Video: Celtic hero rewarded for opening day rocket

By Dave Flanigan

September 8, 2022

Celtic star Jota has won the first Goal of the Month award for the SPFL season after his opening day rocket against Aberdeen at Celtic Park.

The 23 year old cut in from the left half-space and sauntered past his man before arrowing a shot past Kelle Roos in the Aberdeen right into the top corner to seal all three points in a buoyant Paradise on the first day of the new league season.

The Portuguese winger’s strike beat out Leighton Clarkson’s long-range free kick for Aberdeen and Matty Yates’ screamer for Stenhousemuir against Annan Athletic.

In truth, Celtic could have contested the Goal of the Month competition entirely on their own, with Jota also scoring a beauty against Kilmarnock in Celtic’s 5-0 win at Rugby Park, whilst Moritz Jenz and Giorgios Giakoumakis both scored overhead kicks in the same game.

The personal award adds to the three Player of the Month trophies that Jota picked up in Celtic’s double-winning campaign last year, with the Portuguese instrumental for much of the season.

The winger has been in electric form, arguably the standout player in Celtic’s season so far, following his permanent move in June from Benfica, also making numerous assists in addition to two further goals in Celtic’s 9-0 annihilation of Dundee United at Tannadice and last weekend’s Glasgow derby hammering of Rangers.

Though he was unable to meaningfully hurt Real Madrid in Celtic’s defeat to the European champions on Tuesday night, he’ll be hoping to make his mark on the Champions League in the coming matches too, starting with the Hoops’ trip to Warsaw to face Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday.

First up, however, Livingston visit Paradise on Saturday for the third home game in a week, with Celtic looking to maintain their five point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

In other news: Michael Stewart delivers Celtic vs Real Madrid verdict and makes group stage prediction