Celtic’s relentless pursuit of the Scottish Premiership title continued with a thrilling 4-1 victory over Ross County in Dingwall, a result that sees the Bhoys stretch their lead at the summit to an impressive 18 points over second-placed Rangers. Brendan Rodgers’ side left it late to put the game to bed, but a flurry of goals deep into stoppage time secured the three points and maintained their unbeaten run in the league.
Kyogo Leads the Way
Kyogo Furuhashi once again demonstrated his importance to Celtic, scoring twice to give his side a platform for victory. The Japanese striker opened the scoring in the first half with a clinical finish after a delightful low cross from Alistair Johnston. It was a moment of sheer class that showcased Celtic’s attacking fluidity, with Johnston’s delivery perfectly timed for Kyogo to sweep home.
Ross County responded valiantly, and their perseverance was rewarded in the second half when Jordan White converted from the penalty spot after Alistair Johnston was adjudged to have fouled Kieran Phillips. White’s composed finish into the bottom corner briefly brought the home side level, injecting life into a contest that had seemed to be slipping away from them.
However, Kyogo restored Celtic’s lead in the 81st minute with a bullet header from an inch-perfect Arne Engels cross. The diminutive forward displayed his aerial prowess, rising above the County defence to beat goalkeeper Jordan Amissah.
Late Drama in Dingwall
The game took a dramatic turn in stoppage time as Celtic capitalised on Ross County’s defensive lapses. VAR intervened in the 89th minute to award the Hoops a penalty after Yang Hyun-Jun was fouled by James Brown. After a retake was ordered due to the goalkeeper stepping off his line, Arne Engels stepped up and smashed the ball into the bottom left corner, extending Celtic’s lead to 3-1.
The drama didn’t end there. Substitute Luke McCowan added a fourth in the 98th minute, calmly slotting home after some neat footwork in the box. The late flurry of goals sent the travelling Celtic fans into raptures, ensuring the scoreline reflected their dominance over the 90 minutes.
Dominance Reflected in the Table
With Rangers not in action until tomorrow, where they face St Johnstone at Ibrox, Celtic’s commanding lead sends a clear message to their nearest challengers. The Hoops are now firmly in control of the title race and showing no signs of slowing down.
Quick Turnaround for Celtic
There’s no rest for the league leaders, as they now turn their attention to Tuesday night’s trip to face Dundee at Dens Park. Celtic will be eager to keep their momentum going as they juggle domestic and European commitments in a hectic January schedule.
The Hoops will be heavy favourites against Dundee, but with tired legs after today’s clash, Rodgers may be tempted to rotate his squad. Fans will hope to see more of the promising young talents like Johnny Kenny, who made his debut against Ross County.
