Sunday 23 April 2017 19:03, UK
Brendan Rodgers hailed "an outstanding team performance" as Celtic set up a Scottish Cup final clash with Aberdeen following a 2-0 semi-final victory over Rangers at Hampden Park.
Celtic took the lead after 11 minutes when Moussa Dembele picked up a long ball forward just inside the 18-yard box and cut it back for Callum McGregor, who fired past a wrong-footed Wes Foderingham from the edge of the area.
James Tavernier conceded a penalty for bringing Leigh Griffiths down in the box and Scott Sinclair stepped up to successfully convert a powerful spot-kick past the diving goalkeeper, who got a touch on it but could not keep the ball out.
"It was an outstanding team performance," Rodgers told Sky Sports. "There was a lot of control in the game, creating opportunities.
"I thought our football idea was very, very good. To come into a pressure game, Celtic (versus) Rangers is always a huge-pressure game but that level of composure and calmness was very, very good so I was very pleased."
Dembele went off injured to be replaced by Griffiths 10 minutes before the break and Rodgers confirmed the club would await the results from a scan to discover the extent of the problem.
He said: "That is a disappointment. We'll assess that once he's had his scan but it looks like he's done his hamstring."
Celtic are still on target to win the treble for the first time since 2001, having already clinched the Scottish Premiership title and League Cup this term.
And, on his side's treble hopes, Rodgers added: "There's an expectancy every time you play for Celtic. Not just in a cup final or here today.
"Thankfully these players have really, really stood up to that and showed great mentality and also great footballing qualities.
"So I'm pleased with how we're developing and we want to finish this season as strongly as we can."
Kenny Miller forced Craig Gordon into a full-stretch save to keep out his header just after the hour mark and fired onto the roof of the net midway through the second half and straight at the foot of the Hoops stopper after 79 minutes as Rangers tried to claw their way back into the tie, to no avail.
Gers boss Pedro Caixinha was disappointed his side were knocked out of the competition at the last-four stage but believes their opponents deserved to go through.
He said: "I think it was a flat performance for us in the second half - especially in the first half, we could not stop Celtic.
"Not that they arrived down there (at our goal) with too many clear chances but especially because they control and manage all the game in the way they want it.
"In the second half, the key (point) from the game is that we conceded so early. Unfortunately the penalty changed everything.
"We kept trying to look for it (a goal) because at 2-0 the result, if you score you can get a gain on the game (but) we could not and I think they deserved to win."
