Dundee United 0-9 Celtic: Kyogo and Abada net hat-tricks as Hoops break away record

Kyogo celebrates
Kyogo celebrates / Ian MacNicol/GettyImages
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Celtic recorded their biggest ever away victory in the Scottish Premiership as they dismantled Dundee United 9-0 at Tannadice.

It only took the Hoops 15 minutes to open the scoring rout in the City of Discovery as Kyogo finished emphatically. A sweeping move from the away side found Jota in space down the left, with the Portuguese squaring across to Kyogo who took his time to pick his spot in the bottom corner.

United appeared to be holding out until half-time, Reo Hatate going close to doubling Celtic's advantage, but their goal was breached for the second time in the afternoon by Kyogo. Matt O'Riley recovered possession for the Hoops high up the field before Kyogo stepped onto the loose ball and curled a sumptous effort into the top corner.

The Japan forward added his hat-trick just minutes later in first half stoppage time, stroking home from close-range after Liel Abada squared across goal.

Jota then got in on the act before the referee blew to bring the first half to its conclusion. The Hoops once again fashioned a cut-back opportunity as O'Riley found Jota in acres of space inside the six-yard area. The Portuguese composed himself before stroking into the bottom corner with his weak foot.

Any hope from a Dundee United perspective that Celtic would take their foot off the gas after the restart was swiftly misplaced as Abada added the Hoops' fifth goal of the afternoon. O'Riley rounded off a hat-trick of assists as he found the Israeli haring across goal for the simplest of finishes.

Josip Juranovic compounded the hosts' misery five minutes later. O'Riley's free-kick was denied by the wall before the Croatian lashed a driven effort from the edge of the area back towards goal and beyond the diving United goalkeeper.

Ange Postecoglou's side sparked hopes of a scoreline similar to Liverpool's 9-0 demolition of Bournemouth on Saturday when Abada grabbed his second of the afternoon to make it 7-0 to the Hoops. The Israel international then sealed a hat-trick of his own 13 minutes from time to extend Celtic's rout, dinking the goalkeeper with his finish after terrific set up play from Daizen Maeda.

Celtic's ninth of the game arrived soon after when two substitutes combined from a corner. David Turnbull's delivery was on the money and Carl Starfelt, who only netted his first goal for the Hoops earlier this month, hared in unmarked to glance a header into the bottom corner.


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