Daizen Maeda Hat-Trick Leads Celtic to Scottish Cup Semifinals

Celtic secured a hard fought 4-2 victory against Livingston in the Scottish Cup quarter-final with Daizen Maeda netting a hat-trick. Despite a challenging match, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was pleased with the win acknowledging the absence of key players.

Livingston displayed resilience, twice equalizing but Celtic depth proved crucial. Rodgers credited Livingston for a spirited performance and their manager David Martindale expressed disappointment despite a competitive showing. Celtic advances to the semi-final aiming for their 42nd Scottish Cup title.

The victory comes after Celtic recent league defeat and sets up a clash with St Johnstone. Livingston focusing on Premiership survival faces Hibernian in their next fixture.