Goals from Liel Abada, Kyogo and Matt O’Riley were enough for Celtic to secure three vital points in the North East of Scotland on Sunday afternoon. It wasn’t a vintage performance from the champions and going forward, there is room for improvement under Brendan Rodgers.
Getting things going 11 minutes in, Liel Abada ghosted in at the back post to tap in from Daizen Maeda’s header back across goal:
🗣️ "An early goal at Pittodrie always goes down well with the Champions!"
After a VAR check Abada is ruled onside and Celtic lead 1-0 against Aberdeen! pic.twitter.com/trFEXWEBpu
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) August 13, 2023
Aberdeen did equalise on 25 minutes thanks to Bojan Miovski but less than five minutes after this, Kyogo was unsurprisingly at it. The Japanese striker was alert to rattle into the top corner after Nicky Devlin’s header went astray:
🗣️ "Disaster for Devlin…a gift for Celtic!"
Kyogo takes advantage of an Aberdeen mistake and gives Celtic a 2-1 lead. pic.twitter.com/7d3RvqtKxW
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) August 13, 2023
The match went on after this with the Dons threatening on a number of occasions but with five to go, Matt O’Riley made sure of the points for the Bhoys. Yang, who was brought on 15 minutes prior, opened his box of tricks and put it on a plate for the Dane who knocked home:
🗣️ "This has been some game, but Celtic are coming out on top at Pittodrie!"
O'Riley gives Celtic a 3-1 lead after some great work from substitute Yang. pic.twitter.com/gR1QGp9xWC
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) August 13, 2023
In attack, Celtic were impressive as ever this afternoon. There were some neat passages of play from the champions but at the back, there are visible vulnerabilities that need to be addressed.
Over the next week, Rodgers will get to work on the training pitch and look to improve on today’s win when he leads his team to Rugby Park next Sunday.
