Five-star Celts book their place in Scottish Cup final | OneFootball

Scottish Cup semi-finalSunday, April 20, 2025Hampden Park, Glasgow

CELTIC… 5(McGregor 33, Maeda 37, 45, Idah 44, Jota 67)

ST JOHNSTONE… 0

Celtic cruised into the Scottish Cup final with a comprehensive 5-0 victory over St Johnstone at Hampden.

Inspired by captain, Callum McGregor, the Hoops swept their opponents aside in the sunshine to set up a cup final clash with Aberdeen next month.

Brendan Rodgers’ side pressed forward from the first whistle as they looked to establish an early lead, with James Forrest looking dangerous down the right flank.

And the Hoops winger had a couple of shots from the edge of the box, going close with a low effort from inside the ‘D’ which went narrowly wide.

With 25 minutes gone, Cameron Carter-Vickers looked to replicate his goalscoring heroics from last weekend, but his shot from 23 yards out went high and wide.

But with just over half an hour gone, Celtic took the lead through Callum McGregor.

The Hoops pounced on a poor goal-kick from St Johnstone, with Forrest feeding the ball inside to Reo Hatate. He, in turn, rolled it to his captain who surged into the area and guided the ball into the net with a precise left-foot shot for his 10th goal of the season.

On 37 minutes, Daizen Maeda doubled Celtic’s lead, with McGregor the provider, having played a one-two with Adam Idah before slotting the ball into the path of Maeda.

With a minute of the half remaining, Adam Idah made it 3-0. Liam Scales played a superb pass through the inside-left channel for Reo Hatate, and his clipped ball was nudged into the net from close range by the Irishman.

But the scoring wasn’t finished for the half, as Maeda made it 4-0 with his 33rd goal of the season, firing a low, left-shoot shot beyond the St Johnstone keeper and into the net.

Celtic almost extended their lead after just three minutes of the second half when James Forrest flashed a low cross into the area, but Adam Idah couldn’t connect with the ball.

St Johnstone, who had offered no attacking threat, suddenly produced an effort from outside the area which produced a superb save from Viljami Sinisalo, although the offside flag was subsequently raised.

On 53 minutes, St Johnstone did have the ball in the net when substitute, Mackenzie Kirk unleashed an unstoppable shot from 30 yards out, but a VAR check ruled out the goal for a foul on Adam Idah in the middle of the park in the build-up to the goal.

The Perth side did have VAR to thank on the hour mark after the referee pointed to the spot for a foul on James Forrest, but he subsequently changed the decision following a VAR check.

However, the Hoops did make it 5-0 in the 67th minute. Alistair Johnston curled a great cross to the back post after being set up by Nicolas Kuhn and Jota knocked the ball into the net from a tight angle.

Daizen Maeda had a chance for a second Hampden hat-trick after his treble in the League Cup semi-final win over Aberdeen but his shot from just inside the area went over the bar.

And Maeda then combined with Jota, for the Portuguese winger to fire just wide of the target.

In the end, Celtic were comfortable winners as they took a step closer to retaining the Scottish Cup. Now, the focus returns to the league and the chance to clinch the Premiership title at Tannadice next weekend.