Celtic Dominate Aberdeen 3-0 as Duran Shines Again
Camilo Duran produced another thunderbolt as Celtic swept aside Aberdeen 3-0 to keep their perfect William Hill Premiership start intact – and he is making it almost impossible for Martin O’Neill to move him back to the wing.
Benjamin Nygren and Yang Hyun-jun joined him on the scoresheet as Celtic shredded the contest before half-time, leaving Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson to rip up his game plan with four changes at the interval.
Duran lights it up again
There was nothing on. Then there was Duran.
Fourteen minutes in, Nygren slipped him the ball some 20 yards from goal, with Aberdeen’s defence apparently set. One touch, minimal backlift, and the Colombian detonated a vicious strike that cannoned in off the bar. Another spectacular addition to a growing collection since his summer move from Qarabag.
That makes it six goals in five games for Duran. He is playing like a man who has no intention of giving up the No 9 role when Kasper Hogh returns from a thigh injury.
He did not stop at the opener. Duran repeatedly tormented Marius Muller, forcing four first-half saves and lashing another effort over from a bouncing ball after Yang’s cross had thrown the Dons defence into panic.
Celtic had already looked comfortable before the breakthrough, with Callum McGregor restored after illness and Liam Scales deputising at left-back for the injured Kieran Tierney. They hogged the ball, dictated tempo, and then Duran struck from his first real sight of goal.
Aberdeen had their moments in that spell. Ayoub Mouloua, handed his first start, headed wide from a decent opening, while Nesta Guinness-Walker saw a long-range drive held. But they were living on the edge.
Celtic punish fine margins
The second goal underlined the gulf in ruthlessness.
On 34 minutes, Haissem Hassan swung in a cross that bounced awkwardly off Afeez Aremu. The loose ball dropped invitingly and Nygren pounced, meeting it first time with his right foot. Muller got something on it but not enough; the ball squeezed past him and Celtic were 2-0 up.
Aberdeen almost found a lifeline. Gavin Molloy met Alexander Briedl’s corner and crashed a header off the bar. Inches from changing the mood, inches from dragging his side back into it.
Instead, Celtic smelled blood.
They broke at speed from that escape, Duran driving them forward and sliding a pass into Yang’s path. The South Korean winger strode on and drilled a left-footed finish beyond Muller. One end to the other, 3-0, and the contest effectively over before the interval.
Robinson’s response was brutal and immediate. At half-time he hooked Aremu, Briedl, Kevin Nisbet and Mouloua, sending on Lewis Smith, Connor Ronan, Toyosi Olusanya and Mitchy Ntelo in an attempt to salvage some pride and energy.
New faces, same control
Aberdeen did at least compete after the restart. Smith forced a decent stop from Viljami Sinisalo as the visitors finally asked a question of Celtic’s goalkeeper.
But Celtic never lost control. O’Neill used the comfort of the scoreline to unveil two of this week’s arrivals: Danish midfielder Oliver Sorensen and on-loan Chelsea forward Shim Mheuka.
Both quickly found themselves in shooting positions. Mheuka showed sharp movement and strength to carve out a chance, drawing an excellent one-handed save from Muller. Sorensen, arriving to meet a cutback, snatched at a first-time left-foot shot and dragged it well off target.
Celtic still finished the stronger side. Muller had to deny Scales, then substitutes Mika Baur and James Forrest, as the hosts pushed for a fourth that never quite came.
Before any of it, the afternoon had begun with a poignant ovation. Sir Kenny Dalglish, 75 and undergoing cancer treatment, walked out to the centre of the pitch and spoke of his gratitude to Jock Stein, Celtic and their supporters for launching his career. The applause rolled around the stadium, a reminder of the club’s history before its present form went to work.
On the pitch, that present looks ruthless, slick and increasingly shaped by a Colombian centre-forward who cannot stop scoring. If Duran keeps striking like this, the real dilemma for O’Neill will not be where to play him when Hogh returns – it will be who dares to take his place.
