Jota strikes late as Celtic beat Aberdeen 2-1 at Pittodrie

Celtic have beaten Aberdeen 2-1 at Pittodrie to take their first away win in the Premiership since February.

Lewis Ferguson had brought the hosts level after Kyogo Furuhashi had put Celtic in front but Jota struck with just over five minutes to go to seal three points for Anger Postecoglou’s side.

The result leaves Aberdeen ninth in the table after eight games, while Celtic are in sixth going into the international break.

Aberdeen boss Stephen Glass has dropped goalkeeper Joe Lewis, while Postecoglou brought Nir Bitton into midfield as both sides looked to take a valuable win after a rocky recent period.

Celtic started on the front foot and got their reward after just 11 minutes, when Furuhashi chested the ball over the line to score his eighth goal in ten games.

The visitors then had a goal disallowed when Jota thought he had scored but referee Bobby Madden spotted a foul by David Turnbull in the build-up. Jota then hit the bar as Celtic pushed to increase their lead but Aberdeen had a chance of their own before half-time when Christian Ramirez’s header was tipped on to the bar.

The Dons stepped up their game after the break and were level on 56 minutes. Calvin Ramsay’s corner was swung in and Lewis Ferguson outmuscled Bitton to get on the end of it, with the ball coming off his shoulder and looping over defender Adam Montgomery and into the top corner.

Scott Brown then nearly scored against his old club, with the Aberdeen midfielder putting a powerful header on target but straight at Joe Hart.

Tom Rogic and Albian Ajeti were brought on as Celtic chased the winner and it was Jota who settled the game soon after.

Rogic played the ball into the path of Montgomery and he picked out Jota with the Portuguese winger sliding in and scoring from six yards.

Aberdeen couldn’t find a response in the remaining time and saw their winless run extend to nine games.