TREBLE YELL
Roarsome Bhoys complete a hat-trick as Kyogo stars again
WHO needs Kane when you’ve got Kyogo?
That’s the question Celtic fans hope Ange Postecoglou is asking himself now.
Their sought-after manager earned his Spurs again at Hampden by delivering the Scottish Cup to complete a domestic Treble.
If it’s to be his last stand before heading for London, it was some going-away gift.
But arguably, the greatest gift Postecoglou has given these fans is their Japanese centre-forward (below).
As the final drifted along without major incident against a stuffy Inverness Caley Thistle side, Kyogo exploded into it.
Liel Abada and Jota might have scored later to see off Billy Dodds’ side, who responded through Daniel Mackay late on to make Celtic work for it.
But make no mistake, Kyogo’s strike was the key moment.
With what felt like his FIRST touch after 37 minutes, he effectively took the game – and the trophy – away from the Highlanders.
It was his 34th goal in 49 games this season for his club.
An incredible return for a guy few Hoops fans had heard of when Postecoglou plucked him from the J-league.
The worry for anyone at Celtic will be that if their Aussie gaffer does go to Tottenham – and England skipper Harry leaves – he might want to take Kyogo with him to North London.
The striker wasn’t even 100 per cent fit here.
But 57 minutes were enough to put his stamp all over another piece of silverware after his two goals won them the League Cup against Rangers earlier in the season.
Five trophies out of six is a pretty decent return given the lack of fanfare when Postecoglou first arrived at Parkhead. Now he’s on a list with Jock
Stein, Martin O’neill,
Brendan Rodgers and Neil Lennon as Celtic bosses to do a clean sweep of domestic trophies.
Inverness didn’t make it easy for their Premiership opponents yesterday. Remember, the Highlanders haven’t kicked a competitive ball since their last Championship game 29 DAYS ago.
They might have been a bit ring-rusty coming into it but it was all going to plan for Inverness before the ball smashed off Kyogo’s right foot and into their net.
O’riley got into the box down their right channel and fizzed a ball across goal. Celtic’s talisman was off his mark to get in front of Danny Devine and blast the ball past Ridgers.
For Caley, they somehow had to show more attacking intent to get back in it but without leaving themselves vulnerable to a second goal that would surely kill them off.
They huffed and puffed but struggled to penetrate Celtic in attacking areas. And as tiredness kicked in, the big boys increased their lead.
Callum Mcgregor did brilliantly to take a quick free-kick and race forward to get on the end of Jota’s pass.
The skipper teed up sub Abada in the middle who slotted past Ridgers.
At that point, it felt like game over. And it should have been. But this Caley side under Dodds is nothing if not dogged.
And when Mackay ran off the back of stand-in centre-half Tomoki Iwata to bury a diving header with six minutes left – you were left wondering if we were in for something special.
But we should have known better. This is Postecoglou’s Celtic. When they’re hit, they only know one way – to respond.
Abada’s cross in injury time found Jota at the back post who secured the victory.
The winger was subbed off and embraced warmly by his gaffer on the touchline.
A goodbye hug? The next few days should give us the answer.