Celtic stormed into the Scottish Cup semi finals with another relentless, remorseless show of attacking football to end Hearts’ interest in the competition.
Ange Postecoglou’s side dominated at Tynecastle from the first whistle and could have won by a greater margin than the three goals scored by Aaron Mooy, Kyogo and Cameron Carter-Vickers. The visitors blew their hosts away with the intensity of their start, rampaging down the left almost straight from kick-off, Sead Haksabanovic - in for Daizen Maeda - getting in behind Michael Smith to set up a shooting chance for Reo Hatate and the midfielder thunderous effort was touched over the top by Jambos’ captain for the day, Zander Clark.
Postecoglou’s disappointment at not going a goal up in the first minute was forgotten when they went ahead in the second minute. This time the danger came from Jota on the right and when the Portuguese delivered his cross, Mooy met it first time to slam a 12 yard shot high past the keeper.
Hearts got through the initial spell without further damage but spent most of the time just trying to get close down their opponents until they broke with real intent in the 23rd minute and almost levelled. A Jorge Grant ball into the box was nodded down for Toby Sibbick to smash a fierce shot towards the bottom corner, only for Joe Hart to plunge low to his left and get a strong hand to it. The keeper copped a sore one as Josh Ginnelly tried to get in on the rebound but the ball stayed out.
Ten minutes from the break, Hearts had their keeper to thank for keeping them in touch. Clark came out to block Hatate’s shot from eight yards and while the Japanese should have scored, it was still a fine a save. On the stroke of the interval, just as Hearts were edging back into the contest, Kyogo killed them off with a typically sharp finish inside the six yard box. The striker had barely had a touch of the ball but one was enough as Alastair Johnston delivered a low cross in from the right after being sent away by Mooy.
Carl Starfelt stayed indoors at the break with Yuki Kobayashi replacing him but it was his defensive partner Carter-Vickers who went in the book at the start of the second half for clattering Stephen Kingsley. Kobayashi looks as comfortable as his team-mates as they controlled the second half without getting out of third gear. Hearts for all their effort, just couldn’t lay a glove on Celtic and the third goal, 10 minutes from time, completed the formality of the victory.
Appropriately, it came from the head of Carter-Vickers, who had been a rock in his own box and transferred those skills to the other end, powering home a header from sub Matt O’Riley’s free kick. Here's three things we learned from Gorgie.
Magnificent Mooy
Another goal and another superb display from Aaron Mooy in the heart of the Celtic midfield. And another reminder that Rangers had the chance to sign him after he trained at Auchenhowie in the summer, only for the Ibrox recruitment team to decide that he didn’t suit their profile.
Well, he suits Celtic’s alright. Comfortable in possession, capable of making a tackle and grabbing a goal as he did in the second minute with a perfectly timed run into the box from the middle of the park to crash Jota’s cross into the top corner. The likes of Jota, Kyogo and Reo Hatate might provide the flair and finesse but Mooy is fast becoming the main man in that very slick Celtic midfield.
Hurting Hearts
A look at the players Robbie Neilson DIDN’T have available to him underlined the size of the task. Craig Gordon and Craig Halkett missing from the defence, Robert Snodgrass, Beni Beningame and Peter Haring from the midfield and Liam Boyce, Lawrence Shankland, Stephen Humphreys and Gary Mackay-Steven were the forwards who watched on from the stands. The Jambos’ midfield really missed the calming influence of Snodgrass and were guilty of wasting possession on the odd occasion when they got the chance to build the play, Ultimately, there were just too many starters unavailable to the manager and against a team of Celtic’s quality, it proved a step too far.
Sizzling Celts
The Green Machine rolls on relentlessly. On paper, other than Ibrox this should have been the toughest cup tie Celtic could have faced but they turned up at Tynecastle with their game face on and within seconds of the start it was obvious that Hearts were in for a torrid 90 minutes. The pace and movement from middle to front was simply too much for a one-paced Hearts midfield to handle and when the ability of Taylor and Johnston to cut inside are added to the mix, the outcome was never in doubt.
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