Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final: Falkirk 1-3 Celtic
Celtic kept their treble dreams alive as Falkirk were brushed aside in clinical fashion at Hampden Park, writes Andrew Southwick.It was no-where near their best performance of the season but they ensured there was rarely any chance of a cup upset with a professional show.
Falkirk though will rue they bad luck, with a debateable penalty and a soft free-kick award leading to their downfall.
There had been fears over the size of the crowd, however the Celtic fans were massed around the stadium come kick-off, though most of the noise came from those clad in blue tucked away in the West stand.
Falkirk made their intentions clear right from the coin toss, electing to shoot towards their own support, with every early attack joined by Farid El Alagui encouraging the support to raise the sound levels.
They went up in the 8th minute when Kallum Higginbotham robbed Victor Wanyama in possession. He found El Alagui supporting him on the right, but he sliced his shot wide of Foster's right hand post.
Anthony Stokes, picked ahead of Georgios Samaras, saw his first sight of goal in the 10th minute after Emilio Izaguirre found him with a cute left hand side cross, but the ball was stuck under the Irishman's feet and Falkirk cleared the danger.
A minute later and Celtic had the ball in the net but it was ruled offside. James Forrest found space on the right, cut back to Scott Brown who unleashed a piledriver which Michael McGovern tipped onto the post. The rebound fell to Gary Hooper who blasted it into the roof of the net, but the flag was up instantly.
After hitting the post, next Celtic hit the crossbar. Joe Ledley refused to give up on a long ball and won the corner off Jay Fulton. From the resulting cross, Thomas Rogne headed down and off the bar with McGovern beaten.
The first yellow card of the day went to Stewart Murdoch in the 22nd minute, who lunged in late on Scott Brown in a challenge that didn't need to be made.
Falkirk were finding themselves in Celtic's half regularly, and Fraser Forster had to be alert in the 24th minute as Falkirk broke forward again; Fulton hitting the byline and delivering a dangerous cross that Weatherston wasn't far from getting the head to before the goalkeeper's intervention.
Celtic took the lead in the 26th minute through the penalty spot, leaving Falkirk manager Stephen Pressley furious. As a Charlie Mulgrew corner swung in the referee instantly blew the whistle and booked Darren Dods, who had wrestled Thomas Rogne to the floor, although it seemed to be Mulgrew's cross was going no-where near either player.
Captain Brown made no mistake, sending McGovern the wrong way.
After that Falkirk's heads went down, and the Hoops were happy to keep a hold of the ball and knock it about for fun, with Forrest in particular keen to ask questions down the right. It looked as if Falkirk would have taken a 1-0 deficit going into the break.
With five minutes to go though they were back level, seconds after almost finding themselves two down. Hooper made a mug of Murray Wallace on the right and found Stokes, but Dods made amends for the penalty and blocked his shot.
The Bairns raced forward on the counter attack. Higginbotham did well to sidestep his marker, and played through Fulton who had drifted unnoticed into the Celtic box, and he steered the ball low past Forster.
The son of ex-Celt Steve Fulton raced towards the jubilant Falkirk support, as his dad bounced around the stand in delight.
That provoked a reaction from Celtic. Victor Wanyama won a cheap free-kick, which Brown despatched towards the far post, and an unnmarked Rogne should really have done better.
Suddenly we had a cup tie. Back came Falkirk. Higginbotham found El Alagui, who stepped inside and fired a right foot shot at goal, but a defender's leg took the sting out of it.
Again Celtic came forward. Gary Hooper drove through the middle, played through Forrest who had raced clear on the right, but McGovern was able to narrow the angle and block.
Falkirk manager Stephen Pressley found himself sent to the stand at half-time for his protests at referee Euan Norris. Emilio Izaguirre also found himself in Hampden's plush seats as Ki Sung Yueng replaced him at the break.
Celtic though started the second half slowly, and it was Falkirk who created the first chance of the opening exchanges. David Weatherston sent in a ball towards the back post where poor marking allowed Fulton an opportunity to grab his second, but his shot was blocked by his own player Al Alagui and deflected over.
The woodwork was Falkirk's friend again in the 54th minute. James Forrest hit byline and won the corner. Mulgrew swung it in and after Wanyama initially got his head to it, Rogne cracked it off the bar.
