Celtic 2-0 Kilmarnock: Holders into sixth Scottish League Cup final in seven seasons

Daizen Maeda got the last interaction to people Celtic's archetypal goal

Celtic saw disconnected Kilmarnock's stubborn absorption to scope their sixth Viaplay Cup last successful 7 seasons.

The Japan guardant had different extremity ruled retired for an offside, arsenic did compatriot Reo Hatate.

Giorgos Giakoumakis settled the necktie successful stoppage time, moments aft appearing to foul Joe Wright successful the different box.

Kilmarnock volition consciousness aggrieved that nary punishment was given, arsenic they played their portion successful an absorbing semi-final.

Danny Armstrong was the outstanding subordinate for the Ayrshire nine and had opportunities to level, including a close-range effort connected the agelong that went conscionable wide.

But Celtic saw retired the triumph and acceptable up a gathering with either Rangers oregon Aberdeen - who play successful Sunday's semi-final - connected 26 February astatine the nationalist stadium.

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Cup shot is each astir triumph oregon bust, play and the one-off quality of the occasion. Win you progress, suffer you are out.

Despite that simplicity and the accidental available, the underdog often fails to muster the content oregon gameplan to present a existent contest. But amid a pulsating ambiance and utterly horrible conditions astatine Hampden, Kilmarnock did conscionable that.

A alteration of signifier and intent to prosecute Celtic further up the transportation astir paid disconnected aft 30 seconds.

Armstrong surged down the close to exposure abstraction vacated by Alexandro Bernabei. The winger chopped backmost and sent a unsafe debased shot crossed the six-yard box. Had Kyle Vassell gambled a 2nd earlier, it was a definite goal. Unfortunately for Kilmarnock, helium didn't and the accidental was lost.

Armstrong started similar a antheral possessed arsenic Derek McInnes' broadside harassed and harried but crucially maintained a threat.

Slackness from Carl Starfelt was seized connected by Rory McKenzie. He surged guardant and unleashed a debased thrust towards the country - lone for Joe Hart to get down and extremity circular a post.

Celtic began to exert a grip connected possession but failed to occupation Walker's goal, until Lafferty's attempted clearance from a free-kick struck the onrushing Maeda and diverted into the apical corner.

It was a fortunate interruption for Celtic, and the anticipation was they would canter on.

But Kilmarnock instantly threatened done Wright's header, past Liam Donnelly sent different looping header over. If the extremity was a blow, Kilmarnock's heads were not for bowing.

Celtic regrouped astatine half-time and seemed to exert much tempo to adhd to their possession. Hatate thought he'd added a 2nd but was deemed offside aft the shot deflected into his path.

Maeda past produced a fantastic top-corner decorativeness from Kyogo's superb flick successful behind, but the assistance had been delivered portion the guardant was fractionally offside, and VAR intervened.

Josip Juranovic was past conscionable disconnected people arsenic Celtic looked for their elusive 2nd goal.

But Kilmarnock ne'er went away. Armstrong came truthful adjacent to an equaliser arsenic helium slid successful astatine the backmost post, past substitute Christian Doidge diverted towards extremity lone for Hart to thenar the shot away.

Aaron Mooy and Liel Abada went adjacent astatine the different extremity and, arsenic the timepiece ticked on, you were ne'er rather definite Celtic were implicit the line.

Even successful wounded time, a large outcry for a punishment caused panic erstwhile Giakoumakis bundled into Wright. Nothing was given, and past yet the 2nd extremity arrived.

When David Turnbull's changeable was saved, his chap substitute Giakoumakis could not miss from adjacent range.

Celtic got determination - but were fixed an almighty situation successful a fantastic cupful tie.

Player of the lucifer - Daizen Maeda

Daizen Maeda bundled successful Celtic's archetypal extremity and was their main menace again. An honourable notation for Danny Armstrong, who was superb for Kilmarnock

Celtic get occupation done, Killie outstanding - analysis

If McInnes tin instil this benignant of show successful his broadside consistently, past they volition rapidly emergence up from 11th successful the league table. So overmuch of what they produced was spot on, different than the astir important bit, uncovering the backmost of the net.

They had chances, bully ones, but conscionable couldn't convert. A tendency to prosecute Celtic further up the transportation astatine times, and springiness their opponents nary clip to settee into their rhythm, worked well. Their show was outstanding.

Celtic volition consciousness they are deservedly done having had 2 goals, rightly, ruled retired for offside and galore chances to enactment the necktie to furniture earlier than they did.

It was clear, though, they were beneath their accustomed level. Whether that was down to conditions, Kilmarnock, oregon thing other is not clear.

However, they did what champions do. Progressed to different cupful final, and are wrong touching region of winning the trophy for the sixth clip successful 7 seasons.

What's next?

Celtic instrumentality to league concern arsenic they hosts St Mirren connected Wednesday (19:45 GMT), portion Kilmarnock look Rangers astatine Rugby Park (20:00).