Blizzard of Oz
Turnbull and Jota are the goal heroes but Well are blown away by Rogic
deep into the Well box and his cutback found Abada who failed to get any purchase on his side-foot finish.
The opener was only delayed a matter of seconds as Jota was released down the left by Rogic courtesy of a sublime through ball in behind Stephen O’Donnell.
The Portuguese winger drilled a first-time shot high past Liam Kelly and in at the near post.
It was a lightning counterattack followed by a strike of clinical accuracy.
At a stroke it eased the early teething problems for a side that now looked in the mood to dismantle Motherwell.
Ref Wi l l ie Col lum wasn’t interested in complaints that a foul had been committed in the build-up and it was difficult to see Well’s grievance. Jota went close again with an acrobatic bicycle- kick that saw the ball bounce just over.
Whistler Collum had some woes of his own just before the half-hour as he appeared to strain a calf.
He had to be replaced by fourth official Chris Fordyce.
It was quite a step up for an official whose last match was a clash between Queen’s Park and Peterhead in September.
The half ended with a routine stop by Kelly from Abada’s shot from the edge of the area and the sides retreated with Celtic only growing in authority.
Ralston registered a shot on target that Kelly again did well to gather moments after the restart but the Scotland squad keeper was beaten again in the 52nd minute – and it was a goal of stunning beauty. Turnbull shoved the ball out of his feet and from 25 yards slammed a shot high into Kelly’s top left-hand corner.
It was a ki l ler second for Celtic and delivered by the former Motherwell kid who engaged in respectful, muted celebration.
A rare window in that dominance s aw Motherwell launch a break of their own.
The home fans were demanding a pena l t y when Bolingoli app e a re d to control the ball with a hand but the appeals fell on deaf ears in 68 minutes.
There was a late run- out for Greek striker Giorgios Giakoumakis who was denied a first goal for his new club by a superb Kelly save. Well rarely looked like making a fist of things after the opener and Kevin van Veen’s header, which f lew over in 83 minutes, was as close as they would come. Sub Mikey Johnston’s shot slid wide for Celts and the last act was a Kyogo shot that was fired inches wide of target.