Celtic booked their place in the Scottish Cup final with a 6-2 extra-time victory over St Mirren at Hampden. After taking a 2-0 first-half lead thanks to goals from Daizen Maeda and Anthony Ralston, St Mirren scored twice in the second-half through Mikael Mandron to put the game into extra-time. But in a blistering first period of extra-time, Martin O’Neill’s side scored four goals without reply to put the tie beyond any doubt and spark scenes of celebration amongst the large Celtic support in the National Stadium. Celtic wanted to get off to a strong start and they couldn’t have asked for any better than a goal from Daizen Maeda inside the first 60 seconds of the game. The Japanese internationalist closed down St Mirren goalkeeper, Ryan Mullen, blocking his attempted clearance, with the ball spinning back and into the net. It wouldn’t be the first time that Maeda caused the St Mirren defence problems with his pace and willingness to put the backline under pressure. And on nine minutes, Arne Engels came close to doubling Celtic’s lead but his shot from the edge of the box hit the post and spun wide. On 15 minutes, St Mirren were forced into an early change when Ryan Mullen had to go off injured, with 17-year-old Grant Tamosevicius coming on. And the teenager soon pulled off a good save to deny first Benjamin Nygren and then moments later, Daizen Maeda. With 30 minutes gone, St Mirren were denied an equaliser when Vil Sinisalo produced a stunning save from a Miguel Freckleton header, while the Finnish goalkeeper had a couple of nervy moments when his clearances were closed down by St Mirren players. But he was able to produce two saves to deny the Paisley side. With a minute remaining, St Mirren again capitalised on slack play at the back by Celtic, but Killian Phillips’ tame effort was wide of the target. And in the third minute of added time, Celtic doubled their lead with a stunning goal. Sebastian Tounekti cut in from the left and rolled the ball across to Yang, who back-heeled it into the path of Anthony Ralston. And he produced a stunning strike which hit the roof of the net to give the Hoops a 2-0 half-time lead. However, the second-half started better for St Mirren as they reduced the deficit on 53 minutes when Mikael Mandron steered his header from eight yards out beyond Vil Sinisalo to make it 2-1. Benjamin Nygren had a chance four minutes later, but his shot went wide of the target in what would prove to be a rare chance in a more nervy second-half. With 15 minutes remaining, St Mirren captain Mark O’Hara headed over from a free-kick, while Sinisalo produced a good stop with three minutes remaining to deny Mandron his second goal of the game as St Mirren searched for an equaliser. And right on the 90-minute mark, Mandron did make it 2-2, latching on to a long ball over the top and firing it beyond Sinisalo. It was a goal which put the game into extra-time, and it was Celtic who took control of the game with a quickfire double. In the fifth minute, Kelecho Iheanacho rose highest at the near post to head home a James Forrest cross and then, just 60 seconds later, Luke McCowan made it 4-2. James Forrest’s pass towards Iheanacho was blocked but the ball fell into the path of McCowan who coolly slotted the ball home. And when Iheanacho curled home a stunning strike from just inside the area in the 100th minute, Celtic supporters could really start celebrating and looking forward to a Scottish Cup final against Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline Athletic side. Before that was another goal just two minutes after that from Benjamin Nygren – his 20th goal of the season – to make it 6-2 in Celtic’s favour. St Mirren’s teenage goalkeeper produced two good saves early in the second period of extra-time to deny first James Forrest and then Iheanacho with what would have been his hat-trick as Celtic continued to press forward in search of more goals. There were to be no further goals in the game, however, and Celtic can now turn their attentions back to league business before the season’s finale at Hampden on May 23. 🍀Subscribe today to the official YouTube of the world’s first Quadruple Treble winners, Celtic Football Club:
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