Aberdeen 3 – 3 Celtic

Joe Hart was Celtic’s penalty hero as they beat Aberdeen in a frantic recreation at Hampden Park to achieve the Scottish Cup ultimate.

The Hoops goalkeeper denied Killian Phillips within the shootout after he had missed an earlier penalty to keep up Brendan Rodgers’ profitable run on the nationwide stadium.

It was a drama-filled recreation at Hampden Park as Nicholas Kuhn pulled Celtic degree after Bojan Miovski’s opener for the Dons inside three minutes.

James Forrest got here off the bench to indicate what he nonetheless has to supply at Celtic, curling in a low shot previous Roos to ship the Hoops followers wild.

However Aberdeen weren’t crushed and after Miovski and Junior Hoilett went shut, Ester Sokler headed residence on the again submit because the full-time whistle approached.

Matt O’Riley rifled a shot into the roof of the web in extra-time earlier than Angus MacDonald struck to take the sport to penalties.

With sudden loss of life approaching within the shootout, Hart reacted to make sure he’ll finish his profession with a Scottish Cup ultimate in opposition to Rangers or Hearts on Could 25.

Celtic edge Aberdeen in Hampden epic

Brendan Rodgers has loved much more easy afternoons at Hampden however nonetheless earned an ideal tenth victory on the nationwide stadium in his first recreation right here because the League Cup ultimate in December 2018.

The Dons surprised the favourites two minutes in. Leighton Clarkson performed an ideal move inside Cameron Carter-Vickers to get Miovski in behind and the North Macedonia striker beat Hart to assert his twenty fourth objective of the marketing campaign.

Celtic created two half-chances to equalise however Hyun-jun Yang headed over and Kelle Roos stood as much as parry Kyogo Furuhashi’s effort.

Aberdeen had been in any other case protecting Celtic at bay till MacDonald took a poor second contact on the ball halfway inside his half within the twenty first minute. Furuhashi to raced away earlier than his effort was blocked by Stefan Gartenmann, however the ball fell kindly for Kuhn, who rolled it previous a stranded Roos.

Aberdeen had the perfect alternative to take an interval lead however Hart saved from Gartenmann and Celtic had a let-off within the closing levels of the half when Scales dealt with simply outdoors the field, in keeping with a VAR test.

Rodgers made his first modifications within the 62nd minute, Callum McGregor changed by Tomoki Iwata and Yang making means for Forrest. The 32-year-old had a shot blocked even earlier than netting 90 seconds after approaching.

The winger dropped the shoulder to chop inside his man earlier than curling an ideal shot simply contained in the far submit from 23 yards. It was his ninth objective within the latter levels of cup competitions.

Forrest compelled Roos right into a diving save however the recreation modified with the introduction of a second Aberdeen striker, Sokler, within the 79th minute.

Aerial balls led to 2 wonderful probabilities for one more substitute, Hoilett, however a poor first contact noticed him miss the primary and Carter-Vickers blocked on the road from the second alternative.

Scales headed over from six yards and Celtic paid the value for a poor move ahead from substitute Luis Palma. The ball was labored to Hoilett, who crossed to the again submit for Sokler to go residence.

Sokler stabbed huge within the opening moments of extra-time, though he might have been known as offside if it had gone to VAR, and Celtic received again on prime earlier than taking the lead in stoppage time of the primary interval.

Forrest threaded a move that allowed Alistair Johnston to run in behind and in the reduction of for O’Riley, who discovered the highest nook from eight yards.

The drama continued. Adam Idah had a headed objective disallowed for offside earlier than failing to show O’Riley’s sq. ball residence.

Celtic survived one other VAR penalty test after Carter-Vickers caught Hoilett, the video officers backing referee Don Robertson’s view that the Aberdeen winger had dedicated a foul on Johnston seconds beforehand.

Sokler missed from shut vary earlier than MacDonald headed residence in a close to carbon copy of Sokler’s equaliser to spark wild celebrations on the trackside between gamers and followers.

Even the shootout had some outrageous twists. The primary seven penalties had been scored earlier than Roos went down with obvious cramp and wanted remedy. Ryan Duncan hit the submit after the lengthy delay.

The Celtic followers received a shock when Hart stepped as much as take the penalty that will have despatched Celtic into the ultimate. The goalkeeper additionally hit the submit.

Hoilett netted to ship the tie into sudden loss of life however Hart had the ultimate say as he denied Phillips.

What the managers stated…

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers:

“We checked out penalties throughout the week and Joe was all the time designated to take the fifth.

“With their keeper being injured, he tried to get it as huge of him as potential, nevertheless it was just a bit too huge.

“However his menality permits him to not let it hassle him and we noticed what occurred ultimately.

“He missed one, however he nonetheless ended up the hero.

“Joe’s labored lots on the psychological aspect of issues for a very long time now. He is a really optimistic, upbeat character.

“There have been a number of huge hearts on the market. By no means thoughts soccer classes, we want remedy classes now!

“Aberdeen have good gamers and so they had been free right here, they may play so I am simply so joyful for the gamers that we’re coming again right here on Could 25.

“We are able to sit up for seeing who we play then we block that out and sit up for 5 large league video games.”

Aberdeen interim boss Peter Leven:

“I am gutted. Penalties can go both means however I believed the boys had been sensible, they gave us every thing.

“Since I’ve are available I’ve all the time seen that mentality, so I knew they’d it in them.

“Trying again, we had probabilities, excellent probabilities in opposition to an excellent Celtic group. I am gutted however I am pleased with the gamers.

“General that is our fiftieth recreation of the season and a number of our gamers haven’t finished that earlier than with Europe after which attending to the ultimate of the League Cup.

“They gave every thing for the followers and the workers.”

What’s subsequent?

Aberdeen’s subsequent match is at residence to Motherwell on April 27. Kick-off 3pm.

Celtic return to Scottish Premiership motion on April 28 at Dundee, reside on Sky Sports activities. Kick-off 3pm.

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