Sebastian Tounekti scoresImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Sebastian Tounekti's goal - Celtic's third - effectively ended the tie

ByAndy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland at Tannadice

Celtic's strong start to the season continued as they swept past Dundee United to book a place in the League Cup quarter-finals.

First-half goals from Auston Trusty and Camilo Duran put the visitors in control, Sebastian Tounekti scored from a counter-attack to end the tie as a contest, and Benjamin Nygren added a fabulous fourth as Celtic eased into the next round.

United struck the woodwork five times but could not find a way through and will be left to rue both their profligacy and defensive slackness.

Martin O'Neill returned to the Celtic dugout after missing last weekend's Scottish Premiership victory over Kilmarnock following a brief hospital stay.

His side enjoyed most of the ball early on at Tannadice but survived a double scare when Julius Eskesen, then Emmanuel Agyei, saw efforts come back off the same post as United threatened an opener.

The first goal instead came at the other end as Trusty met Benjamin Nygren's corner with a lovely glancing header that beat Jack Walton.

With United still reeling, Celtic struck again two minutes later.

Neat build-up play allowed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to break into the box and square for Kasper Hogh. He could not supply the finish, but Duran was on hand to prod home from close range.

United wanted the goal ruled out for a handball from Hogh, but a VAR check found it was not deliberate and the goal stood.

United had a penalty appeal for a handball against Oxlade-Chamberlain waved away, then they struck the woodwork for a third time early in the second half when a rocket from Zac Sapsford crashed off the crossbar.

Celtic effectively ended the contest, though, when they broke quickly and Tounekti cut inside Joshua Rawlins and tucked a neat finish past Walton.

Bert Esselink's powerful header looked set to pull one back, but the curse of the crossbar struck yet again.

Mika Baur came off the bench for his Celtic debut and the German midfielder was involved as the ball was worked to Nygren, who rifled a wonderful strike into the top corner as Celtic marched into the last eight.

There was still time for United to hit the frame of the goal one last time, a long-range effort from Mehdi Merghem kissing the junction of crossbar and post.

Analysis: New-look Celtic look the part

After a tumultuous campaign last season and a summer of uncertainty in the transfer market, the pieces look now to be falling into place for this Celtic in a fashion that is ominous for the rest of Scottish football.

They gave up some chances, but there was always the sense that the champions just had too many threats for United to contain.

The physicality, movement and work-rate of Hogh, allied to the pressing and pace of Duran, caused all sorts of problems for the home defence.

Tounekti's final product can still often frustrate, but he was a constant menace and took his goal well. Despite the significant loss of Daizen Maeda in the summer, the Celtic forward line is looking strong.

Of course, the true test will come against LASK in Champions League qualifying on Wednesday, but with Baur and Haissem Hassan getting their debuts at Tannadice, O'Neill got what he wanted in their final match before bouncing into Europe.

United manager Jim Goodwin said of last weekend's 4-0 Premiership defeat to Hearts that the scoreline was not a fair reflection of the game.

He may feel similarly about this game, given his side fashioned a number of chances and were denied five times by the woodwork.

There was no lack of desire on show, but Celtic's superior quality, particularly in that final third, ultimately proved the difference.

What's next for these teams?

Celtic face Austrian champions LASK on Wednesday (20:00 BST) in the first leg of the Champions League play-off.

Dundee United are next in action against city rivals Dundee in the Premiership next Saturday (17:45).

Player of the match

Number: 8 B. Nygren
Average rating 7.41
Number: 5 V. Ševelj
Average Rating: 5.76
Number: 14 J. Eskesen
Average Rating: 5.66
Number: 9 Z. Sapsford
Average Rating: 5.62
Number: 26 A. Yoro
Average Rating: 5.59
Number: 1 J. Walton
Average Rating: 5.57
Number: 12 E. Agyei
Average Rating: 5.57
Number: 77 D. Bennie
Average Rating: 5.57
Number: 18 M. Forbes
Average Rating: 5.54
Number: 15 L. Rose
Average Rating: 5.53
Number: 3 B. Esselink
Average Rating: 5.51
Number: 7 M. Merghem
Average Rating: 5.50
Number: 23 J. Rawlins
Average Rating: 5.37
Number: 19 K. Ciubotaru
Average Rating: 5.35
Number: 21 J. Randall
Average Rating: 5.33
Number: 8 Panutche Camará
Average Rating: 5.15
Number: 93 I. Metsoko
Average Rating: 5.03

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.