GLASGOW — The Scottish Cup delivered another chapter of raw, unpredictable beauty as Celtic narrowly survived a frantic extra-time battle to defeat St Mirren 3-2 at Hampden Park on Sunday, advancing to the semi-finals in a match that swung wildly between dominance and despair.
The Old Firm giants, heavy favorites heading into the quarter-final clash, found themselves pushed to the absolute limit by a resilient St Mirren side that refused to yield despite going behind twice. What began as a routine progression for Brendan Rodgers’ side transformed into a nerve-shredding spectacle, with the winner arriving only in the 115th minute through a tap-in from Daizen Maeda after a defensive scramble.
St Mirren, sitting mid-table in the Scottish Premiership, came into the match with nothing to lose and everything to gain. Their manager, Stephen Robinson, had set up his side to frustrate Celtic’s usual rhythm, and for long stretches, it worked. The visitors took a shock lead in the 22nd minute when Greg Kiltz pounced on a loose ball inside the box after a corner was poorly cleared, firing low past Joe Hart to send the St Mirren contingent into raptures.
Celtic responded with characteristic urgency. Kyogo Furuhashi equalized just before the half-hour mark, latching onto a through-ball from Callum McGregor and finishing calmly past Trevor Carson. The Japanese international’s movement continued to torment the St Mirren defense, and he nearly put Celtic ahead shortly after, only to see his effort blocked on the line.
The turning point arrived just before halftime. A defensive mix-up between Carson and center-back Richard Tait allowed Furuhashi to pounce again, this time sliding the ball home for his second and Celtic’s lead. It seemed the tie was settling into familiar territory — until St Mirren struck back immediately after the break.
Only three minutes into the second half, St Mirren were level again. A swift counterattack saw Alex Greive release Jonah Ayunga down the left flank. the Kenyan winger cut inside and unleashed a low drive that Hart could only parry, with Shay Logan arriving to slot home the rebound. Hampden fell into a stunned silence as the underdogs sensed blood in the water.
What followed was a period of intense pressure from St Mirren, who smelled an upset. Carson made a series of vital saves to maintain his side in it, denying Furuhashi, Jota, and Nicolas Kuhn in quick succession. Celtic, meanwhile, began to seem frustrated, their usual fluency replaced by rushed passes and speculative efforts.
As regulation time waned, both sides pushed for a winner. St Mirren had the better chances, with Ayunga forcing a smart save from Hart in the 88th minute, while Celtic’s best chance fell to McGregor, whose curling effort from the edge of the box rattled the crossbar in stoppage time. The match headed to extra time, where the drama intensified.
The first period of extra time saw chances at both ends. St Mirren thought they had taken the lead when Ayunga appeared to poke home a rebound, only for the assistant referee to flag for offside — a decision that replays showed was agonizingly tight. Celtic responded with pressure of their own, but Carson remained resolute, tipping a powerful header from Cameron Carter-Vickers over the bar.
It was in the second period of extra time that the decisive moment arrived. A corner from the left swung in by Jota caused chaos in the St Mirren box. The ball was flicked on by Carter-Vickers, bounced off a St Mirren defender, and fell to Maeda lurking near the penalty spot. The Japanese forward needed no second invitation, poking the ball home to send the Celtic bench into celebration and the St Mirren players to their knees in disbelief.
The final whistle blew moments later, with St Mirren throwing everything forward in search of a last-gasp equalizer that never came. Carson made one final stop to deny Maeda his brace, preserving Celtic’s slender advantage.
For Celtic, the victory keeps alive their hopes of a domestic treble, having already secured the League Cup earlier in the season. They now await the winner of the other quarter-final between Rangers and Aberdeen, knowing a potential Old Firm semi-final looms — a prospect that will energize the fanbase despite the shaky performance.
St Mirren, meanwhile, can hold their heads high. Robinson’s side outperformed expectations against one of Europe’s most consistent sides, pushing the champions to their absolute limit. Their performance will serve as a benchmark for the remainder of the Premiership campaign, proving they can compete with anyone when organized and motivated.
The match underscored the unique magic of the Scottish Cup — a competition where form and reputation often count for little over 90 minutes, let alone 120. For Celtic, it was a sobering reminder that even giants can be shaken. For St Mirren, it was a night to remember, a testament to the belief that in cup football, anything is possible.
Looking ahead, Celtic return to Premiership action on Wednesday against Dundee United at Parkhead, a match they will need to approach with far greater focus if they are to maintain their title challenge. St Mirren host Livingston on Saturday in a crucial bottom-six clash, where the confidence gained from this performance could prove vital.
As the Scottish Cup continues, one thing is certain: the road to Hampden’s final in May remains wide open, and after Sunday’s spectacle, no team can afford to take anything for granted.
What did you think of the Celtic-St Mirren thriller? Share your thoughts below and join the conversation — we aim for to hear from you.
