Scottish Premiership
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen

ABERDEEN… 2
(Ramirez 56, Ferguson 61)

CELTIC… 3
(Jota 17 & 62, O’Riley 20)

Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic side continued their winning start to 2022 in thrilling fashion with a dramatic 3-2 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

First half goals from Jota and Matt O’Riley looked to have the Hoops in command, but the hosts fired back in five quick second-half minutes to level the scores by the 61st minute.

Just as the momentum looked to have swung in Aberdeen's favour, Jota put the Celts back in the lead just a minute after the equaliser to seal another important three points for the Hoops.

The home side, without a win in the league since returning from the winter break, looked up for trying to end that run and made life difficult in the first 10 minutes, but Celtic almost found the opener on 13 minutes.

Following great work down the right between Liel Abada and Anthony Ralston, the full back with the inch-perfect cross for Daizen Maeda, who headed wide of the left post from the penalty spot.

But just three minutes later, a cross from the same side resulted in the opening goal. This time Matt O’Riley teased the ball towards the back post and there was Jota to race in and poke home for his second goal in his second visit to Pittodrie.

By this point, the Hoops had really started to find their groove and they were two up on 20 minutes. The move started with a fast counter attack, expertly popping the ball out of defence under pressure.

Eventually when the build-up looked to have broken down, the ball was chipped into Maeda in the box who nodded it back for O’Riley, and his first-time left-foot shot from the edge of the area took a defelection before nestling into the bottom right corner.

Celtic were in total control of the game at this point, and had a chance to further extend their lead, but Jota was flagged for offside as he latched on to a ball over the top, even though he slotted the ball into the net.

Jota's the Pittodrie hero again as Celtic win five-goal thriller