Daizen Maeda scored three goals to secure the Hoops’ spot in the Scottish Cup semifinal on his 100th appearance for Celtic.
In extra time, Kyogo added another goal to help Celtic overcome a stubborn Livingston team 4-2 and keep Brendan Rodgers’ record of never losing a Scottish Cup encounter intact.
Although there was a scare in the fourth minute when Livingston struck the post when Ayo Obileye shot from within the box, the referee blew for a free-kick anyway. Celtic opened the encounter aggressively, with Nicolas Kuhn looking lively on the right wing.
And Celtic seized the lead after just three minutes. Maeda, who had sprinted past his defender, received a ball from Kuhn, who cut inside from the right, over the top of the defense.
The striker touched the ball once before putting it past Livingston goalkeeper Michael McGovern.
Maeda’s next attempt came just three minutes later, but it was unsuccessful, as Livingston equalized in the twelfth minute.
Daniel MacKay was the recipient of a long ball, and after racing into the box, he fired past Joe Hart and into the net to tie the score at one.
Maeda, though, was determined to celebrate his 100th game for the Hoops in the greatest way possible, and on minute 22, he gave Celtic the lead back.
Matt O’Riley had two shots on goal, and the Hoops attacked Livvy on the counterattack. A defender stopped his first attempt, and McGovern stopped his second, but all he did was send the ball into Maeda’s path as she headed home to make it 2-1.
The Japanese internationalist also made additional attempts to secure a hat-trick in the first half.
After going past his defender on the 27th minute, he shot from a right angle, but the goalie blocked the shot. Then, with a minute remaining before halftime, McGovern stopped his header at the back post from a Kuhn cross.
Adam Idah also had a chance right before halftime, but Liam Scales’ cross was saved at the near post with his head.
Tete Yengi was in space after a cross from the right, giving Livingston a chance to equalize early in the second half, but he was unable to get his header on goal.
Paulo Bernardo missed a close-range shot after grabbing onto a deft pass from Kuhn on the 50th minute, and three minutes later the score was 2-2.
When the ball was sent through to Yengi in the middle of the park, the visitors took advantage of a defensive blunder. He performed well to create a shooting opportunity, and he even the score with a strong shot that went past Joe Hart.
The Hoops persisted in their attack for a third goal, and McGovern in the Livingston goal made two excellent saves: first, he deflected an Alistair Johnston shot, and then he stopped Kuhn.
James Forrest attempted a curling shot from the edge of the box that went just wide after coming on as a substitute for the first time since the match against Livingston shortly before Christmas.
However, Celtic scored their third goal of the match with five minutes left, and Maeda scored it by putting a cross from Tomoki at close range to win the match ball.
Additionally, Kyogo had an opportunity to score a fourth goal during additional time.
Despite the fact that the shot was originally disqualified for offside, a VAR check overturned the ruling, giving Celtic a 4-2 victory and a spot in Monday night’s Scottish Cup semi-final draw. He raced through on goal and tucked the ball beyond McGovern.
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