The Bhoys didn't have long to wait until they eventually took the lead in the 56th minute. Wanyama won the free-kick, and Stokes expertly clipped it into the near corner.
Falkirk had gone back into their shell, and Ki fired in a shot similar to the strike that opened the scoring in the 2011 Scottish Cup final, but this time McGovern was equal to it.
Good play from Keiran Duffie brought Falkirk back to life in the 66th minute. Drifting in from the right he was able to bring the ball into the box, but after tussling with Wanyama the ball fell to Alston who fired a poor effort wide.
It was Duffie though who wasted a great chance five minutes later. Murdoch found him with an perfectly weighed pass down the right, but Duffie blasted the ball high and wide.
You started to feel Falkirk may have a goal in them though as they began to step it up. Weatherston curled a great ball to Higginbotham, who had recovered from a boot to the face from Wanyama moments earlier to win the corner. From the resulting cross from Mark Millar, Dods then Murdoch both saw efforts blocked by the Bhoys defence.
Then it was Stokes turn to see an effort blocked, with Duffie getting in the way of his effort as Celtic counter attacked.
Falkirk were finding luck down the right hand side, and Weatherston did well to hold off Wanyama and fire a low ball across the middle, but the Bairns just couldn't get anyone far enough forward in time.
It was all over bar the shouting with five minutes left. Gary Hooper, who had been quiet, expertly turned Wallace and drove low for Stokes who had an easy finish into an empty net.
Celtic's forgotten man Kris Commons was given the last few minutes by Neil Lennon, and nearly grabbed a league cup semi-final goal, just like he had on his debut a year ago. He charged forward but lobbed over McGovern's goal.
The Hoops now had their tails up and looked to book their place in the final in style in injury time. Forrest and Ki exchanged passes to open Falkirk up but McGovern got to Ki's through ball just before the young Celtic winger.
Falkirk made their intentions clear right from the coin toss, electing to shoot towards their own support, with every early attack joined by Farid El Alagui encouraging the support to raise the sound levels.
They went up in the 8th minute when Kallum Higginbotham robbed Victor Wanyama in possession. He found El Alagui supporting him on the right, but he sliced his shot wide of Foster's right hand post.
Anthony Stokes, picked ahead of Georgios Samaras, saw his first sight of goal in the 10th minute after Emilio Izaguirre found him with a cute left hand side cross, but the ball was stuck under the Irishman's feet and Falkirk cleared the danger.
A minute later and Celtic had the ball in the net but it was ruled offside. James Forrest found space on the right, cut back to Scott Brown who unleashed a piledriver which Michael McGovern tipped onto the post. The rebound fell to Gary Hooper who blasted it into the roof of the net, but the flag was up instantly.
After hitting the post, next Celtic hit the crossbar. Joe Ledley refused to give up on a long ball and won the corner off Jay Fulton. From the resulting cross, Thomas Rogne headed down and off the bar with McGovern beaten.
The first yellow card of the day went to Stewart Murdoch in the 22nd minute, who lunged in late on Scott Brown in a challenge that didn't need to be made.
Falkirk were finding themselves in Celtic's half regularly, and Fraser Forster had to be alert in the 24th minute as Falkirk broke forward again; Fulton hitting the byline and delivering a dangerous cross that Weatherston wasn't far from getting the head to before the goalkeeper's intervention.
Celtic took the lead in the 26th minute through the penalty spot, leaving Falkirk manager Stephen Pressley furious. As a Charlie Mulgrew corner swung in the referee instantly blew the whistle and booked Darren Dods, who had wrestled Thomas Rogne to the floor, although it seemed to be Mulgrew's cross was going no-where near either player.
Captain Brown made no mistake, sending McGovern the wrong way.
After that Falkirk's heads went down, and the Hoops were happy to keep a hold of the ball and knock it about for fun, with Forrest in particular keen to ask questions down the right. It looked as if Falkirk would have taken a 1-0 deficit going into the break.
With five minutes to go though they were back level, seconds after almost finding themselves two down. Hooper made a mug of Murray Wallace on the right and found Stokes, but Dods made amends for the penalty and blocked his shot.
The Bairns raced forward on the counter attack. Higginbotham did well to sidestep his marker, and played through Fulton who had drifted unnoticed into the Celtic box, and he steered the ball low past Forster.
