Premier Sports Cup: Celtic, Dundee Utd, Motherwell and Kilmarnock reach quarter-finals | Football news
Skipper Callum McGregor saw off Celtic on their way to the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup as the changing side beat Ross County 4-1 at Dingwall.
With games against Rangers and Real Madrid set to take place over the next six days, Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou made nine changes to the team that secured a record 9-0 away win over Dundee United. on Sunday.
But there was little disruption to Celtic’s dominant early-season form as they recorded their sixth win in six games.
McGregor and Giorgos Giakoumakis scored in a one-of-a-kind first-half and Daizen Maeda quickly restored two goals after Alex Iacoviti scored his second goal of the season against the champions.
That allowed Postecoglou to present new signing Sead Haksabanovic for an impressive cameo.
Another substitute, James Forrest, scored his first goal of the season in stoppage time as Celtic scored 21 goals in four away games this season.
Livingston 1-2 Dundee United
Dundee United bounced back from a 9-0 defeat to Celtic and then the sacking of coach Jack Ross to beat Livingston 2-1 and secure a spot in the eighth round of the Premier Sports Cup.
First-half goals from Steven Fletcher and Ian Harkes put the visitors in great control before the hosts, who dominated in the second half, were pulled back by Kurtis Guthrie, making the game more tense.
When the home team were trying to equalize in extra time, Sean Kelly’s free kick hit the post in the last minute of extra time but failed.
Motherwell 4-0 Inverness
Kevin van Veen helped himself to a hat-trick as Motherwell made it through to the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup with a 4-0 all-out win over Inverness.
The Dutch striker scored his fourth consecutive goal in the 9th minute with a close-range finish in Fir Park.
Caley captain Danny Devine scored an own goal in the 26th minute before Van Veen scored from the penalty spot in the 38th and 66th minutes to score seven goals in six games for the English Premier League leaders.
Steven Hammell called for the reaction to their 2-1 defeat to Kilmarnock on Saturday, his first after officially taking charge, and he certainly got that from his team first. champion team Billy Dodds, the team was eliminated by half. -time.
Heart 0-1 Kilmarnock
Innes Cameron scored the winner in the first half as Kilmarnock sealed a spirited 1-0 win over Hearts at Tynecastle to reach the last eight of the Premier Sports Cup.
The home team had most of the chances in the game but the 22-year-old’s header in the last 21 minutes was decisive for the visitors.
Notably, it was Kilmarnock’s 5th consecutive win over Hearts.
Premier Sports Cup quarter-final draw
- Kilmarnock vs Dundee United
- Rangers vs Dundee
- Aberdeen vs Partick Thistle
- Motherwell vs Celtic