Dundee went down to a 6-0 defeat against Celtic in Glasgow tonight. The champions were at their best, particularly in the second half, and were far too good for the Dee. Arne Engels gave Celtic the lead from the penalty spot and Adam Idah made it two at the end of the first half. Celtic were superb in a blistering second half in which they added four more goals. Daizen Maeda scored twice in quick succession then Engels and Nicolas Kühn completed the scoring.
There were three changes to the Dee’s starting eleven. Ethan Ingram, Antonio Portales and Fin Robertson came in for Clark Robertson and Imari Samuels who were both on the bench, and Lyall Cameron, who was carrying an injury and has not trained this week.
Dundee held off Celtic well in the opening minutes and stopped them creating any chances in the first 15 minutes. The Dark Blue got forward a few times without causing any real trouble for the home defence.
The opening goal came after 18 minutes following a lengthy VAR review for a penalty. Referee Colin Steven had initially awarded Dundee a free kick at a Celtic corner. After being sent to the VAR monitor he gave Celtic the spot kick and booked Mo Sylla for a foul on Auston Trusty. Trevor Carson went the right way but Arne ENGELS penalty was immaculate and found the corner of the net.
After that disappointment the Dee held their game together and continued to frustrate Celtic. The defence coped well with the young wing backs managing to restrict the threat from the lethally dangerous Celtic wide players, Maeda and Jota.
It looked as if Dundee would reach half time only a goal behind but Celtic added a second goal in added time. A through pass into the penalty area found Adam Idah but Carson blocked and then saved again from Jota’s follow up. The Dee keeper was helpless with the third attempt as IDAH smashed his shot into the roof of the net.
The half time scoreline might have been slightly harsh on the Dark Blues, who were always competitive. That changed in a second half in which Celtic stepped up their game. They had never reached top gear in the first half but after the restart they moved the ball faster and to greater purpose. Dundee simply couldn’t handle the champions at their best.
A crumb of comfort for the Dark Blues is that the four Celtic goals in the second half were all of the highest quality.
It was 3-0 after 55 minutes. Jota cut in from the left and sent a perfect chipped cross to the far post for MAEDA to score with a diving header.
Four minutes later it was 4-0 after a Dundee attack. Celtic won the ball back in their own penalty area and after working their way up the park at speed Engels sent MAEDA into space on the right of the penalty area. It was hardly a simple chance but he scored with a fine chip over Carson and inside the far post.
Maeda’s two goals were both taken brilliantly, but questions might be asked about the defence’s concentration to allow him the chances.
Ziyad Larkeche and Jordan McGhee came on for Ethan Ingram and Cesar Garza just after the hour, and then Seb Palmer-Houlden and Scott Tiffoney replaced Simon Murray and Seun Adewumi who had worked tirelessly with no reward.
Dundee could do little to hold off Celtic’s attacking and the home side finished with two superb goals.
After 71 minutes ENGELS scored his second from 20 yards with a vicious dipping shot over Carson and off the underside of the bar.
Ten minutes later substitute Nicolas KÜHN sent a fine swerving shot over Carson from the right hand side of the penalty area.
Celtic were unrecognisable from the team who struggled against Dundee three weeks ago and were rather fortunate to avoid defeat. Tonight no side in Scotland would have been able to live with Celtic in that second half.
Celtic 4-3-3
Schmeichel
Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Taylor (Schlupp 72)
Engels, McGregor (c) (Bernardo 62), Hatate (McCowan 78)
Jota (Kühn 62), Idah (Kenny 72), Maeda
Unused subs: Sinsalo (gk), Scales, Yang, Ralston.
Goals: Engels (18 pen, 71), Idah (45+1), Maeda (55, 59), Kühn (81).
Booked: Trusty (foul on Adewumi).
Dundee FC 3-5-2
Carson (c)
Astley, Portales, Donnelly
Mulligan, Garza (McGhee 62), Sylla, Fin Robertson, Ingram (Laarkeche 62)
Murray (Palmer-Houlden 69), Adewumi (Tiffoney 69)
Unused subs: McCracken (gk), Clark Robertson, Shaughnessy, Samuels, Lopez.
Booked: Sylla (foul on Trusty), Mulligan (foul on Taylor), Garza (foul on McGregor).
Referee: Colin Steven. Assistants: Jonathan Bell, Alastair Mather. VAR: Alan Muir.
Attendance: 58,541.
Report: James Christie.
