A late double from substitute Andrius Velicka sealed the win after both teams had produced an uninspiring match at Parkhead.

Just 21,492 fans made the trip to the east end of Glasgow and those Celtic fans who stayed away would have been grateful of being spared the sight of their team passing up any chance of claiming the first silverware of the season.

Celtic's Old Firm rivals Rangers proved just too good for Motherwell as they progressed through to the last four with a 2-1 win, despite a late scare at Fir Park.

Both teams missed a string of chances which could have altered the course of the game, and Rangers skipper Barry Ferguson hit the post with a free-kick.

But goals from recalled strikers Nacho Novo and Kris Boyd either side of the break proved enough to send the away side through.

Paul Quinn's goal for Mark McGhee's men sparked a rally from Motherwell in the closing stages but it was not to be for the home side.

Barry Nicholson's hat-trick and a comical goal from Lee Miller saw Aberdeen crush Inverness 4-1 to reach the semi-finals of the competition for the first time in seven years.

Nicholson's first spot-kick came in the ninth minute after Richard Hastings scythed down Derek Young, and the midfielder added to that strike soon afterwards with another penalty after Miller was fouled by Stuart McCaffrey.

The visitors were again undone in the 45th minute when goalkeeper Michael Fraser allowed Miller to score after making a mess of trying to control a Grant Munro pass.

Graham Bayne netted a second-half consolation, but Nicholson slotted in his third late on.

There was another hat-trick at Tannadice where Noel Hunt was Dundee United's treble hero in a 3-1 win over Hamilton.

Barry Robson crossed twice for the Irishman to head United into a two-goal lead but his second in 77 minutes was countered by a Richard Offiong penalty two minutes later.

However five minutes from the end Hunt slotted home from close range from another Robson assist to finish off the Irn-Bru First Division leaders, who had knocked out Kilmarnock in the previous round.