🏆 Celtic's second string shine in Premier Sports Cup win at Ross County | OneFootball

Holders Celtic cruised into the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup despite fielding a largely second string side in Dingwall.

Scorers: Iacovitti 68′; McGregor 21′, Giakoumakis 26′, Maeda 73′, Forrest 90′

Ange Postecoglou made nine changes from the side which won 9-0 at Tannadice three days previously but they almost took a second minute lead despite the turnover when Stephen Welsh crashed a header against the bar from David Turnbull’s delivery.

Three minutes later, it was Turnbull’s turn to rue the woodwork as he saw a deflected free-kick loop off the crossbar but eventually it was one of the midfielder’s set-pieces which did lead to the opener on 21 minutes.

He steered a corner into the near post where captain Callum McGregor pounced unmarked to divert the ball home via a deflection as Gavin Strachan’s set-piece tactics paid off again.

The second followed swiftly as Giorgos Giakoumakis made up for absence through illness on Sunday by cutting onto his left foot from the edge of the area and firing low into the corner of the net.

But County rallied after that set back and midway through the second half they levelled when Jordan White flicked down in the area for Alex Iacovitti to stoop and nod in his second goal of the season in this fixture.

Any hopes of a grandstand finish were dashed within five minutes though as Daizen Maeda pounced on a spilled shot in the area to net and the Bhoys finished with a flourish when, after Sead Hakšabanović shone in a brief cameo, captain James Forrest capped off a fine team goal with a close range finish to end in style.

The draw will follow tonight.