Celtic 4-2 Livingston: Three things we learned

By Ethan Barlow

Daizen Maeda had one of his best performances in a Celtic shirt, leading to the Celts’ semi-final place (Image: Getty Images)

Celtic booked their place at Hampden for the first time this season with the help of a Daizen Maeda hat-trick and Kyogo’s late goal after coming off the bench. The Scottish top flight’s worst team struck back twice, but late goals from Maeda and Kyogo secured the Hoops’ semi-final ticket, where they will meet either Aberdeen, Rangers or Greenock Morton/Hearts. Here were the key takeaways from Celtic’s quarter-final triumph:

Celtic are still in the running to defend their Scottish Cup

Brendan Rodgers’ flawless Scottish Cup record is still intact (Image: Getty Images)

Celtic left it slightly later than many would have expected, playing a very-below-par Livingston team who are massive favourites to face relegation. Despite conceding twice, Celtic got the job done as their dream of a league and a cup double goes on.

David Martindale would have been looking to keep things tight at the back early on, but that went out the window after just seven minutes when Maeda broke the deadlock. January signing, Nicolas Kuhn got the nod and rewarded Brendan Rodgers with a brilliant ball over the top from deep as the Japanese international snuck in behind Michael Nottingham, timing his run perfectly to control Kuhn’s ball before dispatching his effort past Michael McGovern.

Within five minutes of Celtic’s opener, Livingston had an equaliser. Daniel MacKay was surprised when, after receiving a long ball from Christian Montano, he had the freedom of Celtic’s penalty area. The Hibs loanee’s run down Celtic’s right channel wasn’t picked up and a touch wasn’t required before thundering his strike into the roof of Joe Hart’s goal. MacKay scored Inverness’ only goal in last season's Scottish Cup final against Celtic.

Celtic retook the lead halfway through the first half. In a series of play where Matt O’Riley had two attempts at goal. After the midfielder’s first effort was blocked, he chased down a sleeping Livi defence to win the ball back. His second attempt stung the gloves of the Hearts’ loanee goalkeeper, who could only parry the shot straight to Maeda who directed his diving header goalwards and despite getting a glove on it, the former Northern Ireland number one couldn’t keep it out.

Livingston found a second equaliser 10 minutes into the second period. Tete Yengi timed his run in behind the Celtic defence perfectly, and although O’Riley was able to slow the Australian striker down, he got a yard on the Danish international and unleashed a perfect strike into the far corner, to leave Celtic Park silenced again. Yengi already has five Livingston goals since signing from Finnish club KuPS in January.

Despite it not being a terrible Celtic performance, it looked as if Livingston had scraped a draw to take the champions to extra time. Becoming a common theme for Martindale, Livingston conceded yet another late goal when Maeda finished off a well-worked Celtic move, along with finishing his hat-trick. Fellow countryman Tomoki Iwata played a one-two with Alastair Johnston before firing across the area for a chance that Maeda couldn’t miss. But the former Yokohama man maybe proved he could of, as minutes after Celtic’s third, Maeda and Celtic should have had a fourth. A carbon copy of the previous move saw Maeda’s effort crash off the bar from just a few yards out.

Second-half substitute Kyogo wrapped up the win for Celtic when he added a fourth with almost the last kick before Willie Collum’s whistle. Kyogo timed his run perfectly to finish beyond McGovern to relieve any nervy Celtic fans in the ground. Everyone involved at Celtic Park will hope this goal sparks the league’s most lethal marksman into life, after a so far lacklustre campaign.

Maeda Magic

Maeda with his Player of the Match trophy (Image: Getty Images)

Daizen Maeda marked his 100th Celtic appearance with his first treble of goals for the club. Maeda had previously been unable to hit the heights of last season (like many Celts), with just five goals and eight goal involvements so far this season, which falls far below his 18 from last campaign and even below his 21/22 half-season tally of 13. Maeda’s hat-trick moves him up to eight goals and 11 goal involvements for the season, and he will aim to beat his total from last season with Celtic playing up to 11 times before the summer.

Maeda has often been criticised for his lack of skill and natural goalscoring ability, but he showed the goalscoring prowess which brought his impressive 23-goal 2021 Yokohama F. Marinos season. Whatever Maeda may lack in skill he brings in being one of, if not the most willing runner in the country. Usually credited for his industry out of possession, his positive runs when Celtic had the ball gave him his deserved rewards in front of goal.

Celtic’s defensive woes continue

Daniel MacKay breached the Celtic defence (Image: Getty Images)

Celtic have the second-best defensive record in Scotland this season but watching their last five showings, that would come as a surprise. The Bhoys’ five-game stretch without a clean sheet started with David Watson’s late equaliser at Celtic Park for Kilmarnock. Alexandro Bernabei’s weak defending allowed an easy header for the Killie youngster and the Argentinian full-back has since been sent on loan to Brazilian side Internacional. Blair Spittal’s opening strike at Fir Park could be classed as a good goal, but even when Celtic managed to score seven against Dundee, they still couldn’t keep the back door shut and were lucky to avoid conceding more than just one.

A soft red card and a handball penalty at Tynecastle may have altered anything serious being taken away from those displays concerning Celtic’s defensive capabilities. But the showing at home to the joint weakest top-flight team in front of goal this season was probably the worst of the bunch and possibly the worst this season. It was never as if Livingston were constantly knocking on Joe Hart’s door, but it was almost as if the only two (terribly defended) attacks they had, they scored. There’s no doubt that Celtic missed Cameron Carter-Vickers and Callum McGregor both sidelined with injuries.