Celtic’s Scottish League Cup title defence stays heading in the right direction after objectives from Daizen Maeda and Giorgos Giakoumakis sealed a 2-0 win over Kilmarnock to achieve one other closing.
Japanese ahead Maeda turned Kyle Lafferty’s tried clearance into the online after 18 minutes at Hampden Park as Celtic appeared to take one other step in the direction of lifting the trophy for a sixth time in seven years.
Giakoumakis wrapped up the win within the ninety fifth minute, after Maeda had had a second aim disallowed following a VAR examine and Reo Hatate had seen a strike additionally dominated out.
Hoops goalkeeper Joe Hart denied Killie substitute Christian Doidge an equaliser within the 76th minute, whereas their appeals for a late penalty have been additionally turned down after Giakoumakis clashed with Joe Wright late on.
Celtic will now face Rangers or Aberdeen within the closing on February 26.
Celtic’s League Cup defence continues
Image:
Daizen Maeda celebrates making it 1-0 with Josip Juranovic
Celtic ran out snug 2-0 winners when Killie visited Parkhead within the Scottish Premiership on January 7 and there have been few outdoors Rugby Park who gave the Ayrshire aspect an opportunity.
Killie striker Lafferty, who returned from his 10-game ban for being caught utilizing sectarian language on video, inadvertently contributed to the opening Hoops aim.
Image:
Kyle Lafferty began for Kilmarnock after a 10-game ban
However, Danny Armstrong had the Celtic defence in hassle within the opening moments.
There have been lower than 30 seconds performed when stretching ahead Kyle Vassell simply missed a cross from the Kilmarnock winger, who then pressured a nook which was headed behind by Liam Donnelly.
Celtic, with right-back Josip Juranovic in for Alistair Johnston, have been put underneath strain once more when defender Carl Starfelt gave possession away to Rory McKenzie, who pressured a wonderful save from Hoops goalkeeper Hart with a low drive.
The Parkhead aspect started to claim themselves and shortly took the lead.
Image:
Daizen Maeda opened the scoring at Hampden
When midfielder Aaron Mooy swung a free-kick into the field from the suitable, Lafferty’s tried clearance from contained in the six-yard field got here off the chest of Maeda and into the online.
The Rugby Park aspect responded instantly and Hart saved a Joe Wright header earlier than Donnelly headed the ensuing nook over the crossbar, possibilities that Derek McInnes’ aspect might sick afford to squander.
Doidge and Liam Polworth took over from Lafferty and Donnelly for the beginning of the second half.
Celtic midfielder Hatate had the ball within the web within the forty ninth minute, however VAR dominated the aim out for offside, and he despatched a drive broad of the goal from the sting of the field six minutes later.
Image:
Celtic had two objectives disallowed in opposition to Kilmarnock
Maeda beat Killie goalkeeper Sam Walker from 14 yards on the hour mark however VAR dominated the aim out for an earlier offside on fellow countryman Kyogo Furuhashi who had slipped him by.
Celtic have been in management however on the different finish, following a Killie break, Armstrong hit the sidenetting on the stretch.
Postecoglou made a triple substitution with Giakoumakis, Liel Abada and Matt O’Riley on for Jota, Furuhashi and Hatate, with Kilmarnock’s Scott Robinson taking on from Vassell, simply earlier than Hart made an incredible save from Doidge’s close-range strike.
Image:
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – JANUARY 14: Celtic’s Giorgos Giakoumakis celebrates his aim to make it 2-0 throughout a Viaplay Cup Semi Final match between Celtic and Kilmarnock at Hampden Park, on January 14, 2023, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS
In the 83rd minute, as play stretched from finish to finish, Walker dived low to tip Mooy’s curling effort clear after which Abada missed the goal with a header.
But – on the demise – Giakoumakis, who might need given away a penalty when he clumsily challenged Wright contained in the field, tapped the ball into an empty web after Walker spilled a shot from fellow Hoops substitute David Turnbull.
Postecoglou: It was a battle
Celtic supervisor Ange Postecoglou was delighted to see his aspect by to the Viaplay Cup closing after a 2-0 win over Kilmarnock in troublesome situations at Hampden Park.
Ange Postecoglou was delighted to see Celtic by to the ultimate in troublesome situations at Hampden Park:
“It was a troublesome recreation which you’d anticipate in a cup semi-final.
“Credit to Derek and his boys, they gave every thing to the competition. We needed to match it as a result of the pitch is not in nice situation which was disappointing.
“But it is credit score to this workforce that it is not all in regards to the soccer. There’s an actual need and can to beat any problem.
“It was a battle, an arm wrestle in a cup semi-final performed in making an attempt situations. We have been by no means going to get open house or be capable to play by them. Their software to their recreation did not enable us.
“Our final aim and ambition was to do what we needed to do to win and this workforce has persistently accomplished that. That’s why we’re on this place and infrequently lose as a result of no matter is thrown at us, this group of gamers discover a manner of getting the job accomplished.
“We confirmed need, self-discipline, construction. It’s simple to do one thing rash in these situations and errors are going to occur.”
McInnes: It’s a penalty
Kilmarnock supervisor Derek McInnes was sad after their late penalty declare was turned down of their Viaplay Cup semi-final defeat to Celtic.
Kilmarnock supervisor Derek McInnes felt his aspect ought to have been awarded a penalty when Giorgios Giakoumakis introduced down Joe Wright:
“We did a lot proper within the recreation however we would have liked every thing to go virtually pitch-perfect for us to beat a workforce of Celtic’s high quality.
“I felt the penalty in the direction of the top, Joe Wright’s been man-handled and there is not any manner Giakoumakis can get to the ball.
“The referee’s bought an excellent view, I do not perceive why it is not a penalty.”
“What’s the purpose in me chatting with the referee? Seriously, what’s the level?
“VAR needs to be chatting with the referee. That’s the dialog that must be had – not me after the occasion, Celtic are by to a closing
“Pre VAR, publish VAR, that is a penalty kick.
“Giakoumakis simply will get a bit excitable. He’s clumsy, it is a striker’s problem. He stumbles into the again of Joe Wright, with two arms spherical his waist. It’s a penalty kick.”
What’s subsequent?
Celtic return to Scottish Premiership motion on January 18 at dwelling to St Mirren. Kick off 7.45pm.
Kilmarnock face Rangers at Rugby Park on the identical night time, dwell on Sky Sports. That match kicks off at 8pm.
Wednesday 18th January 7:30pm
Kick off 8:00pm
