Scotland: Celtic win the double

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 Celtic 1 - 0 Rangers

Celtic won the double and Rangers ended the season with nohing.

Adam Idah emerged as Celtic's last-minute hero under the bright Hampden sun.

With the Scottish Cup's fate hanging in the balance and the game deadlocked at 0-0, extra-time seemed inevitable. However, Paulo Bernardo, a substitute for Reo Hatate, took control. 

As the Rangers defence hesitated, Bernardo unleashed a stunning 25-yard strike that baffled goalkeeper Jack Butland with its swerving path.

Seizing the opportunity, Republic of Ireland forward Adam Idah sprinted at full speed to reach the deflected ball before Butland could recover. The Norwich City loanee was first to it, driving it into the net and clinching Celtic's 42nd Scottish Cup victory.

Scotland: Celtic win the double

Rodgers maintained his unbeaten record at the national stadium as Celtic held on during the 10 minutes of stoppage time. Veteran goalkeeper Joe Hart savoured his final moments as a professional footballer. There were many other talking points during the match. 

VAR drama

Earlier drama unfolded in the 59th minute when Rangers believed they had scored. Abdallah Sima appeared to redirect a cross from James Tavernier into the net amidst a crowded penalty area. Joe Hart, caught in the melee, missed the ball, which then found Sima at the back post.

However, Hart’s protests about being pushed were validated when referee Nick Walsh, after a VAR review, disallowed the goal, booked Nico Raskin, and awarded Celtic a free-kick. This decision was met with cheers from Celtic supporters and frustration from the Rangers fans.

Celtic end the season on a high

This derby had a different feel compared to the previous four this season, but the result remained the same. Even though Celtic weren't at their best, especially in the second half, they managed to pull through when it mattered most. Securing a league and cup double is an incredible achievement, especially considering the challenging moments they faced along the way.

Previous Celtic stories from the 2023/2024 season

Champions Celtic win on final day (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com)

Celtic champions again (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com)

Celtic progress to Scottish Cup Final (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com)

The best reaction

Sean, a Celtic fan from Edinburgh, added: "That was not the greatest performance, but a great result in the end.  Adam Idah has now proven he's worth a gamble in the summer and offers us something different up front. It ended up being a great season, and now Brendan Rodgers must be backed in the market to improve the team going forward. We need to perform well in the Champions League next season."

Becky, another Celtic fan, added: "I've had my doubts, but Adam Idah is essential for us. He offers something unique that we lack in other players. Brendan Rodgers needs to step up this transfer window to secure our dominance for next season. Celtic can enjoy their bragging rights over the summer."

Mark, a Rangers fan from Preston, posted on Facebook: "When you've been second best for a while, it's hard for the players to break out of that mindset. We have too many players who think they understand what it means to play for Rangers. Many of them are more eager to fight than to play the game. Most aren't good enough, and we need to make a few changes over the next few weeks and months."

Keira posted on Facebook about the impact of previous managerial changes. She said: "Looking back, we should never have let Giovanni van Bronckhorst go. No disrespect to Philippe Clement, but Michael Beale's choices in putting together a new squad have had a disastrous impact on the club. Rangers were struggling when Gio was sacked, but we were dealing with a brutal number of injuries and playing in the Champions League. This exposed our weaknesses."

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