Hibernian 2-4 Celtic | Daily Mail Online

Celtic booked their place in the Betfred Cup final and stretched their domestic unbeaten run to 60 games with a 4-2 win over Hibernian at Hampden Park.

A brace in either half from defender Michael Lustig and substitute striker Moussa Dembele ensured Celtic’s ticket to next month’s final.

But an Anthony Stokes penalty and Oliver Shaw strike either side of Dembele’s first effort kept Hibs fans and players believing that they could be the side to end the infamous run.

Mikael Lustig was an unlikely hero as his two goals helped Celtic book their place in the final

Former Celtic player Anthony Stokes pulled one back from the spot after Lustig struck twice

Substitute Moussa Dembele quickly restored their two-goal advantage to make the score 3-1

Dembele added his second and Celtic’s fourth to confirm their spot in the League Cup final

MATCH FACTS:

Hibernian: (4-2-3-1): Laidlaw, Gray (Whittaker 45), Ambrose, Hanlon, Stevenson, Slivka (Shaw, 70), Bartley (Boyle, 45), Barker, McGinn, McGeouch, Stokes;

Subs not used: Marciano, Swanson, Murray, Porteous

Booked: Stevenson (51)

Scorers: Stokes (59), Shaw (71)

Manager: Neil Lennon

Celtic (4-2-3-1): Gordon, Lustig, Boyata, Bitton, Tierney, Brown, Armstrong (Rogic, 73), Roberts (Forrest, 61), McGregor, Sinclair, Griffiths (Dembele, 61);

Subs not used: Gamboa, Ntcham, de Vries, Ajer

Booked: Lustig (44), Brown (69)

Scorers: Lustig (15), (42) Dembele (66), (88)

Manager: Brendan Rodgers

Referee: Kevin Clancy

Attendance: TBC

Chasing the equaliser, spaces opened up and Dembele took his time with two minutes remaining to grab his second to kill off all hope of a Hibernian comeback.

Brendan Rodgers made just two changes to the side that started in Bavaria on Wednesday night but they showed no signs of fatigue as they took the game to Hibs early on.

Callum McGregor brought some dynamism and directness from midfield and after two early efforts at the other end for Brandon Barker, Rodgers’ side took control of the semi-final.

Lustig, who returned to right-back after a centre-back role in Germany, was the unlikely opening scorer after Stuart Armstrong’s left-wing cross fell to the unmarked defender at the back post.

Barker was the guilty man losing Lustig and in a game where the opening goal was likely to prove critical, the lapse in concentration had his boss Neil Lennon exasperated.

A frustrated Lennon paraded his technical area, berating instructions to his Hibernian players, but the opening goal appeared to take the life out of the game.

Celtic were content to control possession in albeit unthreatening areas but their dominance and patience was rewarded three minutes before the interval.

Leigh Griffiths lofted in a corner and it was deja vu at Hampden as Lustig again fired home from the back post for his second goal of the game and the season.

Hibernian goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw got a strong hand to Lustig’s shot and will be disappointed with his efforts to keep it out when watching back the replays.

The Hibernian fans were out in full voice prior to kick-off of the Scottish League Cup semi-final

Dedryck Boyata and Anthony Stokes battle for possession during the first 45 minutes

With the game slipping away from them Hibs came out and showed a fighting spirit – they hadn’t given up hope of a place in the final.

Vykintas Slivka was first to go close, heading over following a looping cross from substitute Steven Whittaker.

But ten minutes later the lifeline Lennon and his side needed came in the form of a penalty.

Former Manchester City defender Dedryck Boyata clumsily brought down Martin Boyle and former Celtic man Anthony Stokes showed a calmness to half the deficit, placing the ball into the net.

Rodgers sensed the momentum shift and on came James Forrest and Dembele and within five minutes the latter showed his quality to make it 3-1.

John McGinn falls over under pressure from Celtic midfielder Stuart Armstrong

Stokes controls a difficult ball and lays it off to a team-mate as Nir Bitton tries to get tight

A scuffed effort from Scott Sinclair fell kindly to the forward and he was left with the simple task of poking beyond Laidlaw in front of a buoyant Celtic support.

But the drama, which appeared unlikely given the uneventful opening 45 minutes, continued as Lennon’s substitutes followed Dembele’s lead, making an immediate impact.

On came 19-year-old Oliver Shaw and within 60 seconds he found the net, collecting Whittaker’s through ball to fire past Gordon.

In what was the youngster’s third senior appearance for the Edinburgh side, he gave them a fighting chance.

Hibs pushed and pushed for that equaliser and that always came with its risks.

Pockets of space opened up for Celtic to exploit and a counter attack from Tom Rogic with two minutes left of the game set Dembele free and he took his time to finesse the ball home, ensuring Celtic’s place in the final.

The four-goal showing at Hampden takes Celtic’s goal tally to 175 during the 60-game unbeaten run, two short of the UK record set by Celtic between 1915-17.

The Celtic players celebrate after Dembele came off the bench to score their third goal

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers smiles as his side took control of the semi-final against Hibernian

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