Heart of Midlothian 1-2 Celtic

Leigh Griffiths broke Hearts with a match-winning display as Celtic reached the Scottish League Cup semi-finals with victory at Tynecastle.

The striker opened the scoring in the second half and then quickly created the second for Tom Rogic.

Hearts were defensively strong in the opening period but could not cope with Griffiths' skilful enterprise.

The holders deservedly progressed, even after Arnaud Djoum's late consolation for the home side.

Celtic join Ross County and St Johnstone in the draw for the last four, which will take place on 9 November after next week's final quarter-final between Hibernian and Dundee United.

Pre-match setback for Celtic

Gary Mackay Steven and Scott Brown had been named in Celtic's squad but pulled out through injury

Ronny Deila began the night problem-solving with captain Scott Brown and Gary MacKay-Steven both injuring themselves in the warm-up. The former was in the starting line-up and the manager opted to replace him with James Forrest.

The visitors still started with a formidable attacking four, but any combination of players Deila might have chosen would have found the opening half frustrating.

Hearts were disciplined and organised enough to establish a deep, compact shape whenever the visitors carried the ball over the halfway line.

Kris Commons, Stuart Armstrong, Forrest and Leigh Griffiths were all denied the kind of room they need to wield their imagination. Hearts applied themselves to a strategy, even though the compromise was that their own attacking play was subdued.

Openings were restricted, and Celtic's chances came with long-range efforts. Forrest saw his volley from outside the area blocked by offside team-mate Griffiths and Commons shot over.

Sow was offside when he netted in the second half

Hearts needed their two forwards, Juanma Delgado and Osman Sow, to be dominant, but they tended to be peripheral instead. Sow did create a chance for himself by bundling past a challenge but could only clip his shot wide.

The game opened up in the second half and Celtic took advantage, although there was a scare to overcome first.

When the solidly impressive Jordan McGhee delivered a free-kick deep into the Celtic box, Callum Paterson headed down for Sow, who was judged to be offside as he stabbed the ball past goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

Griffiths takes charge

As Hearts' defensive resolve slipped, Celtic could rely on the sprightly movement and razor-sharp instincts of Griffiths to take advantage.

He skipped past two Hearts defender with a dip of his shoulder and quick footwork, but then showed immense composure to size up the situation inside the area, open up his body and curl a shot past keeper Neil Alexander.

The home side tried to regroup but could not pass the ball accurately enough to build passages of pressure.

Rogic scored what proved to be the winner

As Celtic were untroubled in defence, their attack began to flourish and another darting, incisive run from Griffiths ended with a cross that Forrest's replacement Rogic turned into the net from close range with a stylish flick.

Hearts managed a late rally and pulled a goal back when Djoun converted Jamie Walker's corner with his head, but it was too little, too late.

The evening might have started with consternation for Celtic as they coped with pre-match injuries, it ended with a sense of deserved satisfaction, not least for Griffiths.