Celtic Snatch Victory from Defeat at Motherwell
Celtic haven’t seen its unbeaten streak tested like it did on Saturday afternoon at Motherwell, but even a 2-0 lead from the home side wasn’t enough to drop the Bhoys.
Instead, 4 second half goals saw Celtic climb back from the brink of defeat to winners in the final minute of action. The 4-3 final result saw Celtic up to 12 wins and one draw with
Things looked bleak for the Bhoys, as Motherwell’s Louis Moult got in behind an out of place Kolo Toure to net the opener in the 9th minute. Craig Gordon had no chance, as Moult flicked it brilliantly over the keeper who was caught in no-man’s land.
Motherwell’s opening goal didn’t wake Celtic up much though, and Moult would double the hosts lead with a close-range volley in the 35th minute. Toure, who we saw as a surprise inclusion in the starting lineup, was partly responsible for both of the goals from Motherwell in the first half, but Rodgers didn’t panic with the veteran defender.
That put Celtic’s unbeaten streak in serious jeopardy, but a switch at left back to Callum McGregor and a brilliant move from Brendan Rodgers at the half sparked
As the Hoops came out with no changes to the lineup at the half, Rodgers had a change and it worked brilliantly. With McGregor on for Izagurrie in the 30th minute following an early yellow card, Rodgers switched to a 3-man back line and pushed McGregor to the middle of the pitch.
Rodgers change proved to be a smart move, as Celtic’s attack was sharp from the start. It took just three minutes for the tactical change to pay dividends, as McGregor had a brilliant give-and-go with Stuart Armstrong. He slotted home the return pass with a laser to the opposite post.
At 2-1 within minutes of the start of the second half, it was just a sign of the craziness to come in this match.
Three goals in a span of two minutes turned this game on its head. Celtic tied it up at 2-2 as Patrick Roberts hit a brilliant strike.
Motherwell shockingly responded just a minute later to re-take the lead, only to see the brilliant play of Armstrong in the second half rewarded with a goal just a minute later. Celtic managed to go from down a goal to tied, down a goal again and right back to level in the course of three minutes.
The Bhoys spent the next 15 minutes largely parked in the final third and looking for a go-ahead goal. Chances like a cross inside the six-yard box were missed and other opportunities were largely blocked by the 10-men Motherwell put back in defense.
However, the Celts weren’t going to give up, and in the 90th minute Tom Rogic put his side ahead for the first and only time that mattered.
The lead nearly doubled as the final stoppage time minutes ticked away, but given how this match played out there was no denying the full points to the Bhoys.
Rogic put it perfectly after the match too.
“We’re champions for a reason,” said Rogic. “It’s game like that that we show our character and how close we are as a group.”
It all added up to the 10th game of full points in a row during league play for Celtic.
Celtic aren’t going to ease there way to a title or continue its unbeaten streak unchallenged. Getting a challenge like this and overcoming it speaks volumes of Rodgers’ belief in the club and the squad’s willingness to fight for him and Celtic in general.
With a mid-week trip to Manchester to take on Manchester City in the Champions League, perhaps Celtic can take the confidence of the second half and extend it. The side will certainly need the confidence and more against one of the best sides in Europe.