Nicolas Kuhn inspires Celtic to quarter-final victory over impressive Falkirk

The William Hill Championship’s high facet deservedly led on the break after Ross MacIver and Finn Yeats twice gave them the lead both facet of Paulo Bernardo’s highly effective strike for a much-changed Celtic staff.

Kuhn was one in every of 4 substitutes to enter on the hour mark and he twice arrange Adam Idah for a quickfire double to show the sport on its head earlier than the German winger netted twice himself.

The scoreline was harsh on a Falkirk facet who arguably posed Celtic their hardest problem of the season earlier than the ultimate 20 minutes.

The sport pitted Brendan Rodgers in opposition to a former member of his backroom staff from his first spell at Celtic Park, John McGlynn.

The previous Hearts supervisor has led Falkirk on a 43-game unbeaten league run which has taken them from League One to the highest of the Championship following 5 wins from 5 this season. The Bairns had knocked out Hearts within the earlier spherical.

Rodgers made eight adjustments following Wednesday’s 5-1 Champions League win over Slovan Bratislava as Alex Valle made his debut and former Sheffield United centre-back Auston Trusty was handed his first begin.

On-loan Barcelona left-back Valle delivered an help however was outmuscled earlier than each Falkirk targets.

Alistair Johnston and Cameron Carter-Vickers missed out by means of harm and the one gamers to retain their locations have been Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and former Falkirk participant Kasper Schmeichel.

Bernardo was filled with vitality within the opening phases and he arrange James Forrest for an early curling effort which drew a fingertip save from Nicky Hogarth.

The guests weren’t overawed although and have been taking part in the ball round with confidence from the again.

They took the lead within the eleventh minute. Valle might solely head Dylan Tait’s diagonal ball to the ft of MacIver earlier than being knocked off stability by Alfie Agyeman. MacIver fired a strong shot from 22 yards which beat Schmeichel.

Celtic levelled 10 minutes later when Valle headed Hatate’s lofted go again to Bernardo, who powered a first-time volley into the roof of the web.

The hosts couldn’t construct on their aim although. Yeats volleyed extensive and former Celtic midfielder Calvin Miller pressured a save earlier than the Bairns shocked Celtic Park once more in stoppage time.

Valle went down in a heap as he tried to jockey Agyeman and the extensive participant crossed for Yeats to produce an ideal headed end. There was a prolonged VAR verify however for offside and the aim stood.

Rodgers retained religion in his beginning line-up however there was little signal that Celtic might break by means of an organised Falkirk facet and the Celtic supervisor introduced on Kuhn, Arne Engels, Greg Taylor and Yang Hyun-jun, whereas the Bairns misplaced each goalscorers to harm.

Yang pressured a save and the equaliser got here within the seventieth minute. Anthony Ralston performed Kuhn into the left channel following a brief nook and the winger drove the ball throughout the six-yard line for Idah to faucet dwelling.

Kuhn received the ball again inside 4 seconds of the restart earlier than organising Idah, who burst between two challenges and slotted dwelling.

Kuhn then produced a pleasant end following an Engels by means of ball within the 81st minute earlier than drilling dwelling a first-time strike from 22 yards three minutes later.

There was an extra blow for Falkirk within the final minute when substitute Michael McKenna was proven a straight pink card for a excessive problem on Ralston.