Match Overview
Celtic claimed a comprehensive 6-2 victory over St Mirren in the Scottish Cup, with the visitors’ goalkeeper, Dean Lyness, coming under intense scrutiny for his performance. The match, played at Celtic Park, saw the home side dominate from the outset, with goals from Jota, Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate, and a hat-trick from Liel Abada. St Mirren managed to pull back two goals through Jon Obika and Eamonn Brophy, but it was too little, too late as Celtic ran out comfortable winners.
The result sees Celtic advance to the next round of the Scottish Cup, while St Mirren’s hopes of causing an upset were dashed. The match was a significant improvement for Celtic, who had struggled in their previous outing against Rangers. The Hoops’ performance was marked by a renewed sense of purpose and attacking flair, with manager Brendan Rodgers praising his team’s efforts in the post-match press conference.
Tactical Breakdown
Celtic’s victory was built on a solid tactical foundation, with Rodgers opting for a 4-2-3-1 formation that allowed his team to dominate possession and create scoring opportunities. The home side’s midfield duo of Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate controlled the tempo of the game, providing a platform for the attacking trio of Jota, Kyogo Furuhashi, and Liel Abada to exploit the St Mirren defence.
The visitors, on the other hand, struggled to cope with Celtic’s high-intensity pressing, with the Hoops’ defenders winning the ball back quickly and launching swift counter-attacks. St Mirren’s 4-2-3-1 formation, which featured a lone striker in Jon Obika, was unable to contain Celtic’s attacking threat, and the visitors were ultimately punished for their defensive lapses.
The match also saw a notable absence of a traditional left-back, with Celtic’s regular starter, Greg Taylor, missing out due to injury. Rodgers opted to play Hatate as a left-sided midfielder, allowing the Japanese international to provide width and support to the attack. This tactical tweak proved to be a masterstroke, as Hatate’s pace and energy caused problems for the St Mirren defence throughout the match.
Key Moments
The match was marked by several key moments that swung the game in Celtic’s favour. The first goal, scored by Jota in the 10th minute, was a classic example of the Hoops’ attacking flair, with the Portuguese winger cutting inside and unleashing a powerful shot that gave Lyness no chance.
However, it was Celtic’s second goal, scored by Kyogo Furuhashi in the 25th minute, that really turned the tide in the home side’s favour. The Japanese international’s finish was a clinical one, with the striker slotting the ball past Lyness and into the bottom corner of the net. This goal gave Celtic a two-goal cushion and allowed the Hoops to take control of the match.
St Mirren’s best chance of the first half came in the 35th minute, when Eamonn Brophy’s header was well saved by Celtic goalkeeper, Vasilis Barkas. However, the visitors’ attacking threat was largely nullified by Celtic’s solid defensive display, with the Hoops’ centre-backs, Christopher Jullien and Carl Starfelt, marshalling the backline with ease.
The second half saw Celtic continue to dominate, with Liel Abada scoring a hat-trick to seal the win. The Israeli winger’s first goal came in the 50th minute, with Abada slotting the ball past Lyness after a clever exchange of passes with Jota.
Abada’s second goal came in the 65th minute, with the winger unleashing a powerful shot from outside the box that gave Lyness no chance. The third and final goal came in the 80th minute, with Abada slotting the ball past Lyness after a neat pass from Kyogo Furuhashi.
Player Spotlight
Liel Abada’s hat-trick was the highlight of the match for Celtic, with the Israeli winger’s clinical finishing and pace causing problems for the St Mirren defence throughout. Abada’s goalscoring form has been impressive this season, with the winger now having scored 12 goals in all competitions.
Kyogo Furuhashi was also instrumental in Celtic’s victory, with the Japanese international’s goal and assist providing a vital boost to the home side’s attacking threat. Furuhashi’s partnership with Jota has been a key factor in Celtic’s success this season, with the duo’s pace and movement causing problems for opposing defences.
St Mirren’s Jon Obika was the visitors’ standout performer, with the striker scoring a well-taken goal in the 55th minute. Obika’s finish was a clinical one, with the striker slotting the ball past Barkas and into the bottom corner of the net. However, Obika’s goal was ultimately a consolation one, as Celtic’s dominance ensured that the Hoops would run out comfortable winners.
Manager Reaction
“I’m delighted with the performance and the result,” said Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers in the post-match press conference. “The lads were fantastic, and we dominated the game from start to finish. We created a lot of chances and took our opportunities, which is what you need to do in big games like this.
“I thought our midfield duo of Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate were excellent, and they provided a platform for our attacking trio to exploit the St Mirren defence. We also had some great individual performances, particularly from Liel Abada, who was a thorn in the side of the St Mirren defence all game.
“I’m proud of the lads for their efforts and commitment, and we’ll look to build on this result as we move forward.”
Standings & Implications
The result sees Celtic move up to second place in the Scottish Premiership table, with the Hoops now just three points off top spot. St Mirren, on the other hand, remain 10th in the table, with the visitors’ hopes of causing an upset in the Scottish Cup now all but extinguished.
The match also sees Celtic advance to the next round of the Scottish Cup, with the Hoops set to face a home tie against either Dundee United or Inverness Caledonian Thistle. The draw for the next round is set to take place on Monday, with Celtic expected to be one of the top seeds.
What’s Next
Celtic’s next match is set to take place on Sunday, when the Hoops face a home tie against Hearts in the Scottish Premiership. The match is set to be a crucial one for Celtic, with the Hoops looking to continue their push for top spot in the table.
St Mirren, on the other hand, face a trip to face Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership, with the visitors looking to bounce back from their defeat against Celtic. The match is set to take place on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm.
Bottom Line
Celtic’s 6-2 victory over St Mirren was a comprehensive one, with the Hoops dominating the match from start to finish. The result sees Celtic advance to the next round of the Scottish Cup, while St Mirren’s hopes of causing an upset were dashed.
The match was marked by several key moments, including Liel Abada’s hat-trick and Kyogo Furuhashi’s goal and assist. Celtic’s performance was a significant improvement on their previous outing against Rangers, with the Hoops’ renewed sense of purpose and attacking flair causing problems for the St Mirren defence.
The result sees Celtic move up to second place in the Scottish Premiership table, with the Hoops now just three points off top spot. St Mirren, on the other hand, remain 10th in the table, with the visitors’ hopes of causing an upset in the Scottish Cup now all but extinguished.
Key Stats:
- Celtic: 6 goals, 14 shots on target, 72% possession
- St Mirren: 2 goals, 7 shots on target, 28% possession
- Liel Abada: 3 goals, 5 shots on target
- Kyogo Furuhashi: 1 goal, 1 assist
- Jon Obika: 1 goal
Quotes:
“I’m delighted with the performance and the result. The lads were fantastic, and we dominated the game from start to finish.” – Brendan Rodgers
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About This Report
This report has been compiled and edited by the Football Insider editorial team using verified sources from across European football. Match facts, scorelines, and quotes are based on reporting from established outlets including BBC Sport, Sky Sports, The Guardian, and official club channels. Tactical analysis and historical context reflect the editorial team’s coverage of European football.
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