Daizen Maeda marked his a hundredth Celtic look with a match-winning hat-trick because the holders noticed off a spirited problem from Livingston to achieve the Scottish Gasoline Scottish Cup semi-finals.
Maeda put Celtic forward for the third time within the 86th minute to take his tally for the membership to 27 targets after the cinch Premiership backside facet had twice equalised at Celtic Park by way of Daniel MacKay and Tete Yengi.
Substitute Kyogo Furuhashi was on course deep into stoppage time as Celtic sealed a 4-2 triumph.
Celtic missed each Callum McGregor and Cameron Carter-Vickers by way of damage, however they did simply sufficient to seal a Hampden journey subsequent month.
Carter-Vickers was withdrawn as a precaution after the defender’s hamstring induced concern in coaching, whereas Luis Palma did not shake off a knock, which allowed Nicolas Kuhn to make his first begin at Celtic Park.
Livingston additionally had damage points to deal with, primarily in midfield. Jason Holt dropped out by way of sickness and Andrew Shinnie with a groin downside, whereas the cup-tied David Carson joined Scott Pittman on the sidelines.
David Martindale lined up with full-back Jamie Brandon and winger Steven Bradley as a part of his central trio.
Celtic had an early warning when Ayo Obileye hit the publish, though Willie Collum blew for a house free-kick.
Kuhn had already proven flashes of promise earlier than establishing the seventh-minute opener with a wonderful cross from the precise.
Proper-back Michael Nottingham allowed Maeda to go however the ahead was degree when the cross got here in and he took a contact earlier than ending from six yards.
Livi levelled 5 minutes later after Cristian Montano’s ball in between Stephen Welsh and Alistair Johnston put MacKay in behind.
The winger, who scored in opposition to Celtic for Inverness in final 12 months’s remaining, had time to attend for the ball to bounce earlier than curling into the highest nook.
Left-back Montano undid his good work 10 minutes later when he dithered in possession on the sting of his field after Livi appeared to have thwarted a harmful counter-attack.
Matt O’Riley gained the ball again and Maeda stooped to move residence after Michael McGovern had stopped the midfielder’s shot.
Celtic had possibilities to get pleasure from a extra snug half-time break with Adam Idah the most important cuplrit, making a large number of two taking pictures possibilities when he obtained in behind, though he compelled a very good cease with a header.
McGovern additionally saved nicely from Maeda twice earlier than the break and each the Japan worldwide and Idah did not convert a low cross from Kuhn after the interval.
Yengi stabbed Stephen Kelly’s cross simply vast earlier than netting Livingston’s second equaliser within the 54th minute.
O’Riley was caught in possession by Brandon on the midway line and, though the Celtic midfielder obtained again to carry up Yengi, the striker turned and curled a superb end into the far nook.
The house assist have been virtually shocked additional moments later when Nottingham’s header was stopped by Joe Hart’s foot on the road.
Celtic took time to react and McGovern was equal to efforts from Johnston and Kuhn once they obtained going.
Furuhashi, Daniel Kelly and James Forrest – making his first look of 2024 – got here on and the latter added a spark earlier than being concerned in taking the lead for a 3rd time.
The winger fed Tomoki Iwata’s run past and the Japanese midfielder’s low cross was tapped in by Maeda.
The attacker virtually obtained his fourth, however hit the crossbar from shut vary and Furuhashi was performed by way of within the closing seconds to fit residence, which was initially denied, earlier than a VAR evaluation overturned an offside determination.
