August 4 2024 Match report: Celtic (A)
Kilmarnock kicked off the league campaign with a disappointing 4-0 loss away to champions Celtic.
Derek McInnes made five changes from our defeat to Cercle Brugge, with Danny Armstrong, Marley Watkins, Rory McKenzie, Joe Wright and Robbie Deas all making way for David Watson, Matty Kennedy, Oliver Bainbridge, Liam Polworth and Fraser Murray.
Matty Kennedy worked into the box after nine minutes, but was a bit too keen to fire a shot away as he blazed it over the crossbar.
Kyogo Furuhashi looked certain to score in the 16th minute as he ended up one-on-one with Robby McCrorie, but a block from the Killie keeper, twinned with a goal-line clearance from Brad Lyons it stayed out of the net.
However, that didn’t last for long as Reo Hatate slammed home from outside the box to give the hosts the lead.
Furuhashi was slipped through on goal after 20 minutes from Matt O’Riley, but McCrorie pulled off a fantastic save to keep the score at 1-0.
Liam Donnelly tried his luck from the edge of the box a few minutes later, but debutant Kasper Schmeichel had little issues holding on to the effort.
Matty Kennedy then had a great chance as the ball fell to him at the back post, but his volley was once again saved by Celtic’s No 1.
Celtic looked sure to double their lead when the ball fell to Nicolas Kuhn six yards out, but McCrorie pulled off a top save from point-blank range, then from a rebound Kuhn fired over.
Liam Scales then made it two with a glancing header into the far corner after 40 minutes.
Nicolas Kuhn made it 3-0 as his effort made its way over McCrorie just before the hour mark.
Furuhashi had the ball in the net in the 80th minute, but the linesman was quick to raise his flag for offside, and he was proved correct to do so following a VAR check.
Anthony Ralston then finished the scoring in stoppage time as he fired home from close range.
Score: Celtic 4-0 Kilmarnock
Team: McCrorie, Lyons, Mayo, Findlay, Bainbridge, Murray (Mackay-Steven 87), Donnelly (Wales 74), Watson, Polworth (McKenzie 65), Kennedy (Armstrong 65), Vassell (Cameron 65)
