Dream debut shows Jenz is a proper Bhoy wonder
ROSS COUNTY 1
Iacovitti (58)
CELTIC 3
Furuhashi (48), Jenz (84), Abada (90)
Moritz Jenz was left struggling to keep track of how many of his ambitions he managed to tick off after a tumultuous afternoon for the German at the Global Energy Stadium.
With Hoops central defender Stephen Welsh missing out with a virus, the 23-year-old, on loan from Lorient, was thrown in for his competitive debut.
“It wasn’t a bad way to start!” was his summary of a near-perfect introduction to the Scottish game, smile splitting his face.
“To play my first game in front of a fantastic away crowd was amazing.
“Then to score was like a dream come true.
“It was incredible to celebrate with the fans at the goal.
“I’ve always wanted to score in a British game and run into the crowd. There’s no stopping, you just run in with your emotions. It was amazing. It took some time to get out but I did.
“You always hope to get on the end of the ball and at the end I showed great desire to score that goal was perfect.
“It’s a team game. I will keep pushing and the coach will decide who plays.
“I’m looking forward to keep playing like that. I want to be confident and consistent this season.”
Jenz’s late intervention was needed because, as County boss Malky Mackay argued, Celtic were given a tougher examination in the Highlands than the final score suggested.
Not that the start suggested there would be drama with David Turnbull going close in the first few minutes. Jota – who, like Jenz, had a terrific afternoon – soon joined in, buzzing around here, there and everywhere causing trouble for defenders.
Kyogo gave notice of his intentions when smashing an effort high over the County crossbar and out of the ground.
The Japanese is not normally so off target with his shooting and he would have sent Celtic in at the break with a lead had it not been for a sharp save from Ross Laidlaw to deny him after he had raced onto a clever through ball from Turnbull.
His countryman, Daizen Maeda likewise forced Laidlaw into action with the keeper flinging himself full length to push the forward’s flick wide of his far post.
Through all this, County hung on doggedly. Jack Baldwin was strong at the back and former Austria Vienna midfielder David Cancola was an impressively composed figure in front of him.
Their resistance, though, was breached almost immediately on their return after the interval.
A fine goal it was too, Jota linking up with Callum McGregor to carve County’s right flank open before Kyogo supplied the finish.
You had to feel for Malky Mackay who had sent on Owura Edwards and Victor Loturi to add more creativity to the side.
His plan did help generate an equaliser, however, with Edwards supplying the cross from which Alex
Iacovitti powered home a header. Edwards, a 21-year-old winger on loan from Bristol City, was very lively and had home fans on their feet minutes later with a fierce free kick that Joe Hart did well to keep out.
His opposite number Laidlaw was powerless to do anything with Celtic’s slick second.
Greg Taylor worked a short corner to Jota, the Portuguese whipped in a high cross into the box and the defender leapt highest to head into the net.
With the home side tiring, Celtic sub Liel Abada finished things off, curling a shot home after neat build up work from Jota and Greg Taylor.
“I was disappointed near the end that we got to that point and they managed to get the winning goal but overall I can’t be too harsh,” said the County manager.
“We needed to play in a manner that negated what Celtic did. I felt we did that.
“At the same time we needed the belief to, at times, threaten their goal which we did.”