Scottish League Cup
Sunday, September 22, 2024
Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC… 5
(Bernardo 21, Idah 70 & 72, Kuhn 81 & 84)

FALKIRK… 2
(MacIver 11, Yeats 46)

Celtic booked their spot in the semi-final of the Scottish League Cup after coming out on top in a seven-goal thriller at Celtic Park, scoring five goals for the second consecutive game.

It was clear from the outset that John McGlynn’s Falkirk side weren’t going to just sit back and defend, with the visitors looking to get forward at every opportunity.

Former Celt, Calvin Miller was the target for a number of forward balls from the Falkirk defence, seeing an early cross blocked by Celtic’s Stephen Welsh.

The first big chance of the match fell to James Forrest, who linked up well on the edge of the box with Paulo Bernardo, and the winger’s effort on goal was saved by Hogarth in goals for Falkirk.

Just after the 10-minute mark, the visitors took the lead. A low shot from outside the area by Ross MacIver evaded Kasper Schmeichel and crept in to the bottom corner, sending the large travelling support wild.

Falkirk had a chance to double their lead a few moments later when Alfredo Agyeman got in behind the Celtic defence, but he dragged his effort well wide of the far post.

Celtic’s response to Falkirk’s opener came just after the 20-minute mark, when a lofted through ball from Reo Hatate found debut Bhoy, Alex Valle in the box.

The Barcelona loanee headed the ball in to the path of Paulo Bernardo who smashed it home from inside the penalty area to level the game.

The match had all the characteristics of a classic cup-tie in the first half, with both teams looking to get forward and create opportunities.

And after his assist, Alex Valle was called upon in defence, making two important challenges on the touchline on the 25-minute mark to halt a dangerous-looking Falkirk attack.

With a few minutes left of the first half, Calvin Miller found himself with an opportunity to have a strike on goal from the edge of the box, but Kasper Schmeichel was equal to it and the keeper held it well.

But in added time at the end of the half, a deep ball in to the box from Falkirk found Finn Yeats. The defender’s header arrowed in to the corner of the net giving the visitors a 2-1 lead at half time.

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