Sat Oct 27 14:08:17 2007

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Celtic downs Motherwell as McDonald tallies three

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Glasgow, Scotland (Sports Network) - Scott McDonald returned to the Celtic lineup in a big way as the Australian striker scored three times to lead Celtic to a 3-0 win over Motherwell at Celtic Park on Saturday.

McDonald was held out of the lineup on Wednesday for the team's Champions League contest, but he came back to haunt his former team with a goal three minutes before the break and two more after the restart.

The win takes Celtic three points clear of Rangers, who will meet Dundee United on Sunday.

Motherwell began the game by creating a few early chances, but it was Celtic who had the better of the play in the first half.

Motherwell keeper Graeme Smith was called upon a number of times, but he didn't crack until right before the break.

A corner off the foot of Shunsuke Nakamura found its way into the six-yard box and was headed home by McDonald for a 1-0 Celtic lead.

The Hoops kept their foot on the gas after halftime and went ahead by two goals in the 56th minute. A good ball from Lee Naylor allowed McDonald to get down the left wing and in on the keeper. With just Smith to beat, McDonald fired his shot under the Motherwell keeper and into the back of the net.

The visitors were unable to produce much in the offensive third, and they finished the game down three goals as McDonald drew a penalty kick in the final minutes and then converted the chance for his second hat-trick as a member of Celtic.

In other SPL action on Saturday, Inverness hammered Gretna 4-0 in a battle of the bottom two teams in the league, Hibernian lost its second straight contest as they fell 1-0 to St Mirren, and Kilmarnock toppled Hearts 3-1 at Rugby Park.

On Sunday, Aberdeen tries to extend its three-game winning streak when the club hosts Falkirk, while Rangers visits Dundee United in a top-four clash.