Celtic's Daizen Maeda heads home against FalkirkImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Daizen Maeda scored his ninth goal in nine League Cup appearances

Holders Celtic scored three goals in 10 second-half minutes to ease into the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals, as Falkirk were given another insight into how tough life will be against top-flight teams.

Falkirk, then a Scottish Championship side, gave Celtic a fright in last season's last eight, leading 2-1 at half-time in Glasgow before going down 5-2.

This time, arriving as a fellow Premiership team, they found themselves on the back foot from the off against a side showing impressive early fluency despite manager Brendan Rodgers making six changes from their weekend win in Aberdeen.

And John McGlynn's never looked like denying their hosts a third straight win.

Just when Falkirk looked to have survived the early onslaught, Kieran Tierney headed a Callum McGregor cross into the path of the diving Daizen Maeda for the Japan forward's ninth goal in nine League Cup appearances.

Falkirk, though, frustrated the hosts until that flurry of goals around the hour mark.

Alistair Johnston dispossessed Calvin Miller before curling into the far corner; 22-year-old centre-half Dane Murray marked his new contract by heading his first Celtic goal; then substitute Yang Hyun-jun's low cross deflected in off Falkirk defender Liam Henderson.

Henderson had almost passed into his own net early on, former Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain saved well from Tierney and McGregor, while an Arne Engels free-kick slammed off the face of the far post, all before Maeda's breakthrough.

Falkirk's failure to win either of their opening league fixtures has had some fearing their ability to compete in the top flight, but they did pose a threat of their own on the break.

Ross MacIver stabbed wide a chance to open the scoring, while Miller forced a fine save from Viljami Sinisalo and Alfredo Agyeman shot straight at the goalkeeper as the visitors sought an equaliser.

The game was over as a contest by the time they did become the first side to score against Celtic this season and what a beauty it was - Keelan Adams marking his 50th Falkirk appearance by thundering a drive home from the edge of the box.

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Player of the match

Number: 63 K. Tierney
Average rating 7.74
Number: 63 K. Tierney
Average Rating: 7.74
Number: 38 D. Maeda
Average Rating: 7.65
Number: 2 A. Johnston
Average Rating: 7.53
Number: 42 C. McGregor
Average Rating: 7.50
Number: 12 V. Sinisalo
Average Rating: 7.31
Number: 49 J. Forrest
Average Rating: 7.29
Number: 27 A. Engels
Average Rating: 7.28
Number: 47 D. Murray
Average Rating: 7.00
Number: 14 L. McCowan
Average Rating: 6.90
Number: 24 J. Kenny
Average Rating: 6.72
Number: 6 A. Trusty
Average Rating: 6.67
Number: 13 Yang Hyun-Jun
Average Rating: 6.23
Number: 28 Paulo Bernardo
Average Rating: 6.09
Number: 8 B. Nygren
Average Rating: 5.95
Number: 18 S. Yamada
Average Rating: 5.91
Number: 5 L. Scales
Average Rating: 5.73

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