Stars Abroad: Ayunga targets another Hampden moment as St Mirren chase Celtic upset in Scottish Cup semi-final

Harambee Stars forward Jonah Ayunga is aiming to deliver another big-game performance at Hampden Park as St. Mirren takes on Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final later today.

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The Kenyan striker returns to familiar territory carrying memories of a defining night in December, when he struck twice in the second half to inspire the Buddies to a famous 3-1 victory over Celtic and lift the League Cup.

That performance not only earned him a winners’ medal but also cemented his place as a key figure in the side’s big-match moments.

What felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience now presents itself again, just four months later, with Ayunga and St. Mirren standing one match away from another final at the same venue.

Despite changes in the dugout for both sides, belief remains strong within the Paisley outfit.

Their narrow league defeat at Parkhead last weekend did little to dent confidence, with the team leaving Glasgow convinced they can compete toe-to-toe with the Scottish giants.

“I think there’s a lot of positives from both those games,” Ayunga said in an interview with the Daily Mail. “The goal we conceded is not one where we feel like they’ve outplayed us. It’s a preventable one."

“We’ve looked at things we can tweak this week, and hopefully that makes a difference. It’s going to be a very different game with two different managers and a few different faces on each team. I don’t really want to go in more confidently. I want that same feeling of knowing you can lose if you don’t turn up fully.”

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Having spent enough time in Scotland, Ayunga is also aware of the narrative that often surrounds such fixtures, where Celtic’s performance tends to dominate the conversation regardless of the outcome.

“That’s fine,” he added. “If we manage to get a result, it will be about how poor Celtic have been, not that we deserved to win. That’s always the noise around this fixture. Everyone will be looking at Celtic and expecting them to go through. It’s up to us to upset them.”

St Mirren have also been boosted by the impact of Jacob Devaney, whose presence in midfield has added control and forward thrust to the team’s play. His composure on the ball and ability to link play have provided a platform for attackers like Ayunga to thrive.

“I think it’s his calmness on the ball,” Ayunga noted. “He’s always showing, always ready to receive it, and rarely loses possession. If he gets the chance to play forward, he has that in his locker. He’s very important in helping us play forward. When the ball goes into him, it sticks, so you can time your movement. He’s good to have in the team.”

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Buoyed by last year’s cup success, St. Mirren heads into the semi-final with renewed hunger and belief that another statement result is within reach.

“There’s definitely more expectation now, but we want it more than ever. Having tasted that success, we want to get back to the final and see if we can lift another trophy,” said the former Bristol Rovers forward.