Celtic battled their way into the fifth round of the Scottish Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Kilmarnock at Celtic Park. The Hoops’ attacking flair shone through despite a stubborn Killie resistance, ensuring Brendan Rodgers’ men remain in the hunt for the Scottish Cup.

McGregor Leads by Example
It was Celtic captain Callum McGregor who set the tone early. After a frustrating draw midweek against Dundee, McGregor’s drive and determination were evident. In the 12th minute, he picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and unleashed a thunderous strike into the bottom corner, leaving Kieran O’Hara helpless. The skipper’s opener energised the home side, who looked hungry to add more.

Missed Chances
Despite dominating possession and creating numerous opportunities, Celtic couldn’t extend their lead. Nicolas Kühn rattled the crossbar, Kyogo Furuhashi skewed a golden chance wide, and Reo Hatate saw several attempts saved. Kilmarnock, against the run of play, found a lifeline in first-half stoppage time. Bobby Wales tapped in at the back post after a scrappy assist from Robbie Deas, levelling the score and silencing the home crowd.

Maeda to the Rescue
The second half saw Celtic ramp up the pressure, and it finally paid off in the 70th minute. Nicolas Kühn, a constant thorn in Kilmarnock’s side, showed incredible vision to pick out Daizen Maeda inside the box. The Japanese forward coolly slotted home to restore Celtic’s lead, sparking celebrations at Paradise. Maeda’s tireless running and clinical finishing once again highlighted his importance to Rodgers’ squad upon his return from injury.

Looking Ahead
While Celtic will be pleased to progress, questions remain about their finishing and defensive mistakes. The Hoops will need to be more clinical if they are to secure a place in the Champions League knockout playoffs on Wednesday night, with a win against Young Boys at Celtic Park likely securing a place in the next round of Europe’s premier competition.