Celtic (http://www.theinfostride.com/classicfootball/clubs/club=31002/index.html) kept on course for a domestic treble by scoring four second-half goals in a 4-0 win over ten-man Dundee United at Tannadice to book a place in the Scottish Cup semi-finals. They will face either St Mirren or Hearts in that game, following a replay in ten days time after a 2-2 draw yesterday.
Joe Ledley, Georgios Samaras (http://www.theinfostride.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=297112/index.html), Anthony Stokes (http://www.theinfostride.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=299941/index.html) and Scott Brown (http://www.theinfostride.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=215583/index.html) all scored for the holders, who join Hibernian in the draw for the last four. The winner of the quarter-final tie between Motherwell and Aberdeen, as well as the winner of a replay between St Mirren and Hearts, will complete the semi-final line-up.
"It was such a difficult game today. I didn't think we played anywhere near our best first half and that's credit to Dundee United," Celtic (http://www.theinfostride.com/classicfootball/clubs/club=31002/index.html) manager Neil Lennon said. "They made life difficult for us and I thought they were brighter and first to the ball. We really tore into them at half-time but in the second half we were magnificent."
Meanwhile, Lennon's United counterpart was proud of his players despite the margin of defeat. "I'm really disappointed. I thought we dominated the first half in many ways," Peter Houston said. "It's hard enough to beat the champions elect with 11 players never mind ten. But for long spells of the game I was exceptionally proud of the players as they put in a lot of effort."
United, who had knocked out Celtic (http://www.theinfostride.com/classicfootball/clubs/club=31002/index.html)'s Old Firm rivals Rangers in the previous round, started brightly and Jon Daly came within inches of giving the home side the lead in the eighth minute when he bulleted a header just wide from Willo Flood's cross.
fifa.com