Penalty shoot-out heartache for Celtic at Hampden | OneFootball

Scottish Cup finalSaturday, May 24, 2025Hampden Park, Glasgow

CELTIC…1(Dorringston 39og)

ABERDEEN…1(Schmeichel 82og)

Aberdeen win 4-3 on penalties

Celtic’s bid for a domestic treble came to an end following a penalty shoot-out at Hampden, with Aberdeen coming out on top in the shoot-out by 4-3.

The Hoops started the game well and dominated the first 45 minutes, although the only frustration would have been the lack of clear-cut chances created in the course of the first-half.

The Hoops were trying to use the flanks to stretch the Aberdeen defence, who were defending in numbers, and it was just before the half-hour mark before Celtic fashioned a clear chance.

That came from Greg Taylor, who was supplied by Nicolas Kuhn, and from 25 yards out the left-back unleashed a powerful shot which went just over the bar.

The breakthrough goal came in the 38 minute from an Arne Engels corner.

Cameron Carter-Vickers was battling for it, but the ball deflected off Aberdeen defender, Alfie Dorrington and spun into the net beyond Dimitar Mitov to give the Hoops a 1-0 lead at the break.

The second-half started in the same vein, with Celtic carving out a chance inside the first 90 seconds following good play from Adam Idah and Daizen Maeda, but Nicolas Kunh’s shot was comfortably saved.

Aberdeen had their first chance of the game in the 50th minute when Leighton Clarkson had a free-kick from just outside the area, but it was an easy save for Kasper Schmeichel.

Just two minutes later, Celtic carved out another chance when Alistair Johnston delivered a dangerous ball into the box, which was cleared for a corner, and from the resulting set-piece, Maeda headed just over from the near post.

There was another double chance in the 72 minute when Luke McCowan’s shot was blocked inside the six-yard box and cleared, but only as far as Greg Taylor, whose powerful effort was deflected over the bar.

With eight minutes remaining, Aberdeen grabbed an unlikely equaliser when Shayden Morris’ cross from the right was deflected into the Celtic net by Kasper Schmeichel, and that goal meant an extra 30 minutes of football at Hampden.

Celtic had the better of the early exchanges in extra-time with Liam Scales heading over from a corner before Luke McCowan had a volley saved. And then captain, Callum McGregor, tried his luck from the edge of the box but his shot was wide of the target.

Early in the second period of extra-time, Dante Polvara had a great chance for Aberdeen, but his volley from 10 yards out following a corner was just over.

At the other end, Jeffrey Schlupp fired in a powerful shot from 18 yards which crashed off the bar, while Pape Gueye saw an effort saved by Kasper Schmeichel.

But with no further scoring in the match, the destiny of the Scottish Cup was decided on penalties.

And it was Aberdeen who triumphed in the shoot-out, with Callum McGregor and Alistair Johnston both seeing their efforts saved by Dimitar Mitov.

It was heartache for the Hoops, who were denied the treble, while Aberdeen lifted the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1990.