Hogh hat trick leads Celtic to 5-1 win over Kilmarnock

Celtic striker Kasper Hogh scored a sensational first-half hat trick to lead the champions to a commanding 5-1 victory over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Sunday, August 9, 2026. The win, secured in the absence of manager Martin O'Neill, moved Celtic to the top of the Scottish Premiership on goal difference.

The Danish international, signed from Bodø/Glimt for £11 million, needed just 63 seconds to open his account for the club. He headed home a cross from Arne Engels to break the deadlock. Hogh doubled the lead in the 33rd minute with a clinical first-time finish after a swift team move, and completed his hat trick two minutes later with another header from a Camilo Duran delivery. The performance was a significant improvement on his debut against Dundee, where he missed several chances.

Assistant manager Shaun Maloney took charge of the team as O'Neill rested following a "small procedure" that required an overnight hospital stay in midweek. The 74-year-old manager visited the squad at their hotel before the match. "It was huge," Maloney said of Hogh's goals. "He's really settled in quickly. His performance against Dundee was good, even though he missed some chances. But that's...