Moritz Jenz celebrated a first start for Celtic with a dramatic late strike in Dingwall as the champions sank Ross County.
The German defender rose brilliantly with six minutes remaining to power home a priceless header and push his new side towards making it two wins from two in their title defence. Jenz got the call with Stephen Welsh ruled out through illness and had a crucial say with his crucial glancing effort.
Ange Postecoglou’ s team were in control when Jota’s magic down the left created the opportunity for Kyogo Furuhashi to break the deadlock just after half-time. However, County roared back to level just before the hour through Alex Iacovitti's header which set up a grandstand finale. It was on a knife-edge, but Jenz struck in the 84th minute after another brilliant piece of sharp thinking and quality from Jota. Postecoglou’s team were going to see it through, but sub Liel Abada made sure in injury-time when he curled a fabulous third to keep Celtic top of the Premiership.
The Aussie’s team deserved their win, but full marks to County. They have no points from their opening two games, but that won’t last long.The first-half finished scoreless with, unsurprisingly, Celtic doing most of the pressing prior to the turnaround.
Jota's driving run towards the box and shot deflected wide plus a Matt O’Riley free-kick into the arms of Ross Laidlaw were the first salvos. However, Mackay, who had included David Cancola and Harry Paton in the starting line-up with Owura Edwards and Josh Sims dropping to the bench, had his troops drilled superbly as they got tight to Postecoglou’s playmakers and threats.
Although Iacovitti escaped Jenz to head over from a corner, the majority of the flow was towards the County goal. Jota had a cross which Daizen Maeda headed over, Kyogo had a strike blocked by Laidlaw and O’Riley half-volleyed the rebound wide. As the attackers struggled to find gaps, Cameron Carter-Vickers ventured forward from the backline to have a strike blocked.
Celtic, who wore black armbands in memory of the late John Hughes, pressed as the interval loomed with O’Riley being denied by another block and nodding a Josip Juranovic chip wide. Laidlaw tipped wide from Maeda’s flick in the final act of the opening period, but the keeper had no chance within seconds of the restart as Kyogo swept his team into the lead.
It was a brilliant goal. Callum McGregor slipped a pass into Jota to wriggle free in the box and pick a pullback to the Japanese. Kyogo didn’t break stride as he rifled a first-time finish into the bottom corner to get going for the campaign.
Huge questions were asked of County, but their response was sparkling.
O’Riley should have nodded home Abada’s cross for a second before Jenz was forced to concede a corner which sub Edwards flighted into the area.
Iacovitti had issued that warning in the first half when he missed the target and he got it right the second time with a finish that found the left-hand corner of Joe Hart’s net.
Jota flashed one wide and Hart superbly saved an Edwards with the contest in the balance. Enter Jota and Jenz. The Portuguese played a quick corner with Greg Taylor before producing a wonderful cross which the defender nodded home from close range.
It was a sickener for County and Abada made sure of the away win in stoppage-time with a delightful finish. The Israeli took a pass from Jota and curled a magnificent right-foot strike beyond Laidlaw and into the net for a third.
Jota boy
The Portuguese has made an outstanding start to the season in terms of key contributions.
Postecoglou has an army of attacking talent to pick from and there are goals throughout the side. Not everyone is firing on full cylinders at this early stage of the season and some of the slick football which was their trademark last term wasn’t on show.
But Jota makes the difference. After his opening-day stunner against Aberdeen, two pieces of magical delivery here won his team the game. The speed of thinking and feet and class of pick-out in the box for Kyogo and Jenz said everything about his threat and talent.
County in for another solid season
Malky Mackay produced wonders last season to have County close to Europe and there is no doubt they are in for another good campaign with his astute management. The Dingwall boss had his team superbly organised as they hounded Celtic from the opening minute and gave them little time and space to play.
When they lost the opening goal, the response was terrific to bounce back quickly and level. Massive credit to Mackay and his players and it was heartbreaking for them to lose. No points from two games doesn’t tell their full story and they’ll be moving up the table shortly.
Mor to come
With Stephen Welsh ill and Carl Starfelt not having any game time and only ready for the subs bench, Postecoglou had to go with Jenz in the backline for a first start. Jenz is apparently a ball player and maybe that’s why County were happy to let Carter-Vickers be the one to carry possession out of the away defence.
The fact the German was part of the defensive unit which lost an equaliser to a bread-and-butter corner kick set piece was not ideal, but his response to go up the other end and bag his vitral header was brilliant in terms of quality and heart and he also made a couple of late interventions as well.
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