Hibernian 1-2 Celtic: Kyogo Furuhashi inspires Celtic to League Cup win

Hibernian 1-2 Celtic: Kyogo Furuhashi inspires Celtic to League Cup win
_122288264_fdsfasd.jpgKyogo Furuhashi's second-half brace earned Celtic a first trophy under Ange Postecoglou

The returning Kyogo Furuhashi inspired Celtic to their first trophy under Ange Postecoglou with a compelling Scottish League Cup final victory over manager-less Hibernian.

The Japanese forward - an injury doubt before the game - finished smartly to get Celtic level within a minute of them going behind to Paul Hanlon's towering header for Hibs.

Kyogo was then too quick for Hibs' defenders as he latched on to a quick free-kick to lob goalkeeper Matt Macey and ultimately win Celtic the trophy.

Kevin Nisbet and Hanlon had gilt-edged chances to force extra time, but first the striker headed off a post before Hanlon skied the rebound from 10 yards in the 89th minute. Joe Hart then denied Joe Newell right at the death.

Victory extended Celtic's unbeaten run at Hampden to 18 games, while Hibs - with interim boss David Gray in charge - were left rueing another missed opportunity at the national stadium, having lost last season's Scottish Cup final.

The match only truly came alive in the second-half when Hibs captain Hanlon launched himself at a corner to put his side in front having failed to register a shot on target before the break.

It was all about desire from the skipper, and his effort eventually crept in after striking Josip Juranovic on the goal-line.

The Hibs end at Hampden roared into life, having watched their team play without the ball for large swathes of the first half, but they would not be celebrating for long.

Straight from the restart, Celtic captain Callum McGregor picked out Kyogo in the box with a superb pass, and the forward nudged the ball away from Hanlon with a brilliant touch before planting a finish beyond Macey.

His touch, speed and movement are what mark out Kyogo as a fantastic talent, and his sharpness paid off again 20 minutes later.

While Hibs were re-organising at a free-kick, he sprinted off the shoulder of their back four. Tom Rogic spotted his dart goalward and picked him out, and the Japan international took full advantage to lift the ball sublimely over Macey.

Hibs were left stunned, having had a fantastic opportunity to go in front five minutes before when Nisbet danced into the Celtic box only to be denied by Hart.

And the Easter Road players stood with their hands on their heads in disbelief when Nisbet's late header glanced the upright and Hanlon side-footed over. Hart also stood strong to thwart Newell right at the death.

Instead, Celtic saw out five minutes of injury time to clinch the first piece of silverware on offer to Postecoglou as they continue to build momentum under the Australian.

Man of the match - Kyogo Furuhashi

_122287190_20347690.jpgWho else? Well, it could have been the brilliant Tom Rogic. But Kyogo's two goals were fantastic. The matchwinner.

What did we learn?

What a boost it was for Celtic when news filtered through that Kyogo would be fit to start, having missed the last two games with an injury. His movement is so sharp, and undid Hibs twice. He is the difference maker for Postecoglou's side.

The bigger picture is the boost this could do for this newly put-together Celtic team. Only three of the side who clinched a fourth straight treble against Hearts almost exactly a year ago were in the XI at Hampden. It is not the same group who dominated Scottish football for a decade.

Postecoglou had to rebuild a squad and, after a rocky start, they are unbeaten domestically since September, despite a mountain of injuries - David Turnbull being the latest at Hampden - threatening to derail their challenge.

There is a long way to go in the league, and Rangers' form has improved under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, but Celtic will hope this gives them more momentum.

As for Hibs, they were unable to repeat their semi-final heroics against Rangers. They may feel aggrieved at the first goal, with some claims of offside. There was also a claim for a penalty at the end, too, as Ryan Porteous was challenged in the box.

They created enough chances in the end to at least force extra time, but ended up rueing two moments having defended their box admirably before scoring.

Not having a manager cannot have helped the situation, with the expectation that Shaun Maloney will take charge from Monday. Given some players' outspoken thoughts on the departure of Jack Ross, Hibs might have given themselves a better chance keeping the departed manager in charge for Hampden.

What's next?

There's not much rest for either side with Scottish Premiership fixtures to follow on Wednesday. Hibs host Aberdeen and Celtic are in Paisley to face St Mirren (both 19:45 GMT).

Player of the match

FuruhashiKyogo Furuhashi

Hibernian

Squad number4Player nameHanlon

Squad number1Player nameMacey

Squad number16Player nameStevenson

Squad number23Player nameAllan

Squad number10Player nameBoyle

Squad number18Player nameMurphy

Squad number6Player nameMcGinn

Squad number15Player nameNisbet

Squad number11Player nameNewell

Squad number32Player nameCampbell

Squad number3Player nameDoig

Squad number9Player nameDoidge

Squad number5Player namePorteous

Squad number22Player nameDoyle-Hayes

Celtic

Squad number8Player nameFuruhashi

Squad number18Player nameRogic

Squad number15Player nameHart

Squad number42Player nameMcGregor

Squad number20Player nameCarter-Vickers

Squad number88Player nameJuranovic

Squad number56Player nameRalston

Squad number5Player nameScales

Squad number73Player nameMoffat

Squad number11Player nameAbada

Squad number6Player nameBitton

Squad number3Player nameTaylor

Squad number19Player nameJohnston

Squad number14Player nameTurnbull

Squad number4Player nameStarfelt

Line-ups

Hibernian

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Macey

6McGinn5Porteous4Hanlon16Stevenson

11Newell22Doyle-Hayes

10Boyle32Campbell18Murphy

15Nisbet

1Macey6McGinn5Porteous4Hanlon16StevensonSubstituted forDoigat 81'minutes11Newell22Doyle-HayesBooked at 36mins10Boyle32CampbellSubstituted forAllanat 73'minutes18MurphySubstituted forDoidgeat 81'minutes15NisbetBooked at 43mins

Substitutes

3Doig8Wright9Doidge13Gogic21Dabrowski23Allan24McGregor25Scott27Cadden

Celtic

Formation 4-1-4-1

15Hart

88Juranovic20Carter-Vickers4Starfelt3Taylor

42McGregor

11Abada18Rogic14Turnbull19Johnston

8Furuhashi

15Hart88JuranovicBooked at 35mins20Carter-Vickers4Starfelt3TaylorSubstituted forRalstonat 75'minutes42McGregor11Abada18Rogic14TurnbullSubstituted forBittonat 27'minutes19JohnstonBooked at 83minsSubstituted forScalesat 83'minutes8FuruhashiSubstituted forMoffatat 83'minutes

Substitutes

5Scales6Bitton16McCarthy29Bain30Shaw54Montgomery56Ralston57Welsh73Moffat

Live Text

Match ends, Hibernian 1, Celtic 2.

Second Half ends, Hibernian 1, Celtic 2.

Owen Moffat (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Martin Boyle (Hibernian).

Attempt missed. Ryan Porteous (Hibernian) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.

Attempt saved. Joe Newell (Hibernian) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ryan Porteous.

Offside, Celtic. Tomas Rogic tries a through ball, but Liel Abada is caught offside.

Owen Moffat (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Paul McGinn (Hibernian).

Foul by Liel Abada (Celtic).

Paul Hanlon (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt missed. Paul Hanlon (Hibernian) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.

Kevin Nisbet (Hibernian) hits the left post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Paul Hanlon with a headed pass.

Carl Starfelt (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Christian Doidge (Hibernian).

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Scott Allan.

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Matt Macey.

Attempt saved. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Substitution, Celtic. Liam Scales replaces Michael Johnston.

Substitution, Celtic. Owen Moffat replaces Kyogo Furuhashi.

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