Glasgow | Celtic ease into next round of League Cup

Celtic 4 - 1 Falkirk

Celtic struck three times in the space of 10 second-half minutes to cruise into the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals

Author | Sean M

Stadium | Celtic Park

Falkirk, then still in the Championship, had briefly unsettled the holders in last season’s quarter-final by leading 2-1 at half-time before eventually losing 5-2 in Glasgow. This time, arriving as Premiership rivals, they were on the back foot from the start against a Celtic side that looked sharp and assured even with Brendan Rodgers making six changes from the weekend win at Aberdeen.

John McGlynn’s side rarely threatened to repeat last year’s surprise and were comfortably contained as Celtic claimed a third successive victory. 

Just as Falkirk looked to have weathered the early pressure, Kieran Tierney rose to meet Callum McGregor’s cross and nodded it into the path of Daizen Maeda, who stooped to score his ninth goal in as many League Cup appearances.

Celtic actually found their groove to make it a comfortable win

Falkirk frustrated the holders until a flurry of goals just after the hour broke their resistance.

Alistair Johnston dispossessed Calvin Miller before bending a finish into the far corner. Dane Murray, fresh from signing a new contract, marked the occasion with his first Celtic goal, a firm header. Soon after, Yang Hyun-jun’s low cross deflected in off Liam Henderson to put the tie beyond doubt.

There had been warning signs earlier. Henderson almost turned into his own net, Scott Bain denied both Kieran Tierney and Callum McGregor, while Arne Engels struck the post with a free-kick before Daizen Maeda’s opener.

Falkirk, still searching for their first league win of the season, at least carried a counter-attacking threat. Ross MacIver went close, Miller drew a fine stop from Viljami Sinisalo and Alfredo Agyeman tested the goalkeeper as the visitors looked for a response.

The contest was settled long before they finally breached Celtic’s defence for the first time this season. Keelan Adams marked his 50th appearance in style, crashing a fierce drive from the edge of the box into the top corner.