Celtic cruise past Clyde
Sunday 27 February 2005
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On-loan striker Craig Bellamy opened his Celtic account (Getty Images)
By Alex O'Henley
Holders Celtic FC are through to the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup after an emphatic victory against second-tier outfit Clyde FC. They could meet either Dundee United FC, Heart of Midlothian FC or Hibernian FC, after the trio also won through to the last four.
Varga scores two
Stanislav Varga scored twice and Craig Bellamy opened his Celtic goalscoring account as Martin O'Neill's side eventually cantered to a 5-0 win. But it did not go all the Scottish Premier League team's way as Clyde began well, even putting the ball in the back of the net through Craig Bryson before the referee disallowed the effort for an earlier infringement.
Bellamy on target
However, any nerves among the travelling support were settled by Varga five minutes from half-time when the Slovakian defender rose unchallenged to head in a Juninho Paulista corner. Alan Thompson made it 2-0 from the penalty spot three minutes after the interval and further strikes from Stilian Petrov and Varga made it four before Bellamy completed the win.
Aberdeen shocked
Dundee United almost matched Celtic as they breezed past Aberdeen FC with a 4-1 victory at Tannadice. Alan Archibald and James Grady made it 2-0 inside the first half hour and although Richie Byrne headed one back shortly after, Stevie Crawford restored United's two-goal cushion with a long-range strike four minutes before half-time. A minute after the restart the tie was all but over when Grady hit a superb volley to give United an insurmountable lead.
Perfect start
Hearts looked on course for a comfortable win against Livingston FC at Tynecastle, after Lee Miller and Jamie McAllister gave John Robertson's side a two-goal lead inside the opening ten minutes. But Livingston responded well and reduced the deficit with a Craig Easton header on the hour, although an equaliser proved elusive. Hearts joined Edinburgh rivals Hibernian FC in tomorrow's draw after Scott Brown and Garry O'Connor earned a 2-0 victory against second-tier side Saint Mirren FC.
Rangers extend lead
Elsewhere, with rivals Celtic in Scottish Cup action, Rangers FC took the opportunity to open up a six-point gap at the top of the Scottish Premier League, albeit after playing two more games. Dado Pršo and Nacho Novo took their goal tallies to 13 and 16 this season respectively, as a far from fluent Rangers won 2-1 against Kilmarnock FC. The home side's joy was tempered by a suspected broken leg suffered by Alan Hutton before Kris Boyd reduced the arrears late on.
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