Dundee’s first away game back in the Premiership ended with a 6-0 defeat against Celtic at Parkhead. Kyogo Furuhashi scored twice in the middle of the first half and Tom Rogic made it three shortly after the restart. After Furuhashi completed his hat-trick Celtic wrapped the game up with late goals from Anthony Ralston and a penalty by Odsonne Edouard. Jordan Marshall was red carded for conceding the penalty.
There were three changes from the Dundee team that opened the season against St Mirren. Ryan Sweeney and Cillian Sheridan made their first starts after coming on as substitutes last week, and Shaun Byrne returned in midfield. Danny Mullen was injured, Max Anderson was suspended and Fin Robertson dropped onto the bench.
The Dark Blues started well, taking the game to Celtic in the first few minutes. But once the home side clicked into gear the Dee were pinned back, facing attack after attack.
Kyogo Furuhashi could have put Celtic ahead after 10 minutes. Quick passing by David Turnbull and Tom Rogic opened Dundee up and the new Japanese striker shot wide.
FURUHASHI got it right after 20 minutes when he glanced home a low cross by Liel Obada who had been set free by David Turnbull.
Five minutes later FURUHASHI made it two, again showing fine poacher’s instincts when he scored with a neat close range finish after Ryan Christie skipped past Christie Elliott.
Furuhashi almost notched a quick hat-trick when he redirected Abadi’s shot goalwards but Elliott cleared off the line.
The Dee were struggling to get out of their own half but they managed to hold out till half time as Celtic piled on relentless pressure. Adam Legzdins had to make good saves late in the half from a Turnbull long range shot and then Stephen Welsh at the resulting corner.
The second half got off to a bad start when Celtic scored the third goal that ended the match as a contest. Christie’s neat turn on the left beat Elliott and his cross was sidefooted past Legzdins by Tom ROGIC from 10 yards.
Finlay Robertson came on for Elliott, with Jordan McGhee moving to right back. Cillian Sheridan set up Paul McGowan with a half chance, but Joe Hart pushed the shot round the post. Sadly that was the only time Dundee managed to get a shot on target.
Jason Cummings and Luke McCowan came on for Sheridan and Charlie Adam. It made no difference to Celtic’s dominance and they added a fourth midway through the second half.
Christie played a defence splitting pass through the middle for FURUHASHI to lift the ball over Legzdins and complete his hat-trick. He was immediately replaced, to a standing ovation, by Odsonne Edouard.
Late in the game Anthony Ralston made it five from a short corner. Taking a touch to set himself up he swept a low shot across Legzdins.
A miserable afternoon for the Dee was capped in the 90th minute when Jordan Marshall was sent off for pulling back Abadi in front of goal. EDOUARD thrashed the penalty into the top corner.
This was a painful reintroduction for the Dee to the reality of playing the top clubs away from home. Celtic were far too good for the Dark Blues, who could never cope with the pace and movement of their hosts.
The Hoops were a constant threat from the wide areas where they repeatedly overloaded the full backs and played in a stream of dangerous crosses. The defence struggled against Celtic’s fast, imaginative attacking and only Adam Legzdins deserves pass marks. Despite losing six goals the Dee keeper did not have a chance with any of them, and made several good saves.
Celtic 4-2-3-1
Hart
Ralston, Welsh, Starfelt, Taylor (Montgomery 71)
Rogic (Forrest 65), McGregor (c)
Abada, Turnbull, Christie
Furuhashi (Edouard 68)
Unused subs: Bain (gk), Bitton, Ajeti, Soro.
Goals: Furuhashi (20, 25, 67), Rogic (49), Ralston (84), Edouard (90 pen).
Booked: none.
Dundee FC 4-5-1
Legzdins
Elliott (Robertson 52), Ashcroft, Sweeney, Marshall
McMullan, McGhee, Byrne, Adam (c) (McCowan 60), McGowan
Sheridan (Cummings 60)
Unused subs: Lawlor (gk), McDaid, Panter, Wilkie.
Booked: Ashcroft (foul on Furhashi), Marshall (foul on Ralston).
Sent off: Marshall (denying goal-scoring opportunity).
Referee: Euan Anderson. Assistants: Calum Spence, Drew Kirkland. Fourth Official: Andrew Dallas.
Report: James Christie.
