Glasgow Celtic’s Japan internationals Kyogo Furuhashi and Reo Hatate were the standout performers in the Bhoys’s 2-1 win over Motherwell on Saturday’s Scottish Premiership action. Furuhashi and Hatate scored one a piece as Celtic bounced back from a chastening defeat away at St Mirren before the international break to maintain their pole position in the league table.
A 15th minute header from Matt O’Riley was parred away by Motherwell goalkeeper Liam Kelly towards the path of Furuhashi, and the former Vissel Kobe man wasted no time in pulling the trigger and giving Celtic the lead.
The lively Furuhashi had his headers going wide twice after the opener, before Motherwell managed to pull one back in the 36th minute after a miscommunication between Celtic defender Josip Juranovic and goalkeeper Joe Hart led to the former scoring an own goal past the latter.
Hatate saved Celtic’s day in the 64th minute by scoring the winner, a fantastic strike from 25 yards out.
Ange Postecoglou’s men were forced to end the match with 10 men after Callum McGregor’s late red card for denying a clear goal scoring opportunity, but nonetheless Celtic managed to hung onto their lead and secure the win.
The slender win meant that Celtic remain top of the Scottish Premiership table with 21 points, two points above city rivals Glasgow Rangers on 2nd place.