Celtic 2 Hibs 0
We exited the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup this afternoon after goals from Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah sent holders Celtic into the last four.
The Hibees were backed magnificently throughout the contest by 7,045 noisy travelling fans but Celtic’s quality shone through as we suffered our first defeat in 16 outings.
Over the course of the 90 minutes, we defended brilliantly and frustrated the home side but were limited to very little ourselves at the other end.
Maeda broke the deadlock late in the first period and it took until second half injury time before substitute Idah put the game to bed.
David Gray made one change following our derby victory over city rivals, Hearts, last weekend with Lewis Miller replacing Warren O’Hora on the right of a back three.
Celtic made a single change themselves with Idah dropping out and Jota coming into an impressive front three, alongside Maeda and Nicolas Kühn.
The last time we defeated Celtic away in this competition was way back in 1902 and the hosts have been imperious at home this season, so the odds were against us.
They came flying out of the traps this afternoon with Maeda only just failing to connect with a Kühn cross before Jeffrey Schlupp’s effort was blocked inside the opening moments.
It then took a stunning save, diving down to his left, from Jordan Smith to stop Celtic finding the breakthrough in the fourth minute as the Scottish champions piled on the pressure.
Celtic skipper Callum McGregor stepped onto a Kühn pass inside and his low piledriver was heading into the net at the front post before Smith got down to push it away with a strong left hand.
The pressure continued unabated as the home side won a series of corner kicks before Jack Iredale bravely blocked a shot from Reo Hatate.
Despite Celtic’s dominance they had mainly been limited to shots from distance and we reminded them of our attacking prowess on the counter when Josh Campbell’s quickly taken throw-in released Kieron Bowie into the box and from his snapshot, Kasper Schmechiel saved at his near post.
Thereafter was a period of us proving stubborn to breakdown as we contained Celtic brilliantly as the home players and supporters grew frustrated.
Yet, on 34 minutes, things started to unravel for us when Nicky Cadden went down innocuously and he had to be replaced by Jordan Obita.
Moments after play got back underway Celtic should have taken the lead when Hatate’s through ball released Maeda, only for the Japan international to blaze his shot over the crossbar with only Smith to beat.
Unfortunately, the breakthrough was delayed only two minutes as Maeda made no mistake from the rebound after a point-blank save from Smith had denied Kühn. The forward reacting quickest to notch his 27th goal of the campaign.
Celtic sought a quick-fire second goal and it took a stunning save from the impressive Smith to stop Hatate finding the top-right corner of his goal as the home side finished the first half strongly.
Neither side made any changes during the interval as the second period started where the first had left off with Celtic in the ascendancy.
Jota was the first to threaten when he slalomed his way down the left, cut inside and drew a save from Smith at his near post.
On 59 minutes, Kühn was sent clean through on goal and looked certain to add to his side’s lead before Iredale did brilliantly to track back and poke the ball away from the winger as he set himself to strike.
The pressure was relentless and moments later Celtic had another huge opportunity when Alastair Johnstone’s driven delivery flashed across the face of our goal and Maeda uncharacteristically poked it wide at the back post with the goal at his mercy.
David Gray sought to freshen up our side up and replaced both Bowie and Moriah-Welsh with Dwight Gayle and Dylan Levitt.
We had defended resolutely throughout however we were struggling to create anything meaningful at the other end as Celtic continued to dominate.
Left-back Schlupp was next to go close for the home side when he stepped inside off the flank and fired just wide with a low effort.
With 12 minutes remaining we threw caution to the wind and brought on Junior Hoilett and Elie Youan however time-and-again we found ourselves in good positions only for our final ball to let us down.
Celtic were then able to hit us on the counterattack and should’ve made sure of victory when Maeda picked out substitute Yang but with only Smith to beat he sent a poor shot wide.
In the first minute of time added on Celtic finally put the game beyond us when Luke McCowan’s cut back was slotted away by Idah to send his side to Hampden and us out of the competition.
Celtic could’ve added a third in the 95th minute when Maeda ghosted in behind Miller to reach Hatate’s through ball, he took it beyond Smith and appeared certain to score only for the goalkeeper to recover with a terrific save to thwart him.