Scotland: Celtic progress to Scottish Cup Final
Celtic 3 - 3 Aberdeen
Celtic won 6-5 on penalties
Celtic clinched victory on penalties in a thrilling match at Hampden Park, securing their spot in the Scottish Cup final and leaving Aberdeen fans devastated.
The game was a nail-biting affair, with both teams showcasing their skill in a tense shootout. Joe Hart, Celtic's goalkeeper, had the opportunity to seal the win with his team's fifth penalty, but his shot hit the post, keeping the game on a knife-edge. Yet, Hart redeemed himself by saving Killian Phillips' penalty, securing Celtic's victory.
Now, Celtic awaits the outcome of the match between Hearts and Rangers next month, as they aim to claim the prestigious Scottish Cup for a record-breaking 42nd time.
The match itself was nothing short of extraordinary, with Aberdeen delivering two late equalisers to keep the contest alive. Angus MacDonald's header in the 119th minute seemed to complete a remarkable comeback after his earlier mistake had led to Celtic's equaliser.
Aberdeen, led by interim manager Peter Leven, took an early lead through Bojan Miovski before Celtic fought back. James Forrest's goal looked to have sealed the deal for Celtic in regular time, only for Ester Sokler's last-minute header to force extra time.
Despite the drama, Matt O'Riley's decisive goal put Celtic back in front, ultimately leading them to victory and extending Brendan Rodgers' unbeaten record at Hampden Park.
What are the Celtic fans saying?
What were your thoughts on this match?
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Paul was in the Celtic end at Hampden Park, he was more positive about the victory compared to some people. He said: "We managed to reach the final after a tough semi-final match. However, we need to improve our performance in the upcoming games if we want to win the league. Cal Mac seems to be struggling with fitness and Yang is not ready to start yet, but we just need to keep winning games."
Sean, a Celtic fan from Edinburgh, told us: "Although the game was exciting, we cannot ignore the fact that we performed poorly against a mediocre team from the lower end of the table. We conceded three goals and failed to put their goalkeeper under any significant pressure. This makes me think that our recent success might be temporary, and we could face difficulties against better opposition. If we manage to win the trophy, it will be because the teams we faced were not strong enough. I fear that our weaknesses will be exposed once again in European competition next season."
Andy from Glasgow, another Celtic fan, added: "Celtic made some questionable decisions during the match. We took off McGregor, a key player, when they were in a good position. Rodgers also substituted Forrest for Nawrocki, which allowed their defender to go up for the last goal as he had no one to mark. To make matters worse, Hart was chosen for the fifth penalty even though he struggles with the ball at his feet under pressure. It was a shambolic performance by us. A massive relief that we progressed."
