Second Half ends, Kilmarnock 1, Celtic 4.Attempt missed. Alan Power (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Luke Chambers.Substitution, Kilmarnock. Jamie Jones replaces Stuart Findlay.Substitution, Kilmarnock. Aaron Lyons replaces Gary Watson.Substitution, Kilmarnock. Jordan Jones replaces Stuart Taylor.Substitution, Celtic. Ryan Mooy replaces Matt O’Riley.Substitution, Celtic. Stephen Welsh replaces Alistair Johnston.Substitution, Celtic. Leo Hjelde replaces Sead Haksabanovic.Substitution, Celtic. David Turnbull replaces Callum McGregor.Booking, Celtic. Alistair Johnston (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Ryan Mooy.Attempt blocked. Alan Power (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Luke Chambers.Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Ryan Mooy.Attempt saved. Luke Chambers (Kilmarnock) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Danny Armstrong with a cross.Celtic have effectively sealed back-to-back titles after a first-half goal blitz against relegation-threatened Kilmarnock saw them establish a seven-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership table. The visitors were four up within 27 minutes after Kyogo Furuhashi swept them in front with ease, Daizen Maeda headed a quick second and Matt O’Riley struck twice. Liam Donnelly got one back at the end of a first half that also featured a missed penalty by Kyogo, with neither side finding the net after the interval. South Korea head coach Jurgen Klinsmann was in attendance at Rugby Park hoping to see Oh Hyeon-Gyu and the striker replaced Kyogo at half-time.
Celtic have moved one step closer to retaining their Scottish Premiership title after a dominant first-half performance against relegation-threatened Kilmarnock saw them establish a seven-point lead at the top of the table. The visitors were four goals up within 27 minutes, with Kyogo Furuhashi opening the scoring with ease before Daizen Maeda headed a quick second and Matt O’Riley struck twice. Liam Donnelly got one back for Kilmarnock at the end of a first half that also featured a missed penalty by Kyogo, with neither side finding the net after the interval.
South Korea head coach Jurgen Klinsmann was in attendance at Rugby Park hoping to see Oh Hyeon-Gyu and the striker replaced Kyogo at half-time. Kilmarnock remain in the relegation play-off spot, a point above bottom side Ross County and below Dundee United on goal difference. Celtic have effectively sealed back-to-back titles with their victory, needing just two more wins from six games to clinch their title.
The league leaders were in fine form from the start of the match, with Fraser Murray conceding possession before Kyogo turned Joe Wright and raced clear on the right to score his 29th goal of the season. Celtic’s second was well worked as Sead Haksabanovic released Alistair Johnston in the inside right channel and his chip was nodded back across goal into the net by Maeda. O’Riley then tested Walker at his left-hand post before scoring with his next attempt on 18 minutes, receiving Greg Taylor’s incisive pass and placing the ball low into the net with Killie again too passive.
Christian Doidge’s foolish trip on Taylor gave Kyogo the chance to reach the 30 mark from the spot, but the striker’s effort came back off the post and Maeda knocked the rebound wide. The fourth was not long in coming, though, as Murray’s sliced clearance went backwards into his own box and Danny Armstrong’s header presented the ball for O’Riley to control and finish. Beleaguered home manager Derek McInnes took action with defender Jeriel Dorsett and midfielder Alan Power sent on in place of midfielder Murray and striker Doidge, the change in shape eventually stemming Celtic’s flow.
The second period was far less incident-packed than the first, but Kilmarnock did carve one excellent chance as Armstrong swung in a brilliant cross from the right and Luke Chambers’ header was superbly blocked by Hart. Oh was active in front of his international manager, trying his best to get across defenders and finding the side netting on one occasion. Team-mates Carl Starfelt, Tomoki Iwata and Johnston also threatened but it was O’Riley who was named player of the match for his outstanding contribution throughout the game.
Celtic now face six games which could define their season as they look to reach 100 points for the campaign and move beyond a century of league goals to 102 for the season with this win. Kilmarnock will be hoping to make up ground on their relegation rivals when they visit St Mirren on Saturday (15:00 BST), while Celtic will be at home to Motherwell in their next match.