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On Saturday, there were five matches in the Scottish Premier League, after which there were quite a few changes in the tournament table. The leader Glasgow Celtic, who is increasingly distancing themselves from the pursuers by crushing their opponents, took advantage of their city neighbor Rangers' failure at home. Wins were also achieved by Motherwell and Kilmarnock, while one match ended in a draw.
In the earliest match of the day, Dundee Utd welcomed defending champions Celtic and took the lead in the sixth minute when Noel Hunt's long-range shot was not caught by goalkeeper Arturas Borucas. In the middle of the half, the hosts could have increased the score, but Barry Robson missed from close range, and before the break, Dundee Utd equalized with a goal from Celtic defender Shunsuke Nakamura redirecting the ball into the net after Jiri Jarosik's header.
The second half started particularly well for the visitors, and within ten minutes, they dashed the hopes of the home team with three goals - in the 48th minute, S. Nakamura scored another close-range shot to put Celtic ahead, five minutes later, the third goal was scored by Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink after breaking away from the goalkeeper, and in the 58th minute, Japanese midfielder S. Nakamura secured a hat-trick and victory for the Celtic club with a precise attempt from the penalty area.
Glasgow Rangers, who are now ten points behind the leading Celtic, suffered defeat at home to Inverness. Although Rangers dominated the match, they failed to convert their advantage into goals and in the 71st minute, the decision of the home team's coach Paul Le Guen to replace the best player of the month, goalkeeper Allan McGregor, with Lionel Letizi cost them as Graham Bayne scored the only goal of the match for Inverness.
From last place to tenth, the Motherwell club rose after defeating Dunfermline. After playing just over an hour, Scott McDonald put the hosts ahead, and although Stevie Crawford equalized eight minutes later, the winning goal for Motherwell was scored by David Clarkson, who came on as a substitute in the 84th minute.
Kilmarnock, who won against Aberdeen in the neighboring duel on the tournament table, equalized with Rangers in third position with points and moved up to fourth place. Meanwhile, the match between Falkirk and St. Mirren, where goals were also scored only after the break, ended in a 1-1 draw. In the last round of matches on Sunday, Hibernian and Hearts will face each other in the Edinburgh derby.
Results of the 10th round of matches on Saturday:
1 - 4
6' [1 - 0] Noel Hunt
44' [1 - 1] Shunsuke Nakamura
48' [1 - 2] Shunsuke Nakamura
53' [1 - 3] Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink
58' [1 - 4] Shunsuke Nakamura
1 - 1
69' [0 - 1] Billy Mehmet
81' [1 - 1] Anthony Stokes
2 - 1
61' [1 - 0] Scott McDonald
69' [1 - 1] Stevie Crawford
84' [2 - 1] David Clarkson
1 - 0
69' [1 - 0] Gary Wales
0 - 1
71' [0 - 1] Graham Bayne
Tournament table:
