Celtic 5 – 2 Falkirk

Celtic survived a scare in opposition to Championship aspect Falkirk, coming from behind to progress to the League Cup semi-finals with a 5-2 win.

The Hoops have been on a excessive after their spectacular Champions League win in midweek nevertheless it was the Bairns, unbeaten in 43 league video games, who took the lead as Ross MacIver despatched a formidable strike past Kasper Schmeichel.

Paulo Bernardo volleyed in to equalise 10 minutes later, however Falkirk continued to impress with Finn Yeats heading them again in entrance earlier than the break.

Adam Idah scored twice in two minutes to place Celtic forward for the primary time with Nicolas Kuhn additionally including a double to ship them into the final 4 of the competitors.

They are going to play Aberdeen within the semi-finals on the weekend of November 2/3, with Rangers taking up Motherwell.

Celtic survive hardest take a look at of season to safe Hampden return

Brendan Rodgers’ aspect impressed from the primary whistle of their Champions League opener, however the Bairns have been in no temper to be the subsequent workforce to be steamrollered at Parkhead.

James Forrest threatened first with Nicky Hogarth turning his close-range effort previous the publish earlier than Falkirk shocked them with the opener within the eleventh minute. Alex Valle did not clear the ball and MacIver despatched a superb strike past Schmeichel from exterior the penalty space.

Moments later Alfredo Agyeman ought to have made it two solely to scuff his angled shot effectively broad.

Bernardo settled some nerves among the many dwelling followers within the twenty second minute when he volleyed within the equaliser from Valle’s header

However the Bairns weren’t rattled and Yeats despatched a looping shot simply broad quickly after.

Idah then regarded to place Celtic forward however Liam Henderson stood agency to permit Hogarth to smother the ball.

Calvin Miller compelled Schmeichel right into a save as Falkirk continued to battle, then, with the Celtic defence sleeping, Yeats headed in from shut vary to place them again in entrance because the away part erupted after a fast VAR examine confirmed he was onside.

Bernardo had the possibility to tug Celtic degree once more simply after half-time when he stood over the ball simply exterior the field, however he despatched his free-kick excessive over the bar.

Rodgers had seen sufficient from his beginning XI and made 4 adjustments with file signing Arne Engels approaching alongside Greg Taylor, Hyun-Jun Yang and Nicolas Kuhn.

Falkirk misplaced their two goalscorers to harm with Gary Oliver and Michael McKenna approaching earlier than ‘keeper Hogarth reacted to push a fierce shot from Yang clear.

Celtic then appeared to search out their groove.

Idah tapped dwelling Kuhn’s ball to degree the sport then, after a VAR examine for offside, the pair mixed once more with the striker slotting in his second purpose in two minutes.

With the hosts now trying much more comfy, Kuhn despatched Engels’ ball into the online within the 82nd minute earlier than drilling dwelling their fifth quickly after as they accomplished their turnaround for a convincing scoreline.

Rodgers takes blame for ‘disconnected’ Celtic begin

Brendan Rodgers was requested at full-time if that was Celtic’s hardest take a look at of the season:

“Sure, I assumed Falkirk have been wonderful. I used to be anticipating it, to be honest, which is why we tried to freshen the workforce up, as a result of they provide good vitality and transfer the ball effectively, in order that they work you.

“It was a bit bit disconnected for the primary 60 minutes, and that is on me, it is not on the gamers. Whenever you make eight adjustments like that…I wished to get some gamers in and play within the stadium, get of their first minutes of the season, taking part in with the workforce.

“In some moments, we regarded good, and in different moments, there was simply that little little bit of hesitancy. That comes from simply not taking part in a lot. However we knew we at all times had the bench to tug on if we wanted it, particularly in that final half-hour the place Falkirk put a lot into the sport, after which the vitality can possibly simply begin to get sucked a wee bit.

“We might then put some pace and tempo and rhythm into the sport, and by the tip, we have been superb. It is an enormous credit score to John, his gamers and his workers, as a result of I had an actual pleasure analysing them and seeing how they play, and seeing how they decide to attacking soccer.”

McGlynn stuffed with reward for battling Bairns

Falkirk boss John McGlynn:

“Enjoying in opposition to a workforce like Celtic, a giant park on the market, their legs have been in all probability going to finish up coming off a bit bit and I believe that is what occurred.

“Celtic uncovered us with the way in which they play and honest play to them however no criticism in any means from myself to those guys.

“They’ve been so good for the membership and for me personally, the way in which they have this file going within the league, the way in which they’ve performed themselves right here.

“It is a huge step up for them to come back right here and play in entrance of a crowd like that, they are not used to doing that.

“We have been taking part in in League One final yr, so it is an enormous praise to our gamers as we speak.”

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