Soccer

Dundee win sets up quarter-final clash with Celtic

Rangers Alfredo Morelos tries to get past Dunfermilne's Lee Ashcroft during the Betfred Cup second round match at Ibrox. Rangers won 6-0 with Morelos scoring twice
Rangers Alfredo Morelos tries to get past Dunfermilne's Lee Ashcroft during the Betfred Cup second round match at Ibrox. Rangers won 6-0 with Morelos scoring twice Rangers Alfredo Morelos tries to get past Dunfermilne's Lee Ashcroft during the Betfred Cup second round match at Ibrox. Rangers won 6-0 with Morelos scoring twice

DEFENDING champions Celtic will travel to Ladbrokes Premiership rivals Dundee for their Betfred Cup quarter-final.

Celtic, who entered the competition in the second round, ensured they got their title defence off to the perfect start by dismantling Kilmarnock 5-0 on Tuesday.

The tricky tie is Dundee's reward after knocking out local rivals Dundee United with a 2-1 victory at Dens Park in the second round on Wednesday.

Championship side Livingston, who are the only team left in the competition that are not in the top flight, will travel to Hibernian in their quarter-final clash.

Rangers are away at Partick Thistle after breezing past Dunfermline in a 6-0 second-round victory while Aberdeen will make the trip to Motherwell.

Pedro Caixinha believes Alfredo Morelos began a long scoring career at Rangers with a double in the thumping 6-0 Betfred Cup win over Dunfermline at Ibrox.

Kenny Miller and Bruno Alves had the home side two up in eight minutes before the 21-year-old Colombian, who signed a three-year deal from HJK Helsinki, opened his account with a low drive and defender James Tavernier added a fourth before the break.

Portuguese attacker Daniel Candeias fired in a free-kick in the 56th minute for his first Rangers goal and Morelos grabbed his second from close range to emphasise the gap between the two sides on the night.

Caixinha was reluctant to comment too much on the quarter-final draw which sees the Gers travel to Partick Thistle, saying: "It's too far away from now. We have a month to get there, we need to fight to get to the semi-finals but that's all for the moment."

However, Caixinha was full of praise for the performance of Morelos, adding: "I think what really pleased me is the anger and the passion he played with.

"He fought for every ball, he was always fighting. And he was in the right place to score.

"That's just two goals I'm sure in a long career of scoring many more goals for Rangers.

"Strikers live on goals and I am pleased my two strikers scored. The levels of confidence make a difference".

The Portuguese boss was pleased in general with the way his side went about their business against the Championship side.

He said: "I really enjoyed it tonight, really pleased with the quality, commitment, pace and rhythm.

"The leadership was good, controlling the game. I have to be pleased with that."

Dunfermline boss Allan Johnston, a former Gers attacker, said: 'We were really poor tonight, losing the early goals.

"You can see the quality they've got once they've got their confidence up and start playing, so we made it a long night for us.

"When the third went in and then the fourth went in very quickly. They have got a lot of good players who can hurt you, but we made it easy for them.

"We need to make sure we respond in the right manner.

"This is not going to make or break our season, a game against Rangers. We need to get back on track in the Championship, which is where we want to be successful this season."

The quarter-final matches to be played between September 19-21:

Hibernian v Livingston

Motherwell v Aberdeen

Dundee v Celtic

Partick Thistle v Rangers