Kyogo Furuhashi Scores Twice as Celtic Triumph Over Ross County
In a commanding performance, Japanese forward Kyogo Furuhashi scored two goals, leading Celtic to a decisive 4-1 victory against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership. This triumph, which occurred at Global Energy Stadium in Dingwall, marked Furuhashi's achievement of reaching double-digit goals for the fourth consecutive season.
Furuhashi opened the scoring in the 40th minute, capitalizing on a well-placed low cross from the right flank. Despite Ross County equalizing through a penalty by Jordan White in the 60th minute, Furuhashi regained the lead for Celtic with a brilliant header in the 81st minute, bringing his season tally to ten goals.
Celtic also benefited from contributions by Arne Engels, who converted a penalty, and Luke McCowan, who added another goal late in the match. Furuhashi expressed gratitude for the support from his teammates, acknowledging the importance of teamwork in achieving his scoring milestones.
Meanwhile, in France's Ligue 1, Junya Ito scored for Reims in their match against Nice, leveling the score with his fourth goal of the season. However, Reims ultimately fell short, losing 4-2 at home. Ito's goal came in the 34th minute, responding to an earlier header from Nice's Evann Guessand. Despite Ito's effort, Nice pulled ahead with two additional goals, including a penalty from Gaetan Laborde.
In the Dutch Eredivisie, Koki Ogawa continued to find the net, scoring the sole goal in NEC Nijmegen's 1-0 victory over Zwolle, marking his seventh goal of the season. Additionally, Shunsuke Mito from Sparta Rotterdam netted his second goal of the season in a 1-1 draw against Heracles Almelo.
Celtic's win keeps them firmly at the top of the league table, showcasing the team's offensive prowess and Furuhashi's vital role in their campaign. The performance highlights the growing influence of Japanese players in European football, with several making significant contributions across different leagues.