An electric performance from Celtic saw them sail through to the final of the Premier Sports Cup as they demolished previously unbeaten Aberdeen 6-0 at Hampden Park.
Goals from Cameron Carter-Vickers (29), Kyogo Furuhashi (32) and Nicolas Kuhn (59) followed by a hat-trick from the irresistibly good Daizen Maeda (40, 48, 85) handed Celtic a dominant victory over their opponents.
Following an unexpected 15 delay to kick-off due to low visibility from pyrotechnics, it was Celtic who seized control of the match very early on and it was a performance that cemented their status as Scotland’s best, while Aberdeen now know the size of the challenge ahead of them if they aim to beat them this season.
This result ended manager Jimmy Thelin’s 16-game unbeaten start as Dons boss and they will look to regroup back on Premiership duty next weekend against Dundee.
Celtic, meanwhile, await Rangers or Motherwell in the final next month back at Hampden Park.
Here is how we rated each player out of ten for their display at Hampden Park:
21. Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic) - 9
Typical Kyogo, always alert and always scores pivotal goals in the big games. Nothing new here. The man for the big occasion. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
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22. Ester Sokler (Aberdeen) - 4
Headed Aberdeen's only chance of the game wide and cut an isolated figure throughout. | SNS Group
23. Celtic subs:
Adam Idah, Greg Taylor, James Forrest, Paulo Bernardo and Liam Scales - 6 - All brought on with the game dead and buried. | SNS Group
24. Aberdeen subs:
Shayden Morris, Leighton Clarkson, Ante Palaversa and Perter Ambrose - 5 - Brought on with the game effectively ended as a contest and couldn't effect it in any way. | SNS Group