Celtic vs Falkirk – LIVE reaction
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The Celtic train is rolling along nicely after a 100 per cent start to the season and they continued their flawless form despite two scares from an impressive Falkirk side.
Celtic's next stop will be the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals but they twice fell behind, first to Ross MacIver's opener and then to Finn Yeats' header after Paulo Bernardo's venomous volley had temporarily levelled the score.
Unbeaten in the league for a run of 43 games, Falkirk remained determined in their play but the hosts soon made a flurry of subs and two combined to devastating effect to send Celtic through and the expense of John McGlynn's side.
Brendan Rodgers' side eventually overpowered their Championship opponents with a superb cameo off the bench from Nicolas Kuhn. Kuhn assisted both of Idah's strikes after the interval and scored two of his own.
The Bairns have already sprung a surprise in this competition, dumping out sorry Hearts in the last round to set up today's Parkhead showdown. But the champions away from home were a step too far despite their stellar display. Celtic will face Aberdeen in the last four with city rivals Rangers taking on Motherwell in the other semi final tie. in the competition's final four.
Record Sport will be across all the action from Glasgow's East End right here on the LIVE blog.
17:31Robbie Copeland
Brendan Rodgers reckons it's sure to be a cracker when Celtic and Aberdeen face off at Hampden in the semi-finals.
The Hoops and Dons are level on points at the top of the Premiership after flawless starts in both league and cup so far.
It's unlikely both managers will still have 100 per cent records in tact when they meet at the national stadium in six weeks' time.
But Rodgers is thoroughly looking forward to the test.
I'm really looking forward to it. The objective was to get there, it doesn't then matter who you play, it's getting into the semi-final. We were able to do that, so I'm really pleased.
I don't know Jimmy, but results-wise, they've been excellent. I'm sure when it comes around it will be a really good game.
17:12KEY EVENT
Well there we go!
The draw has taken place - Celtic vs Aberdeen, Motherwell vs Rangers!
17:07Anthony Evans
Here are our three major talking points from an action-packed cup tie in Glasgow, where Celtic's manpower from the substitutes bench eventually got the better of John McGlynn's impressive Bairns.
16:51KEY EVENT
Falkirk stunned Celtic Park twice this afternoon but Brendan Rodgers' side eventually overpowered their Championship opponents with a superb cameo off the bench from Nicolas Kuhn.
The second-half sub scored a second-half double, with Kuhn also assisting both of Adam Idah's strikes in the second 45.
Ross MacIver's early strike put John McGlynn's side ahead before it was cancelled out by Paulo Bernardo's sensational volley.
Moments before the interval Finn Yeats sent the visitors back into the lead.
In the second half, Celtic's strength off of the bench was too much for the Championship side.
16:50KEY EVENT
Michael McKenna
The Falkirk player is shown a straight red card for a challenge on Ralston.
16:46Jack Herrall
Falkirk venture forward late into the game but Tait's effort near the penalty spot is stopped well by Schmeichel.
16:45Jack Herrall
Nawrocki replaces Welsh for the final few minutes.
16:43KEY EVENT
Nicolas Kuhn
Kuhn powers in his side's fifth, his second, from the edge of the area with his left foot.
16:42Jack Herrall
Bernardo dukes in from the left and almost gets his side's fifth but Hogarth does well to react to the close-range strike.
16:40KEY EVENT
Nicolas Kuhn
Engels plays Kuhn in one-on-one with a sensational through ball and he dinks it over Hogarth to seal a semi-final spot for the hosts.
16:39Jack Herrall
Can Falkirk stun Celtic again?
It's been pretty much all Celtic since their third goal, with Falkirk unable to get up the pitch with the same speed and incisiveness as the opening 45 - which is understandable.
16:37Jack Herrall
16:34Jack Herrall
Agyeman is off for Falkirk, Ethan Ross is on.
16:32KEY EVENT
Adam Idah
In a flash, Idah pulls Celtic level and now he fires them ahead for the first time this afternoon.
Kuhn plays it inside from the right-hand side to the strike on the edge of the box, he gets past the Falkirk defence on the edge of the box and slots it home coolly.
Great striker play from Idah. Heartbreak for Falkirk.
16:30Jack Herrall
Celtic are officially level and the goal stands.
They are level with 20 minutes to go.
16:28KEY EVENT
Adam Idah
Celebration mixed with relief in Celtic Park!
Ralston's well-weighted pass meets the onrushing Kuhn who drills it across goal for Idah to tap in at the back post.
But was he onside...? There's a VAR check.
16:28Jack Herrall
Yang darts in from the left and plays a neat one-two with McGregor before unleashing a powerful strike at goal.
Hogarth does well meet it and keep it out.
16:27Jack Herrall
16:26Jack Herrall
Celtic work it all the way from Kuhn on the right to Yang on the left touchline as they try to stretch Falkirk across the pitch.
The move works its way back to the right and Bernardo is almost played in on the corner of the box but he can't control it and Falkirk thump it away.
16:21Jack Herrall
Will those changes freshen up the frustrated hosts?
There is a break in play now as Falkirk's Yeats is receiving some treatment on the pitch.
16:19Jack Herrall
16:16Jack Herrall
Bernardo's strike clips the top of the Celtic wall and the hosts have a corner.
The visitors fly up the park on the break with Miller and Agyeman involved.
The latter is judged to have touched the ball out of play as he raced forward but he, nor the Falkirk fans, are too sure.
Premier Sports pundit Michael Stewart is also unsure the whole ball left the field of play there.
16:14Jack Herrall
Gary Oliver replaces to opening goalscorer Ross MacIver who needed some on-field medical attention.
Bernardo now stands over the Celtic free kick...
16:12Jack Herrall
And now Idah himself wins a free kick inside the D of the Falkirk box.
16:11Jack Herrall
Hogarth wins a foul on the edge of his box for a push by Idah after the keeper had released the ball.
Falkirk are happy to build from the back still.
16:08Jack Herrall
Bernardo floats a free kick to Trusty deep inside the area but his header back towards Welsh is dealt with by Falkirk.
16:03Jack Herrall
We're back up and running at Celtic Park.
Can Falkirk maintain their lead?
15:58Jack Herrall
Falkirk's opener was the first time Celtic had been behind this season.
Falkirk's second is the first timeany team has scored two against Brendan Rodgers' side this season.
John McGlynn said his side would look to impose themselves on Celtic as they have to others so far this campaign, and haven't they just.
The Bairns are 45 minutes away from a major cup upset.
15:54Jack Herrall
15:52Jack Herrall
