St Johnstone 0-5 Celtic
Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup Semi-Final
Sunday 20th April 2025
Hampden Park, Glasgow 

Scorers

St Johnstone 0
Celtic 5 (McGregor 34’, Maeda 37’, 45+1’, Idah 45’, Jota 67’)

Team News

St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari made two alterations to his team from a 1-0 loss to Dundee United last time out. Out went Zach Mitchell and Mackenzie Kirk, with Sven Sprangler and Nicky Clark taking their places. Daniels Balodis, who scored the winner against Celtic for the Perth side a fortnight ago, started.

In the opposite dugout, Brendan Rodgers named the same team that beat Kilmarnock by five goals to one in the league last week. Liam Scales and Greg Taylor continued at the back as veteran James Forrest once again got the nod on the right wing.

As It Happened

Celtic game out of the traps flying in the game’s infancy. Callum McGregor drove his side forward before James Forrest hung up a cross which Adam Idah could only convert into Andy Fisher’s arms.

Ever lively in the opening stages, Forrest then saw his effort deflected wide for a corner. The wide man jinked in from the right-hand side before his left-footed shot was put to safety.

St Johnstone’s maiden foray forward came eight minutes in. Adama Sidibeh did well to win a corner off Cameron Carter-Vickers, but Celtic defended it adeptly.

McGregor and Forrest were next to try their luck from the edge of the box as Celtic asserted their dominance in the early stages. The former struck once more when the ball broke to him inside the penalty area, although Victor Griffith was on hand to make a terrific block.

At the third time of asking, the Celtic captain broke the deadlock. Alistair Johnston won the ball back in St Johnstone territory, and following some neat interplay between Forrest and Reo Hatate, the ball was back-heeled to McGregor, who rifled into the bottom-left corner on 34 minutes.

Just three minutes later, the holders doubled their lead. McGregor was involved once again, threading the ball in behind the St Johnstone rear-guard. Daizen Maeda latched onto it, opened up his bod,y and, as has been a common theme this season, found the back of the net for 2-0.

Thoroughly stamping their authority on the game before the break, Celtic struck twice in the closing minutes of the first half. To make it three, Hatate was found by Liam Scales. As he reached the by-line, the Japanese midfielder cut back for Adam Idah, who had the easiest of tap-ins.

Almost immediately after, Maeda was on target again. Hatate drove forward and, after some fine footwork, found his fellow countryman, who instinctively rifled the ball into the bottom-right corner to complete a first-half rout from Celtic.

Four behind at the break, St Johnstone made a trio of alterations going into the second half. Sidibeh, Nicky Clark, and Barry Douglas all made way for Benjamin Kimpioka, Kirk, and Taylor Steven.

Despite Valakari’s changes, Celtic began the second 45 on the front foot. Forrest flashed a few dangerous balls across goal that came to nothing.

Come minute 51, Viljami Sinisalo was called into action for the first time, stretching out a strong hand to deny Kirk, who was later adjudged to have been offside.

The young striker threatened moments later. Idah lost the ball in the middle of the park to Daniels Balodis. He found Kirk, who unleashed a piledriver into the top-left corner. Sinisalo could do nothing this time, although VAR soon got involved, and the goal was later ruled out for a foul by Balodis on Idah in the build-up.

The St Johnstone defender was then at the heart of the action not long after, as he brought down Forrest in the box. Although referee Calum Scott initially pointed to the spot, after co-operation with VAR, he, much like a few minutes earlier, overturned his initial decision.

Celtic did get their fifth come 67 minutes, however. Johnston found some space on the right wing and delivered a pinpoint cross to the back post for substitute Jota to stroke home.

Despite enjoying such a significant advantage, Celtic didn’t let up as the game entered its closing stages, continually peppering the St Johnstone goal.

The McDiarmid Park side, though, did manage to foray up the park later on, with Kimpioka and Uche Ikpeazu, introduced for his St Johnstone debut on 74 minutes, both having efforts on goal; the latter’s eventually proving to be offside.

Proceedings were ultimately ended by whistler Scott not long after Jota flashed an effort off target, with Celtic deservedly booking their place in next month’s Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen.

Match Report by Josh McCafferty

Teams

St Johnstone: Fisher, Balodis, Griffith, Holt, Clark (Kirk 45’), Carey (McPake 67’), Sidibeh (Kimpioka 45’), Duke-McKenna (Ikpeazu 74’), Sprangler, Douglas (Steven 45’), Curtis.

Unused substitutes: Sinclair, Svedberg, Kirk, Watt.

Celtic: Sinisalo, Johnston (Ralston 76’), Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor, McGregor, Engels (McCowan 62’), Hatate (Bernardo 69’), Forrest (Kuhn 62’), Maeda, Idah (Jota 62’).

Unused substitutes: Bain, Trusty, McCowan, Schlupp.