Celtic’s triumph over Dundee yesterday afternoon eventually turned into a resounding victory in The City of Discovery.
Throughout a first half marked by relentless pressure, Brendan Rodgers’ team asserted absolute dominance over the match. Despite boasting 79% possession and unleashing 19 shots on goal, of which nine were on target [BBC], Celtic entered halftime on level footing, unable to break the deadlock.
However, an opportunity arose during the game for Luis Palma, which should have seen the scoring opened, as the Honduran found himself unmarked at the back post.
Receiving a lofted cross from the right side, Palma was left with just the goalkeeper to beat. Instead of nodding home from about five yards, the winger inexplicably placed the ball wide of the post. This miss prompted a strong reaction from former Celtic star, Chris Sutton.
According to Sutton [Sky Sports], “Some of the last-ditch defending from Dundee has been very good. How many more opportunities are Celtic going to miss? It’s a horrific miss from Palma at the back post.”
Despite the miss, Palma delivered an outstanding performance for Celtic in the win over Dundee. With a rating of 9.1 by Fotmob, Palma showcased one of his best performances of the season under Brendan Rodgers.
Adding another assist to his season total of nine in 20 appearances for the Hoops [Transfermarkt], Palma has made his £3.5 million transfer fee seem like a bargain.
Palma excelled in his attacking role, creating an additional eleven chances and recording three shots on goal, in addition to the crucial miss.
With a passing accuracy of 70%, Palma also made an impact in Dundee’s final third, registering eleven touches.
Demonstrating improvement on the defensive front, Palma won ten of his duels, alongside one clearance, five defensive actions, and four ball recoveries.
The 23-year-old attacker continues to impress, and his surge in form couldn’t have come at a better time.
With an impending top-of-the-table clash with Rangers on the horizon, Brendan Rodgers will hope that Palma can deliver another performance of similar calibre to help secure all three points at Celtic Park.
