had a shot stopped after an intricate one-two with Greg Taylor and later saw a goal ruled out for offside after running on to Liam Scales' lofted pass.
O'Riley saw a deflected effort hit a post, while Yang Hyun-jun looked lively on the right wing after coming in for Liel Abada, who suffered a thigh injury on international duty which is set to rule him out for several months.
The South Korean winger hit a shot wide of the near post, but otherwise Carson was not overly busy before the break.
Dundee had the best chance of the first half when Owen Beck got to the byline and cut the ball back for Luke McCowan, but Hart spread himself to make an excellent point-blank stop.
Lagerbielke replaced Phillips at the interval and Celtic quickly created their best chance so far as Turnbull set up Furuhashi, who blazed well over the bar.
The opener soon came from nothing and Dundee missed a chance to get back in the game when McCowan shot just wide from 18 yards following a counter-attack.
Dundee switched off when Furuhashi scored as Zach Robinson lay in pain near the touchline and the Dundee midfielder soon went off injured.
Johnston hit the bar following Maeda's backheel before the right-back's forward pass sparked the move that led to the third goal.
Amadou Bakayoko missed a good chance for a consolation after being set up by McCowan, while Johnston hit a post from close range late on.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers
"Every game is difficult. It's a great shout out to the crowd, they did really well for us. I think they could see what we were trying to do in the first half and we were unlucky not to be in front.
"At 0-0 at half-time it could have been a little bit edgy. But they stayed with the team, second half we upped the tempo, combined really well, got the goals and everyone gets their reward at the end just by staying patient and staying together. It was really pleasing."
Rodgers said of his new players: "Nice for them to get a feel of playing here in front of the crowd and the crowd gave them a great reception, so that will give them a boost as a Celtic player. They have made their first steps and I was pleased for them."
Dundee manager Tony Docherty
"I thought we carried out the game plan excellently first half, we had a really good chance to score before we came in," he said. But the message is then to keep it tight and I do think it's a mistake on our part. I don't think the player should commit to making that tackle.
"I have watched it a couple of times and it's hard to make a decision. I don't think it was a definite penalty. I don't think Ryan needs to challenge for the ball, but David Turnbull has been cute, he has used his body.
"I'm not sure if it's in the box. The ball definitely isn't. But to lose the all-important goal in the game to that is very disappointing."
Celtic's attention turns to their Champions League group opener away to Feyenoord on Tuesday night. They return to Scottish Premiership action at Livingston on September 23, live on Sky Sports. Kick-off 12.30pm.
Dundee's next match is at home to Kilmarnock on the same day. Kick-off 3pm.
