Youth Cup winner
Youth Cup winner
Two goals in two minutes from James Keatings against Livingston booked Celtic a final date with Rangers in the SFA Youth Cup.
The Second Division club showed more attacking intentions than a lot of SPL side’s but after having Michael Travis sent off in the 50th minute they were always up against it.
After a goal-less first half Filip Twardzik broke the deadlock in the 68th minute with a well placed shot before Keatings struck in the 77th and 78th minutes to book a Hampden re-match with Rangers who beat Hibs 1-0 in the other semi final.
“We were a bit disappointed by the way we played in the first half, we told the players that and got a reaction from them in the second half,” coach Stevie Frail admitted.
“Obviously the sending off changed things, I don’t like playing against ten men but we capitalised on it and scored three good goals. We’re delighted to be in the final.
“They tired towards the end but we should have got the tempo right from the start of the match- we never really did that in the first half.”
Islam Feruz made his first start of the season alongside Keatings in attack but from the first whistle it was obvious that Livingston were in the semi-final on merit.
The Second Division side never let Celtic settle with the home side struggling to play their usual passing game.
A long range shot from Lewis Toshney in the 37th minute caused Livi keeper Andrew Murphy some difficulty but the first half ended goal-less.
Five minutes into the second period Feruz got a touch on to a great Stephen O’Donnell pass with Travis bringing down Callum McGregor.
Although the Celtic midfielder was 25 yards from goal referee Steven Reid issued a red card with Livi’s hopes nose diving at that point.
Celtic used the advantage of having an extra man well with full-backs O’Donnell and Kieran Brennan pushing up to support the midfielders.
Midway through the second half the Twardzik twins combined to give Celtic the lead. A crossfield pass from Patrik found Filip racing into the box with his low shot across Murphy finding the net.
Celtic kept the pressure going and clinched the tie in the 77th minute when Keatings headed home a corner from McGregor from six yards out.
Sixty seconds later substitute Liam Gormley made great ground down the left wing with Keatings well positioned to place a low shot from 10 yards past the keeper to complete the scoring.
“James is doing really well,” Frail added. “He’s doing really well and today he helped young Islam, James helped him in a role that he’s not really been used to this season.
“He was dropping off more and picking up the ball, he’s been used to being the main striker. We’re really pleased with James and he took his goals well.
“He’s got good spring and showed that with his first goal. He can jump and is a threat in the air, people might not think that he’s strong in the air because of his height but he showed what he can do today.
“For the second goal he could have went into the six yard box but he held his run and Liam Gormley picked him out. It was a one touch finish, he slid it beyond the goalie, it was a great finish.”
CELTIC: Feely; O’Donnell, Hughes, Toshney, Brennan; P Twardzik, Bagshaw, McGregor, F Twardzik; Keatings, Feruz
SUBS: Thomson, Ordish, Atajic (Feruz 69) Gormley (P Twardzik 75) Irvine (Toshney 85)
GOALS F Twardzik 68, Keatings 77&78)
Neil Lennon speaks out on Bilbao match.
Follow Video Celts on Twitter, Facebookand YouTube