Champ Celtic hit Motherwell for six to end season in style
GLASGOW: Scotish champions Celtic rounded off their season with a 6-0 hammering of Motherwell at Parkhead on Saturday.
Theglasgowgiantssealedtheir10thpremiership title in 11 seasons at Dundee United on Wednesday and with a title party at home guaranteed, they celebrated in style.
Japanese striker Kyogo Furuhashi scored twice in the first half, either side of a goal by former Motherwell midfielder, with Celtic 3-0 ahead at half-time.
Portuguese winger Jota made it 4-0 before substitute Giorgos Giakoumakis completed the rout with two goals.
It was an emphatic way for Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou to end his first season in charge, with the Australian winning the League Cup and Premiership and taking a team that had slipped 25 points behind Rangers to one that finished four ahead of their arch-rivals.
“We wanted to finish off in the best way,” Postecoglou told the BBC.
“I couldn’t have scripted it beter. The back half of this season has been unbelievable with the relentlessness of the boys.
“We get a lot of rewards for what we do, there are a lot of pressures, but this is the special bit.
“The nature of this football club, I want to come back beter and be successful again. It never stops, but I love it.”
Elsewhere, Rangers prepared for a crunch week with a 3-1 win away to Scotish Cup final opponents Hearts.
Gers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst rested several senior players ahead of Wednesday’s Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt in Seville before they face the Jambos again at Hampden Park next Saturday.
Peter Haring gave Hearts the lead, but Rangers hit back through goals from Cedric Iten and Alex Lowry to lead at half-time before debutant Cole Mckinnon sealed victory for van Bronckhorst’s men.
“It was very pleasing,” the Gers boss told Rangers TV. “It was the last game before two finals, so I decided to change the team and give players some rest.
“I was really impressed by the win and the way we played. You couldn’t see the changes we had made, especially with so many youngsters on the pitch. I think they performed really well.”