Holders Celtic are given an almighty fright by Livingston before reaching their the Scottish Cup semi-finals as Daizen Maeda grabs a hat-trick.
Holders Celtic were given an almighty fright by Livingston before reaching their ninth Scottish Cup semi-final in 10 years thanks to two late goals.Celtic were looking to recover from last weekend's league defeat at Hearts, but the Premiership's bottom side threatened another shock as they twice came from behind to level in search of their first-ever win at Celtic Park.
Livingston boss David Martindale admitted he was depressing himself explaining why he had made five, mainly forced, changes but saw a chink of light in the absence of Callum McGregor and Cameron Carter-Vickers.Nicolas Kuhn, handed a start in place of the suspended Yang Hyun-jun, turned in from the touchline and delivered a superb ball behind the visiting defence and fellow winger Maeda provided the clinical finish.
Matt O'Riley pounced to fire a shot off the legs of McGovern and, although the veteran goalkeeper did well to deny the midfielder, he was unable to get enough on Maeda's diving header on the rebound to deny the Japanese international. At the other end, McGovern was performing heroics of his own to thwart Celtic until two substitutes made the difference - James Forrest setting up Maeda for his fourth and Kyogo slotting in the killer fourth.There were a few candidates - Livingston goalkeeper McGovern, goalscoring team-mate Yengi and Celtic's Kuhn - but how can you ignore anyone scoring a hat-trick and coming close to scoring more? Maeda it is.
Martindale had bemoaned his need to field a "makeshift" midfield such were Livingston's absences, but he has made his name from making the most of the players at his disposal - and so it was again.
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