Celtic FC‘s Korean duo Cha Du-Ri and Ki Sung-Yong both played their part as the Scottish giants defeated Hibernian 2-1 on Saturday at Celtic Park. The win put the home side on top of the Scottish Premier League table for the time being.
Cha, deployed at his usual right-back position, started the match and played all 90 minutes.
The former Freiburg man put his trademark overlapping runs on full display as he put in six crosses throughout the match. His best cross came in the 82nd minute as it met the head of Efrain Juarez only for the shot to hit the cross bar.
In stoppage time, Cha went forward and blasted a strong right-footed shot, but it was denied by the Hibernian goalkeeper Mark Brown.
Ki, who was given a rare opportunity to start against Inverness in midweek’s CIS Insurance Cup fixture, was substituted in at the start of the second half.
After coming on to replace injured Charlie Mulgrew, Ki let his presence be felt early on as he drilled a right-footed shot just eight minutes into the half, but the ball went high over the cross bar.
The 21 year-old smashed another good shot with his right foot in the 83rd minute, but this time it went wide of right.
Celtic set the tone early in the match with Scott Brown‘s first goal of the season in the fifth minute. Six minutes into the second half, Glenn Loovens extended the lead after converting Shaun Maloney‘s corner-kick from the right with a header.
Hibernian pulled one back just three minutes later when Derek Riordan‘s lob found its way over Fraser Forster and hit the net, but the away side didn’t have enough left in the tank to grab an equalizer.
Match highlights (Celtic 2-1 Hibernian)
Cha needs to work on shooting. His pace would be awesome maybe in a defensive midfield position