Quick Review
United surprised Celtic with an early goal after a blunder from Boruc. An aerial joust between Samuel and Stephen McManus resulted in the ball dropping to Hunt and the forward thumped in a shot. The strike bounced in front of the diving Boruc and flew through the Polish international's hands.
Celtic replied with Maloney losing David Proctor inside the penalty area and flashing an angled drive narrowly wide of the target.
United should have been further ahead on 18 minutes but skipper Robson was guilty of a terrible miss.
United keeper Derek Stillie had to keep out a long range effort from Jarosik and Vennegoor of Hesselink headed wide from a promising position.
Celtic drew level a minute before the break when Nakamura was allowed to prod home a Jarosik header from close range.
Celtic moved ahead in the 48th minute and the United defence was again posted missing as Nakamura bundled in his second from inside the six yard box.
Four minutes later, Maloney threaded a neat pass to Vennegoor of Hesselink and the Dutch striker kept a cool head to slip the ball beyond Stillie.
Nakamura killed the game off before the hour with a composed curling shot from 14 yards after Jarosik's clever pass had duped several defenders.
Trivia
Celtic eased to victory thanks to a hat-trick from Shunsuke Nakamura and some shoddy Dundee United defending.
Rangers lost at home 1-0 to Inv Caley on same day to go ten points behind....
Teams
Dundee Utd:-
Stillie, Proctor, McCracken, Archibald, Kalvenes, Samuel (Goodwillie 75), Kerr, Cameron,
Robson (Easton 85), Duff (Conway 74), Hunt.
Subs Not Used:- McLean, Mair, Smith, Wilkie.
Goal:- Hunt 5.
Celtic (4-5-1):-Boruc,
Telfer,
Caldwell,
McManus,
Naylor,
Nakamura,
Lennon (
Pearson 75),
Sno,
Maloney (
Riordan 73),
Jarosik,
Vennegoor of Hesselink (
Miller 60).
Subs Not Used:- Marshall,
Balde,
O'Brien,
O'Dea.
Goals:- Nakamura 44, 48, Vennegoor of Hesselink 52, Nakamura 58.
Att:- 10,504
Ref:- M McCurry
Articles
Match Report (BBC)WGS hails NakaBrewster blasts errorsKStreet
Pictures