THISTLE ARE TORN APART

Rodgers' free-scoring Hoops are far too sharp for The Jags as Firhill demolition sets up Old Firm semi-final clash

- BY MICHAEL GANNON

SEBASTIAN TOUNEKTI scored his first Celtic goal as the holders eased past Partick Thistle into the Premier Sports Cup semifinals.

The Tunisia international followed his man-of-the-match debut at Kilmarnock with another impressive display capped off with a goal inside 60 seconds of the second half at Firhill.

The visitors were two in front by that stage thanks to headed goals within two minutes from Yang Hyun-jun and Liam Scales.

Thistle had some decent moments in the second half before substitute Luke McCowan rounded off a 4-0 win.

The Jags had won eight of their 10 matches since former Celtic defender Mark Wilson took sole charge of the Championship side in the summer and Hoops manager Brendan Rodgers (below) named a strong side for the Glasgow derby.

Viljami Sinisalo was handed the gloves while Kieran Tierney came back in to play his first full match since his summer return.

Yang started in front of Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Kelechi Iheanacho was handed a first start as Daizen Maeda was afforded a rest from the beginning ahead of Wednesday's Europa League opener against Red Star Belgrade in Serbia.

After the Celtic fans continued their protests against the board with thousands of posters and chanting, their team pinned Thistle in from the start. Tierney, Callum McGregor and Iheanacho were off target from half-chances before Tounekti forced the first save.