Aberdeen 0 Celtic 4

Last updated : 10 August 2002 By Footymad Previewer

Celtic came to Pittodrie as champions and left the Granite City top of the pile again, following a convincing 4-0 win.

Celtic started on the attack and in the opening minutes, Stilian Petrov danced his way past a couple of players and laid the ball short to Momo Sylla, whose cross was headed over by Henrik Larsson.

The visitors then won a couple of corners in quick succession and it was from the second that they took the lead, Bobby Petta's cross was headed on by Larsson and Johan Mjallby turned the ball past Dons keeper Peter Kjaer from about three yards.

The visitors went two goals ahead with 34 minutes gone. Petrov's netbound effort was cleared off the line by Phil McGuire, but the ball went straight back to the Celtic midfielder who then played a delicate chip to the back post for Chris Sutton to head home from close range.

Celtic started the second half in much the same manner as they had at first, with an early goal. Seven minutes after the re-start Petta once again found some space on the left wing and his cross found Sylla unmarked at the back post and he had the easiest of chances to nod the ball over the line despite the best efforts of Kjaer.

On the hour mark Larsson brilliantly turned Russell Anderson before sending a curling ball past the despairing Dons keeper, only to be denied by the upright.

However, that only delayed the fourth Celtic goal which duly came on 66 minutes.

Sutton picked out Lambert, who dummied Jamie McAllister and calmly placed the ball into the far corner with a low shot.

Celtic went in to cruise control for the remainder of the match and just allowed the game to drift into its final stages.

While the visitors took their foot off the pedal, Roberto Bisconti and Fergus Tiernan both had efforts as Aberdeen tried to get a consolation goal, with the latter's shot being probably the Dons best effort during the 90 minutes, but one which Rab Douglas stopped easily