Match Report | Ross County 0-2 Celtic

Ross County were defeated 2-0 today by league leaders Celtic at the Global Energy Stadium in the Staggies’ opening post-split fixture.

An early goal from Kyogo Furahashi gave the visitors the lead before Jota sealed the victory with a goal just 3 minutes before full time.

After 12 minutes, Celtic took the lead. Jota delivered a perfectly measured deep cross from the right-hand side into the box and onto the head of Kyogo Furuhashi. Kyogo found space in between County’s 2 centre backs and powered his unopposed connecting header into the bottom right corner.

17 minutes later, Celtic’s goal scorer nearly doubled his tally for the afternoon. Jota was on hand to provide the delivery again, this time on the left hand-side with a clipped left-footed ball from the by-line. Kyogo used an inventive side volley to connect with Jota’s cross, but his attempt was slightly skewed as it struck the crossbar before being cleared.

7 minutes before half time, Celtic should have made it 2. A rasping long-range effort from Matt O’Riley was spilled by Ross Laidlaw and fell into the path of Kyogo just yards from goal. However, the Japanese international’s subsequent follow-up effort was saved by Laidlaw to make up for initial mistake.

In the 43^rd minute, Celtic had another opportunity to open up a 2-goal lead. Jota got on the end of a cushioned volley pass from Matt O’Riley before picking out Daizen Maeda with a cross from the right wing. However, Maeda’s volleyed attempt at the near post was flicked over the bar by Ross Laidlaw from close range.

9 minutes after the restart, County almost snatched an equaliser with their first opportunity of the match. Regan Charles-Cook used his trickery to beat Anthony Ralston on the left-hand side before cutting the ball back to Jordan White. The striker dummied the ball, teeing up Harry Paton, who cut back inside and barrelled a left-footed effort at goal. However, Cameron Carter-Vickers put his body on the line to heroically block Paton’s goal-bound effort.

It was evident that the Staggies came out stronger in the second half. After a dominant first half performance from the visitors, Malky Mackay’s side had weathered the storm and soon became the aggressors in the second period.

However, it wasn’t to be for the Staggies as Celtic sealed the victory with a second goal just 3 minutes before full time. Liel Abada received the ball on the right of the box from a throw-in before cutting the ball back for the sliding Giorgios Giakoumakis. The Greek striker’s near post attempt struck the crossbar, but Jota was alert to stab the subsequent rebound in at the back post.

It was disappointing for County to fall to defeat but the result made no difference to Malky Mackay’s side’s league position. A defeat for Motherwell yesterday means that County still occupy the final lucrative European-qualification spot.