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Raith Rovers’ journey in the 2024/25 Scottish Cup came to an end on Saturday after a heavy 5-0 defeat away to Celtic.  

Barry Robson made two changes to his team after their defeat away to Dunfermline the week prior, with Josh Rae making his full debut in goals after signing on loan from St Johnstone four days earlier. Euan Murray also replaced Finlay Pollock – a change which added an additional defender to Robson’s starting 11.  

Brendan Rodgers rested the vast majority of the team that had hit Dundee for six just four days earlier, with Callum McGregor and Daizen Maeda being the only two who remained in the starting 11.  

Celtic kicked the match off and, after a confident start, got their first goal of the evening shortly after.  

Having retained the majority of possession in the opening five minutes, the hosts went on to work the ball through The Rovers’ defence to Meada, who lurked just inside the penalty area. The Japanese international went on to calmy tuck the ball into the bottom left corner, giving Celtic the lead in the 6th minute.  

Raith avoided a quick second after McGregor’s effort from outside the box cannoned off the joint of The Rovers’ goal just one minute later.  

A period of consolidation followed for Raith as they started to advance up the pitch, and a few corners ensued after Mullin’s effort to dink the ball into the net was pushed behind for a corner. Stevenson’s ball into the box gave Celtic a bit of work to do, but a waved-away penalty appeal meant the chance came to nothing.  

Raith might have thought they could get to halftime with just a one-goal deficit after a Celtic goal was chalked off for offside in the 44th minute, but the hosts had other ideas.  

Celtic successfully defended a cross into their box and started a lightning counterattack towards Raith’s goal. Yang collected the ball out wide and curled a pass across Raith’s goal to Meada, who fired the ball into the roof of the net for both his and Celtic’s second of the match. The halftime whistle went just two minutes later.  

Celtic started the second half as strongly as they had finished the first. With just over a minute of the second half played, the hosts once again worked the ball into Raith’s box and Nicolas Kuhn was there to tuck the ball away for their third goal of the match.   

An excellent ball to the back post gave Celtic their fourth after Ralston picked out Yang, who was left free to knock the ball past Rae at the near post in the 55th minute.  

A deflection forced Rae to make an impressive quick reaction save, but this only prolonged Celtic’s fifth…  

Celtic again found success in Raith’s penalty area and, for the final time of the match, played a ball to the back post to the awaiting Daizen Meada, who fired in from close range to seal his hat-trick in the 76th minute.  

Both sides made some changes in the final few minutes, but no further goals came. The full-time whistle signified the end of Raith’s Scottish Cup run whilst Celtic progressed through to the sixth round of the competition.  

Raith return to their Scottish Championship campaign next Saturday with 4th Placed Partick Thistle making the trip to Starks Park.  

Live Updates

0'
Welcome to today’s Scottish Cup tie at Celtic Park. The teams are warming up and the Raith fans are in full voice
0'
Game is underway. Raith shooting towards Clyde Gateway end
1'
McCowan with a shot that comes close
3'
Freekick Raith just at Raith dugout after a foul on Easton
4'
Brown tries to slot the ball through to Gullan but it’s not got the weight and it’s intercepted
5'
Celtic score as Maeda slots home
7'
From a Celtic corner played short ball eventually falls to McGregor who hits the corner of the bar
13'
Gullan down injured, he’s received treatment but Pollock is also stripped
17'
McCowan tries for the shot but it’s blocked. Raith just not getting out their own half
19'
Liam Dick to Stevenson but the latters pass to Gullan isn’t accurate
22'
Raith freekick after a foul on Easton, quickly taken and Mullin has it
22'
Mullin has the ball in the Celtic box but he can’t slot away
23'
McCowan again with a shot and again blocked
24'
Gullan with a lovely pass to Mullin, he takes it in lifts the ball forcing a Raith corner
25'
From the corner Raith get the ball into the mix Easton is on the ground but play goes on
27'
Celtic corner ball played to front of 18 yard box, flicked in and cleared
31'
From a Celtic free kick ball played to the 6 yard box and Rae comfortably catches
33'
A great lift of the ball from McCowan but the finish from Schlupp is poor
36'
↔️
Celtic sub off Bernardo and bring on Hatate
37'
From a Raith corner ball played into the mix but Sinisalo punches clear
41'
Brown intercepts a Celtic pass but his first touch is heavy and ball travels too far for him to continue the run
42'
Schlupp aims to pass low across the Raith box but Hanlon slides in the way
43'
Doherty lifts the ball out for the Raith box and away from the danger area
44'
Celtic think they have a second and it’s offside … VAR checked and still offside
45'
Fourth official indicates three minutes added time
45'
+1 Celtic have a second it’s Maeda who thumps the ball into the net
45'
+3 red blows for half time Celtic 2 (Maeda 5’, 45+1) Raith 0
45'
Raith get the second half underway
46'
Yang slides the ball into the 6 yard box and McCowan is there to slot the ball into the net
50'
Rae gets down to smother a Celtic shot
53'
Free kick Raith on the half way line after foul on Brown
55'
Yang is left unmarked as the ball is crossed over to him and he slots the ball into the net
56'
↔️
Raith sub off Gulllan and bring in Pollock
57'
Mullin intercepts Scales Yang pass but he can’t take the ball further
60'
Rae is forced for an out stretch save as Celtic have a pop about 25 yards out
62'
Matthews slots the ball for Pollock, the latter tries hard to get a hold of it but he’s paced out
63'
↔️
Celtic triple substitution off come McGregor, Kühn and Yang and on come Kenny, Engels and Jota
66'
Schlupp feeds the through to Kenny who attempts to cross the ball into the Raith box
67'
Scott Brown picks up a lose ball, Mullin is on the side line main stand side but the pass isn’t accurate and out for a Celtic throw in
71'
↔️
Cleric sub off Schlupp and bring on Nawrocki
73'
Brown to Easton but Easton’s first touch is heavy
74'
Brown to Mullin he tries to find a way through but is challenged
76'
McCowan slips the ball across the face of goal and Maeda slides in to score his hatrick
80'
Rae punches clear a freekick from Murray
81'
Freekick Raith as Mullin challenged off the ball in front of Raith dugout
82'
Pollock tries to run through on goal but he’s offside
87'
↔️
Raith sub off Easton and bring on Marsh
89'
Engels free kick goes over the bar
90'
Ref ends the game Celtic 5 (Maeda 5’, 45+1, 76, McCowan 46’, Yang 55’) Raith 0

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