Celtic 4 Motherwell 0: Engels shines as champions get back to winning ways
Celtic's Arne Engels rejoices after scoring his first goal against Motherwell. (Photo: Jane Barlow - PA)
Celtic ultimately overcame a stubborn Motherwell team to return to their winning form, as a surge in the second half demonstrated that the champions still know how to find the back of the net.
After losing points for only the second time this season at Tannadice, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers likely cautioned his players about the importance of avoiding mistakes, even with their solid position at the top of the league.
A sense of unease began to settle over the Celtic Park crowd during a lackluster first half. However, Arne Engels' penalty kick, scored just before the half-time break, sparked a dramatic collapse of the Steelmen.
Additional goals from Daizen Maeda, along with Nicolas Kuhn and Reo Hatate—who both came on as substitutes—secured a comfortable victory for Celtic on Boxing Day, earning them three valuable points.
Here are the key discussion points from Celtic Park…
The first half featured two controversial penalty calls.
The opening phase of the match was mostly uneventful, with the only significant moments being the penalty appeals from both teams. Motherwell's manager, Stuart Kettlewell, was visibly frustrated, believing that his team was treated unfairly by referee Ross Hardie and the VAR officials in both instances.
Initially, Hyun-jun Yang was inattentive with the ball, giving Tawanda Maswanhise the chance to swoop in and head towards the Celtic penalty area. As Yang frantically attempted to recover the situation, Maswanhise fell to the ground with the Celtic winger behind him. However, the referee wasted no time in issuing a yellow card to the visiting player for diving.
Although the decision to award a penalty seemed excessive considering the amount of contact involved (and upon first glance, it looked like the incident occurred right outside the box, but let's not revisit that topic…), it also seemed unfair for Maswanhise to receive a caution.
As the first half was approaching its end, Paulo Bernardo sent a cross that got deflected into the air and landed in the Motherwell box. While the defenders remained still, anticipating that Aston Oxborough would gather the ball, Yang made a quick move and hit the ground after making contact with the goalkeeper behind him.
Once more, the contact was slight, but referee Hardie decided that this time the challenge crossed the line, at least from Motherwell's viewpoint.
Engels moved in to calmly place the ball into the net, and the crowd at Celtic Park erupted in a mix of joy and relief as a challenging first half concluded with their team ahead.
Yang allowing an opportunity to slip away.
Although Yang contributed significantly to Celtic's first goal, it was the only highlight in what was mostly a disappointing performance from him, especially after his lackluster display at Tannadice in the previous match.
Given Kuhn's impressive performance this season, Yang is unlikely to have many opportunities to stand out. However, in the limited chances he's had to start due to Kuhn's injury, he hasn't managed to make a noticeable impact.
Frequently, he caused frustration among the spectators as he was effortlessly pushed off the ball by Ewan Wilson, or when he let the ball go out of play during potentially good opportunities.
There seems to be potential in Yang for his manager, Rodgers, to develop, but he still has a long way to go before fully realizing that potential. The likelihood of him starting again in the near future was highlighted when Kuhn came on as a substitute and scored Celtic’s third goal, thanks in part to a deflection off Kofi Balmer.
Engels performs better, however.
Fans are eagerly anticipating Celtic's trip to Ibrox on January 2nd. The upcoming match against St Johnstone this Sunday, along with the Ibrox game, gives some players who aren't regular starters a chance to prove themselves and earn a spot for that significant matchup.
The midfield seems to be a position where, aside from Callum McGregor, there are opportunities available. Engels will be looking to use his performance in this area to prove he deserves a place in the team.
While he wasn't particularly noticeable during the game, he confidently scored the important first goal from the penalty spot just before halftime. Additionally, his expertly taken in-swinging corner was cleverly redirected by Liam Scales at the front post, allowing Maeda to drive in Celtic's second goal with a powerful diving header.
He has to demonstrate more to earn a consistent spot in the starting lineup, regardless of the amount Celtic invested in him. However, he did show his skills in this match and was met with enthusiastic support from the fans for his performance.
Lennon Miller has the opportunity to gain valuable insights from McGregor.
This match showcased a rising star of Scottish football facing off against one of its most dependable and experienced players. It was expected that McGregor would come out on top in this matchup.
However, it’s important to note that young Miller did show moments of talent, although his focus during the match was primarily on defense. Meanwhile, McGregor was in charge of managing the game from the center of the Celtic midfield.
It would be fascinating to see how Miller would perform in the Celtic midfield, and whether the champions might consider bringing him on board if he maintains his outstanding performance.
Hatate expresses his own opinion.
The Motherwell players must have felt quite deflated when they found themselves trailing 2-0 and saw Kuhn and Hatate being brought on for Celtic. After the winger scored a third goal, the midfielder then beautifully placed a fourth from just outside the box.
Hatate has been a bit inconsistent lately, but this performance highlighted the talent he has when he finds his rhythm.
