Celtic dished out a 5-0 Scottish Cup spanking – but the Parkhead men got a little help on their way from VAR.
The Hoops ripped into Morton with Kyogo Furuhashi bagging a double, Dave Turnbull and all getting on the scoresheet in a first half blitz before Aaron Mooy grabbed his second late on to seal the 5-0 win. But it was Mooy’s first from the penalty spot that left the Cappielow men raging and everyone else scratching their heads.
Ref Kevin Clancy eventually pointed to the spot after video assistant Craig Napier flagged up an incredibly harsh handball call against former Celt Efe Ambrose, who was caught when the ball bounced up from the boot of Jack Baird at point blank range.
Even Hoops fans were surprised and having flagged up a number of ropy VAR decisions, this time Celtic benefitted from one. It sunk Morton from the start but it might not have made much difference to the result with Ange Postecoglou’s men in this kind of attacking form.
Josip Juranovic was on his way to Germany to complete his move to Union Berlin and Giorgos Giakpoumakis was out along with Cameron Carter-Vickers. The Hoops manager predictably made changes – but it was still a strong Celtic side.
Morton boss Dougie Imrie has fond memories of stunning the Hoops on their own turf in the League Cup almost 10 years ago and he had a couple of former Celts in his side in Ambrose and Calvin Miller. The Ton brought a heck of a backing as well with the 2500 fans packed in the corner of Parkhead the biggest away crowd seen all season in these parts.
They created some din – and were on their feet inside the opening 10 minutes when their side almost got off to a shock start. Lewis Strapp seemed as surprised as anyone to find space in the box and he fired straight at Joe Hart from 16 yards.
These are the chances teams can’t afford to miss against Celts, and, sure enough, Morton were punished soon after. It was in brutally harsh circumstances when ref Kevin Clancy and his VAR chums awarded a penalty when Liel Abada’s dig spun off Baird’s foot and on to the arm of Ambrose.
Mooy rattled in the spot kick and opened up the floodgates as Ambrose’s afternoon took another lurch. The big defender was robbed after a heavy touch and Abada slid in the striker to tuck in the bottom corner.
Celts were in the groove as Callum McGregor and Daizen Maeda both skimmed the top of the cross bar before the third arrived with a typically lovely controlled finish from Turnbull from just outside the box after a neat move involving Adaba and Kyogo. Keeper Brain Schwake brilliantly denied Abada a stunner after a bit of keepy-uppy but he couldn’t do much to halt Kyogo again when he pounced and spun to lash in the fourth from close range.
Postecoglou chucked on Iwata for a debut after the interval and the relentless pace continued as Mooy got on the end of Alexandro Bernabei’s cutback but was denied by the inside of the post. The ball hit Ambrose on the arm again moments later when he slid in, but this time there wasn’t a peep from the button pushers at Clydesdale House.
Morton battled on admirably but Mooy struck again late on when he fired home after some jinking from Haksabanovic on the byline.
A total VARce
There are only three Scottish Cup ties this weekend using VAR as the rest either didn’t have the tools or the dosh to roll it out. Celtic Park was one of them and inevitably the new toys were a talking point. Perhaps it’s time for defenders to start playing in straitjackets. Otherwise, what chance have they got? There’s been some ropy handballs since the video refs came in, with some weird ones given and others ignored.
Celtic have voiced their grumbles but here they got a decision that was one of the worst of the lot. Quite what Efe Ambrose could have done to get his arm out of the way when the ball pinged off Jack Baird’s boot is anyone’s guess. VAR flagging it up was bad enough but ref Kevin Clancy awarding the penalty was a shocker. It was savage on the 2500 Morton fans in the away end and another worry for the wider game. The thing is, it’s not VAR that’s the problem, it’s the officials working it and interpreting the handball rules. If this was a penalty, the game is up the lum.
Abada roars into form
The penalty opener didn’t help Morton but it probably wouldn't have changed much with Celtic in this kind of attacking form. Liel Abada was right at the heart of it as well. The wide man has spent a fair bit of time on the bench of late but whenever he’s on the pitch he produces the goods. The 21-year-old’s end product is exceptional and he had a hand in all four first half goals.
His effort won the controversial spot kick, he then robbed Ambrose to set up Kyogo for number two and crossed for the same man for the fourth. Even this third goal he played in Kyoto to lay off for Turnbull.Abada could even have had a couple himself as well and the visitors simply couldn’t cope with his pace and direct running towards the box. Celtic have an abundance of attacking options, with Jota, Daizen Maeda and James Forrest all in the mix, and Sead Haksabanovic returning from injury having shown potential before the turn of the year. But on his day, few can match the output of the little Israeli.
Iwata takes a bow
Speaking of competition, the Celtic midfield has a heck of a snap for places now, with new Bhoy Tomoki Iwata getting his first run out. The former Yokohama F Marinos man had a gentle introduction in the second half with the Hoops already four goals to the good. Iwata showed some neat touches and he looks to have a bit of dig about him as well after a couple of moments of rough and tumble.
Tougher tests await but it’s clear Postecoglou has plenty of options. Davud Turnbull missed a chunk of the season through injury and then got banned when he was back. But he served another reminder with his second goal in two games with a typically well taken strike. Callum McGregor is first name on the team sheet while Matt O’Riley and Reo Hatate have been the main men alongside him. Chuck in Aaron Mooy – who impressed again with a double – and it’s a nice headache for the manager.
READ NEXT
