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Five-Star Celtic Cruise Through

Sat 02 Feb, 07:09 PM


Celtic marched into the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup with a thumping 5-1 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

The holders dominated throughout and could have won by an even clearer margin if they had taken all their chances.

Celtic broke the deadlock on 22 minutes when Paul Caddis crossed for Scott McDonald to score from close range.

Gordon Strachan's men had to wait until the second half to double their lead with Gary Caldwell heading home on 52 minutes with a rare goal.

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink added a third just before the hour mark when he coolly slotted home Aiden McGeady's pass after Celtic caught Killie on the break.

Jamie Hamill pulled a goal back for Killie on 66 minutes with a fine header from Danny Invincibile's cross.

Celtic restored their three-goal cushion almost immediately with McDonald netting his second of the contest a minute later.

Georgios Samaras came on for his debut soon after and the Greek international marked his bow with a fine solo goal five minutes from time to round off a good day at the office for Celtic.

Hamilton were knocked out of the Scottish Cup for the second time this week - but only after giving Aberdeen a fifth-round fright at Pittodrie.

The Irn-Bru First Division leaders approached their second chance in the cup

with relish after Brechin's expulsion, and they created numerous chances.

But Zander Diamond slotted home against the run of play in the 64th minute to continue Aberdeen's challenge on all fronts.

St Mirren blew a string of chances to book a Scottish Cup quarter-final berth and now face a Tannadice replay against Dundee United following a 0-0 draw.

Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska kept the home side at bay in the first half with poor finishing thwarting their second-half display.

United were hugely disappointing and will have been glad to take the tie back to Tayside when they should have been reflecting on their exit from the competition.

The only other goals on Saturday came from Queen of the South, who went through with a 2-0 win at Morton.

Sean O'Connor put the visitors in front a minute after half-time and John Stewart sealed the victory three minutes of time.

Elsewhere, the Livingston v Partick clash ended goalless.

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