The son of ex-Celt Steve Fulton raced towards the jubilant Falkirk support, as his dad bounced around the stand in delight.
That provoked a reaction from Celtic. Victor Wanyama won a cheap free-kick, which Brown despatched towards the far post, and an unnmarked Rogne should really have done better.
Suddenly we had a cup tie. Back came Falkirk. Higginbotham found El Alagui, who stepped inside and fired a right foot shot at goal, but a defender's leg took the sting out of it.
Again Celtic came forward. Gary Hooper drove through the middle, played through Forrest who had raced clear on the right, but McGovern was able to narrow the angle and block.
Falkirk manager Stephen Pressley found himself sent to the stand at half-time for his protests at referee Euan Norris. Emilio Izaguirre also found himself in Hampden's plush seats as Ki Sung Yueng replaced him at the break.
Celtic though started the second half slowly, and it was Falkirk who created the first chance of the opening exchanges. David Weatherston sent in a ball towards the back post where poor marking allowed Fulton an opportunity to grab his second, but his shot was blocked by his own player Al Alagui and deflected over.
The woodwork was Falkirk's friend again in the 54th minute. James Forrest hit byline and won the corner. Mulgrew swung it in and after Wanyama initially got his head to it, Rogne cracked it off the bar.
The Bhoys didn't have long to wait until they eventually took the lead in the 56th minute. Wanyama won the free-kick, and Stokes expertly clipped it into the near corner.
Falkirk had gone back into their shell, and Ki fired in a shot similar to the strike that opened the scoring in the 2011 Scottish Cup final, but this time McGovern was equal to it.
Good play from Keiran Duffie brought Falkirk back to life in the 66th minute. Drifting in from the right he was able to bring the ball into the box, but after tussling with Wanyama the ball fell to Alston who fired a poor effort wide.
It was Duffie though who wasted a great chance five minutes later. Murdoch found him with an perfectly weighed pass down the right, but Duffie blasted the ball high and wide.
You started to feel Falkirk may have a goal in them though as they began to step it up. Weatherston curled a great ball to Higginbotham, who had recovered from a boot to the face from Wanyama moments earlier to win the corner. From the resulting cross from Mark Millar, Dods then Murdoch both saw efforts blocked by the Bhoys defence.
Then it was Stokes turn to see an effort blocked, with Duffie getting in the way of his effort as Celtic counter attacked.
Falkirk were finding luck down the right hand side, and Weatherston did well to hold off Wanyama and fire a low ball across the middle, but the Bairns just couldn't get anyone far enough forward in time.
It was all over bar the shouting with five minutes left. Gary Hooper, who had been quiet, expertly turned Wallace and drove low for Stokes who had an easy finish into an empty net.
Celtic's forgotten man Kris Commons was given the last few minutes by Neil Lennon, and nearly grabbed a league cup semi-final goal, just like he had on his debut a year ago. He charged forward but lobbed over McGovern's goal.
The Hoops now had their tails up and looked to book their place in the final in style in injury time. Forrest and Ki exchanged passes to open Falkirk up but McGovern got to Ki's through ball just before the young Celtic winger.
Celtic will now look to complete the first part of what would be a historic treble when they face Kilmarnock in the final.
Falkirk: McGovern, Duffie, Scobbie, Dods, Wallace, Murdoch, Weatherston (White 85), Millar, El Alagui, Higgingbotham (Sibbald 90), Fulton (Alston 62).
Subs: Bennett, Bowman.
Celtic: Forster, Izaguirre (Ki 45), Brown, Stokes (Commons 86), Du Ri (Matthews 68), Ledley, Mulgrew, Rogne, Forrest, Wanyama, Hooper.
Subs: Samaras, Zaluska.
Referee: Euan Norris
Attendance: 30,000
Falkirk: McGovern, Duffie, Scobbie, Dods, Wallace, Murdoch, Weatherston (White 85), Millar, El Alagui, Higgingbotham (Sibbald 90), Fulton (Alston 62).
Subs: Bennett, Bowman.
Celtic: Forster, Izaguirre (Ki 45), Brown, Stokes (Commons 86), Du Ri (Matthews 68), Ledley, Mulgrew, Rogne, Forrest, Wanyama, Hooper.
Subs: Samaras, Zaluska.
Referee: Euan Norris
Attendance: 30,000
Add comment
