Celtic are crowned as the Premier Sports Cup Final 2024/25 following a dramatic win over fierce rivals Rangers at Hampden Park.
Despite a fairly even first half, which ended with Rangers defending a one-goal lead, both sides burst into life in a second half which included five goals. Nothing could separate the sides in extra time, with Daizen Maeda slotting home the match-winning penalty to secure cup glory for Celtic.
Story Of The Match
Brendan Rodgers chose to stick with the same side who secured a 1-1 draw away to Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Champions League in midweek. Luke McCowan was unavailable for selection as a result of being cup tied.
Phillipe Clement makes two changes from their 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Europa League as Leon Balogun replaced the injured John Souttar, and Ianis Hagi replacing Ridvan Yilmaz.
Hagi created the first half chance of the game after getting onto the end of a long ball from James Tavernier, firing a dangerous cross into the box that was pushed away by Kasper Schmeichel.
Nicolas Kühn found his way in behind the Rangers defense following a great through ball from Paulo Bernardo, allowing the German to cut inside onto his favoured left foot, but Jack Butland smothered the chance and saved the follow up attempt from Reo Hatate. Less than a minute later, another long ball fell for Kyogo, who saw his volley saved by Butland.
Balogan received the first yellow card of the game for bringing down Hatate outside the Rangers box in the 23rd minute. Nedim Bajrami opened the scoring for Rangers in the 40th minute after a poor pass from Greg Taylor led to Celtic being caught on the counter.
The Albanian tapped home a rebound after Schmeichel denied an initial shot from Hamza Igamane. Jefté was given a yellow card shortly before half time following a foul on Kuhn which left the winger requiring treatment off the pitch.
Celtic made the first change of the game as Auston Trusty was replaced by Liam Scales at half time. Scales fired a header wide of the post after getting on to the end of a fizzing cross by Paulo Bernardo as Celtic started the second half strongly.
Greg Taylor was dispossessed yet again as Rangers broke forward, with Carter V blocking a 1v4 situation to concede a corner. Butland pulled off a great save to deny Kyogo following great build up play between Kuhn and Johnson.
Celtic equalised from the resulting corner after Raskin deflected a Gregg Taylor volley that left the Rangers keeper with no chance of changing direction. Celtic doubled their lead less than five minutes later after Daizen Maeda produced a magical touch and finish following a skewed clearance from Balogun allowed the winger to fire Celtic in front.
Jefte was replaced by Yilmaz. Rangers saw a penalty appeal dismissed by VAR in the 62nd minute after a foul in the build-up on Carter Vickers. Kyogo was booked for a foul on Raskin. Sterling was brought on for Balogun in the 67th minute.
Celtic responded with a double change as club record signing Arne Engels and Ralston replaced Bernardo and Johnston in the 70th minute. Cerny fired a fierce shot towards goal and forced a good save from Schmeichel as Rangers searched for an equaliser.
The Dane produced another fine save to Deny Diomande minutes later. The Ivorian scored from the resulting corner after a great touch set up a volley that forced its way into the Celtic net. Kyogo was replaced by Adam Idah after conceding. Idah had a penalty appeal waved away by referee x in the 84th minute, with Bajrami firing a shot into the side netting moments later.
The Albanian was then replaced by Danilo. Celtic fired themselves back in front thanks to Nicolas Kuhn after a lovely cut back from Engels set up the chance. Rangers equalised immediately as Danilo latched onto a great cross by Cerny to tie the game at 3-3 in the 87th minute.
Raskin picked up a yellow card for a foul on Ralston as the game went into 6 minutes of added time. Carter Vickers became the next player to find himself on a yellow card after a strong challenge inside the Rangers half, with Tavernier being booked minutes later. Both sides remained deadlocked at 3-3 as the game went into extra time.
Alex Valle replaced Greg Taylor as Celtic looked for a winning goal. Scales conceded a foul right outside the box as he became another player to find his way into the referees book, with Igamane being booked for a foul on Ralston shortly afterwards. Hatate split the Rangers defense with a lovely pass, but Engels touch let him down as the ball was claimed by Butland. Igamane was replaced by Cyriel Dessers in the 100th minute, who was booked a minute later.
Both sides made changes heading into the second half of extra time as Connor Baron and Kieran Dowell replaced Diomande and Cerny. James Forrest replaced Kuhn for Celtic. Sterling received a yellow card for handball as Maeda looked to break on the counter. Hagi was the next player to be booked after obstructing Ralston. Neither side could find a winner as the game headed into a penalty shootout.
Celtic win it on penalties
A memorable cup final ended in victory for Celtic, who scored all five penalties whilst saving Yilmaz' effort to secure yet ore silverware for The Hoops. A recap of the penalty shoot-out:
Tavernier – goal, Idah – goal, Hagi – goal, McGregor – goal, Danilo – goal, Engels – goal, Yilmaz – saved by Schmeichel, Hatate – goal, Butland – goal, Maeda – scores the winning goal.
Celtic clinched their 119th major trophy to leapfrog their Glasgow rivals as the most successful club in Scottish history in a match that will go down in history.
Player of the Match – John Raskin
Despite being on the losing end, the Rangers midfielder led the press for his side that limited Celtic to hardly any room to create in the midfield and put in a proper shift in a box-to-box midfield role.