Abada with a brace and also the provider as Celtic thrash Motherwell

Liel Abada scored twice and had a hand in another two goals as Celtic eased into the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals with a 4-0 victory at Motherwell.

Abada was back in the team after making way for James Forrest to net a hat-trick against Hibernian and the winger scored either side of half-time after both sides had missed good chances.

The 21-year-old then provided an assist for Reo Hatate to score after a wonderful piece of skill before his shot came off the post to allow Kyogo Furuhashi an easy finish.

A crowd of 8,370 navigated the 6.15pm kick-off time, which was demanded by the sponsors to allow them to show Celtic and Rangers consecutively on the same evening.

Forrest was one of five players dropping out from the team that started Saturday's 6-1 win while Motherwell had Blair Spittal and Connor Shields back from injury and suspension, respectively.

Motherwell had an early chance to attack but Shields over-hit a cross with Stuart McKinstry in space at the back post.

Furuhashi missed a sitter from six yards, although he looked offside, before the striker hit the underside of the bar from 22 yards. Liam Kelly recovered to save Abada's header from the rebound.

Motherwell continued to live dangerously as they used their four attacking players to press Celtic high up the park.

The tactic inevitably risked leaving them open at the back and Kelly saved well from Aaron Mooy and Furuhashi.

It also led to the occasional reward. McKinstry squandered a glorious chance when he sliced wide from six yards after Shields' persistence set him up, and Sean Goss forced a save from Benjamin Siegrist after intercepting Matt O'Riley's pass 30 yards out.

The major frustration for Motherwell manager Steven Hammell at half-time would have been the