Celtic ran out convincing 4-0 winners over Jim Goodwin’s Dundee United in the last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup at Tannadice on Saturday night.
Goals from Auston Trusty, Camilo Duran, Sebastian Tounekti and Benjamin Nygren ensured that Martin O’Neil’s side booked their place in the Quarter finals of the Premier Sports Cup.
Celtic started the game on the front foot, and their first chance of the game came when Sebastian Tounekti drove to the byline before playing a pass to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlian, whose effort from the edge of the penalty area was gathered with ease by Jack Walton in the Dundee United goal.
On the 12th minute, United’s long throw aimed towards the Celtic box was followed on by two headed flick-Ons before the ball would fall to Julius Eskesen inside the area, his low strike cannoned back off the woodwork from 16 yards out.
Eight minutes later, the hosts seen another strike hit the same post. Emmanuel Agyei tried his luck with another low effort, only to be denied by the smallest of margins.
Celtic had controlled the early stages and found themselves ahead in the 22nd minute, Benjamin Nygren’s corner kick delivery found the head of Auston Trusty who was lurking at the far post to head the ball beyond Jack Walton to break the deadlock.
Within a matter of minutes, Celtic netted their second goal of the evening with summer arrival Camilo Duran striking to score his first Celtic goal.
United had failed to clear the ball from danger inside their own box, Club record signing Kasper Hogh attempted to force the ball goalwards before Duran collected to calmly finish from close range.
On the brink of half time, Kasper Hogh used his physicality to force his man into losing the ball before finding Camilo Duran who played an inviting ball to the far post, however Hogh was unable to get a proper connection onto the ball from a tight angle.
Jim Goodwin’s men had responded well to being two goals behind, but it was Martin O’Neil’s side who went into the interval with a two-goal advantage.
The hosts made a positive start to the second half but were made to watch the ball come off the frame of the goal a further two times.
The first one came from a powerful and rising strike from Zac Sapsford in the box which flew past Celtic Goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo who was outstretched, with the second coming from Bert Esselink’s headed attempt.
Despite an improved start from United, it would count for nothing when Sebastian Tounekti finished off a brilliant counterattacking move by Celtic in the 53rd minute to put the champions in cruise control.
The Tunisian winger who had been a danger all evening, cut inside on the edge of the box before unleashing a low strike past two United defenders before finding its way into the net.
On the hour mark, Mika Baur came on to make his Celtic debut with Haissem Hassan also introduced for his debut shortly after.
Baur, Celtic’s new midfielder from German side Paderborn was involved in play instantly and played a part in Celtic’s fourth goal in the 62nd minute.
Baur flicked the ball onto Tounekti who played the ball to the feet of Benjamin Nygren as he let fly from 18 yards out, curling a fine effort high into the net leaving Walton with no chance.
It was an uneventful last half an hour to the game, United continued to struggle to cause the Celtic defence any real trouble, with Celtic doing enough to claim a deserved clean sheet and progress into the last eight of the Premier Sports Cup.