Celtic sweep Hearts aside to book Scottish Cup semi-final place

Celtic have reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals after defeating Hearts 3-0 at Tynecastle.

Aaron Mooy put the visitors ahead just two minutes into the game and Celtic dominated the first half as the looked to add to their lead.

Kyogo Furuhashi doubled his side’s tally with a clever flicked finish just before the break and in the second half Cameron Carter-Vickers headed in the third goal from a Matt O’Riley free kick.

The Premiership sides were meeting just three days after their league clash at Celtic Park, where Hearts had taken an early lead before falling to a 3-1 defeat.

Both managers made changes on Saturday but there was an early goal once again, with Celtic this time getting their noses in front.

Celtic had already tested the Hearts back line when Reo Hatate forced a save from Zander Clark in the first minute and it was seconds later when they went in front.

Jota made a run down the right and lifted his head before picking out Mooy with a cutback pass. The Australian was perfectly placed to smack in a powerful first time finish from 14 yards out for his seventh goal since the World Cup break.

From there, Celtic were on top and continued to press forward and pen Hearts in but the visitors eventually gained a foothold and had a solid chance when Joe Hart had to make an impressive save from Toby Sibbick’s close-range shot.

As the hosts looked to half-time and the chance to regroup, Celtic punished them once again.

Alistair Johnston was the provider this time, drilling in a low cross from the right-hand side, and Furuhashi got in front of his marker to meet the ball with a cheeky flick that took the ball past Clark and into the net.

With the visitors comfortably ahead, Hearts pushed early in the second half but couldn’t find any way through the Celtic defence and a raft of substitutions from both sides failed to make any real change to the balance of play.

Celtic got their third with ten minutes left to play. A free-kick on the left was taken by O’Riley and he swung in a curling ball that Carter-Vickers was perfect placed to head home and with it ensure his side’s passage to Hampden.

Ange Postecoglou’s side, who have already won the League Cup this season and lead the Premiership by nine points, will now be in Monday’s draw for the Scottish Cup semi-finals.