 Celtic’s Ki Sung-yueng, center, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his team’s second goal against Hibernian during their Scottish Premier League match at Easter Road Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday. / Reuters-Yonhap |
By Yoon ChulKorean international Ki Sung-yueng’s powerful shot ensured a winning start for Celtic in the season opener of the Scottish Premier League (SPL), Sunday.
Away to Hibernian, striker Anthony Stokes fired home in the first half and Ki’s strike in the 63rd minute gave his side the three points.
Ki was named man of the match for his part in the 2-0 victory.
“Last year we were really disappointed because we didn’t win the league. But I think all the boys prepared well and hopefully this season we are going to win as many trophies as we can,” Ki told ESPN Soccernet after the match.
“Ki has been consistent over the last 18 months and is developing nicely into a top class player. He showed all his attributes, good presence, good passing and got a goal,” Celtic manager Neil Lennon said.
“It was probably more than I could have expected at this stage of the season,” Lennon added. “So I am obviously delighted with the performance, result and clean sheet. I thought the players adapted brilliantly.
”We got a break with the goalkeeping mistake but we had good control of the game and going forward we were excellent.”
Celtic could have had more goals but Hibernian goalkeeper Graham Stack saved a Gary Hooper penalty.
In the 14th minute, Stack allowed a Kris Commons’ free kick from the right to slip through his fingers. Stokes controlled the ball at the far post before rifling in a high shot for a 1-0 lead despite the desperate efforts of two Hibernian players on the line.
”I am disappointed,” Stack said. ”I came in at halftime and took responsibility for the goal. I should have dealt better with the cross and unfortunately for me it fell to Stokes.”
In the second half, the Bhoys continued to threaten the home side before Ki made the game safe.
Ki controlled the ball and fired a low, left foot drive from about 25 yards into the right corner past Stack’s outstretched hand.
Four minutes later, Celtic had a chance to further extend their lead after Emilio Izaguirre was brought down inside the box. Hooper stepped up but Stack pushed the spot-kick onto the post and then snuffed out any chance of a rebound.
Ki’s fellow Korean international Cha Du-ri wasn’t named in the match squad.
The result will also please Celtic fans as defending champion and bitter rivals Rangers were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Hearts a day earlier in their first game of the new campaign.
As the Scottish league has started very early the players are still looking for match fitness. Celtic’s next game will be a friendly against the English Premier League’s Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wednesday.
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