JOTA LAYS IT ON A PLATE FOR KYOGO
WITH Celtic frustrated in their efforts throughout the previous 51 minutes, the growing feeling inside the stadium was that something special may be required to break the deadlock.
What duly arrived was a goal so exquisite in its creation and execution that it deserved to be framed and hung in a gallery.
As another Ferencvaros attack broke down, Jota gathered the ball deep inside his own half. The sensible play appeared to be to try and draw a foul or knock the ball down the line. Instead, he unleashed a missile which flew towards Kyogo Furuhashi. As special as the delivery was, the Japanese still had work to do. One touch and an effortless finish had Celtic ahead.
‘The pass from Jota was world class,’ said ex-Parkhead midfielder Paul Lambert. ‘If you see a better pass than that on the European scene, then give me a call.
‘The touch and the finish from Furuhashi were both brilliant.
‘The goal starts in the leftback area. The pass is on a bit of string. It’s perfect. But what a finish. There’s not too many who can do that. That touch has made the goal.
‘The side-foot is absolutely world class. He takes it early and before you know it, it’s in the back of the net.’
Jota may have been denied his third goal in as many matches but his contribution was impossible to overstate.
While his outrageous assist for Furuhashi will be talked about for weeks to come, his square ball across the box before Balint Vecsei eventually scored past his own keeper was just as important.
Given the Benfica player once had a £75million release clause, it’s fair to suggest he arrived in Glasgow to an expectant audience. Yet he’s already made the £6.5m fee Celtic have agreed in advance for his signature seem like a shrewd move.
‘I think there’s a lot more to come,’ said Lambert. ‘He’s still finding his feet but some of the football he plays is excellent.
‘In one-v-one situations, he’s lively. He makes things happen. He can be a really good Celtic player.’
Ange Postecoglou’s side could and should have scored more yesterday but the clean sheet was hugely important.
Joe Hart played his part with three smart saves but no one deserved more credit than Anthony Ralston. He had no right to take the ball off the toe of striker Ryan Mmaee just after Furuhashi had struck.
‘It’s every bit as important as that pass,’ said Lambert. ‘It’s absolutely brilliant cover — he never gave it up. It’s worthy of a goal itself.
‘You thrive on competition. The more pressure comes on you, the better you become.
‘Once the lad Josip Juranovic is fit, he’ll be looking over his shoulder wondering if he’s going to keep playing. If he keeps doing that, it’ll be hard to take him out of the team.’
As for Callum McGregor’s missed penalty, Lambert had only positives to glean from the skipper’s performance.
‘The biggest thing about Callum McGregor missing the penalty was he kept taking the ball,’ added Lambert.
‘That’s hard, especially here as it’s a difficult place to do that. So it’s a big compliment to him for doing that.’