It ain’t chauffeur till it’s over
Ange used to drive Puskas... now his swashbuckling Celts are back on road to Europa glory after win
This time he’s got his exciting Celtic party bus into top gear in the Europe League.
Postecoglou used to drive Ferenc Puskas around. More than three decades later and he was driving Ferencvaros mad.
Celtic’s Aussie boss refuses to engage reverse and his flat-out approach finally released their Group G handbrake.
First change to this affair was because of COP 26 – but the major alteration was all down to Kyogo 8.
The Japanese striker’s brilliant opener had the stamp of Postecoglou all over it and the Aussie could even afford for skipper Callum McGregor to have a subsequent penalty saved before David Turnbull forced an OG to seal the contest.
It was a superb day for the manager. Patience and the cutting edge up top magnificently provided by new stars Jota and Kyogo Furuhashi.
At the back, just as importantly, a cherished continental clean sheet with the likes of Cameron CarterVickers, Anthony Ralston and Carl Starfelt stepping up to the mark.
Every box ticked. And, suddenly, every chance of still being in Europe post-Christmas.
Avoiding defeat in Budapest a fortnight tomorrow will give them a strong chance of at least the Conference League.
Postecoglou applauded his team at full-time and with good reason. This was no white-knuckle job. This was controlled.
Sure the visitors had a couple of glimpses early on, but overall it was Celtic in command and they made the most of it after the interval.
It could have been three or four. But two will most certainly do.
Postecoglou’s team took their time to build into it, but by the finish, they were in charge and fully deserving of their triumph on a day when the place rocked like a night game.
It could have felt quite differently being a midweek afternoon start.
One section made crystal clear what they thought of the kick-off time with a Countdown conundrum style banner reading FCUKUFEA.
However, given a huge crowd of more than 50,000, it was as close to normality as the players could have hoped for.
Postecoglou’s bhoys responded and repaid them after a first-half that was intriguing without ever really catching fire. Celtic edged possession, but they had scares within it. They were almost undone inside three minutes as Ryan Mmaee just couldn’t find the final touch then Joe Hart turned away Myrto Uzuni’s effort.
In between those moments of concern, Celtic displayed some glimpses of intent themselves.
Jota forced a couple of saves from keeper Denes Dibusz as the Hoops found it tough to engineer a clear-cut opportunity before the break. Starfelt
0
went into the book and Ralston joined him after a clash when full-back Samy Mmaee had a naughty nibble at Furuhashi on the deck.
The Japanese was more or less on the halfway line then, but it wouldn’t be long into the second half when he’ was where he comes alive and makes the difference.
Celtic were positive from the restart. McGregor had some room to test Dibusz before a sensational opening goal which had the stamp of Postecoglou all over it.
The excellent Adam Montgomery, back in the side for Boli Bolingoli, refused to kick it long when in dangerous territory. Jota was the same.
Instead, the pair passed their way out of bother until the Portuguese escaped and took a look upfield.
He had a difficult pass on and the execution was magnificent.
Drilled 50 yards into Furuhashi’s run and his cushioned first touch was equally brilliant.
Having done the hard bit, he wasn’t going to waste the chance and his composed instep finish into the near
post was textbook. Press broken, deadlock broken and the Hungarians should have been broken five minutes later when Celtic won a penalty.
Henry Wingo sent Montgomery tumbling in the box and Danish referee Jakob Kehlet had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
McGregor took the responsibility and the strike was solid but Dibusz guessed correctly and it was a good height for him to beat clear.
Grabbing the two-goal cushion would have been priceless at that stage, but it would come in the end and it was totally merited. It could have been a tense last 20 minutes but, in truth, Celtic had more sightings to finish it before they actually did.
Jota stepped inside and then failed to really catch his shot which rolled into Dibusz’s arms.
Postecoglou made changes to try and keep the foot down. Giorgos Giakoumakis replaced the ineffective Liel Abada, Nir Bitton came on for Tom Rogic and Liam Scales took over from a cramping Montgomery.
Carter-Vickers just missed converting a Turnbull corner and Greek sub Giakoumakis took a Furuhashi cross on his chest before volleying over.
But with nine minute left they could relax. McGregor stole possession and fed Jota to roll the ball across goal for Turnbull.
The midfielder totally miscued his first effort but as the ball spun loose, Dibusz kicked it against Balint Vecsei and it flew into the net.
Turnbull and Jota both missed golden chances for a third but the job had been done. fans after first group clean sheet