Celtic Defeats Hibs 3-1 to Reach Cup Quarters

Celtic advanced to the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals with a convincing 3-1 victory over Hibernian, marking their second win against Hibs in a week. Daizen Maeda scored the opening goal within three minutes and added a second just 13 minutes later, showcasing Celtic’s early dominance. Despite Maeda’s several chances to complete his hat-trick before halftime, Mykola Kuharevich’s superb diving header, following a free-kick by Martin Boyle, pulled Hibs back into the game.

However, Marvin Ekpiteta’s costly error shifted the momentum back to Celtic. Ekpiteta’s weak pass to goalkeeper Josef Bursik allowed Nicolas Kuhn to intercept and score easily as the ball trickled into the net. With Kyogo Furuhashi rested due to a shoulder injury, Adam Idah made a successful return from Norwich, adding to Celtic’s productive afternoon.

Celtic’s performance highlighted their strong start to the season. They put Hibs under constant pressure with aggressive pressing, quick passing and forward runs. Despite a lapse that allowed Hibs back into the game and some missed chances, Celtic’s dominance remained evident. They will face Falkirk in the quarter-finals after Falkirk eliminated Hearts in the last 16.

Hibs faced ongoing struggles under new head coach David Gray. The team’s defensive issues and individual errors led to early goals for Celtic. Gray’s switch to a back three failed to resolve the problems and the team struggled to settle. Gray acknowledged the need for improvement and potential changes, expressing frustration with the repeated mistakes.