After Celtic defeated Rangers 1-0 in today’s Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park, they have now won the trophy for 42 years. Everyone associated with Celtic Football Club will always remember Adam Idah’s incredible late goal that sealed the victory. With this goal, Celtic has won both the league and the Scottish Cup for the thirteenth time in the team’s existence. There weren’t many significant chances for either team in the first half; the first opportunity of the game came with eight minutes remaining.
Cameron Carter-Vickers’ long ball to Daizen Maeda on the left wing was controlled by the forward before he crossed it in to the box. Kyogo got in to a good position at the front post but was unable to direct the ball goalward.
Ten minutes later, Joe Hart was called in to action when a slip from Alistair Johnston allowed Fabio Silva the opportunity to have a shot at goal. Hart, on his final professional appearance, was equal to the shot and kept the game level.
The main talking point of the first half came with just under 25 minutes played.
Greg Taylor’s ball in to the box hit the arm of Ben Davies, and it looked like a definite penalty. Referee Nick Walsh had awarded a corner, and after a VAR review, that decision stood.
Just a minute later, Cameron Carter-Vickers came up with a big challenge in the box to deny the opposition a shot at goal.
Early in the second half, James Forrest cut in from the right wing and burst in to the box, but the winger was unable to get a clean shot at goal.
Just before the hour mark, Rangers thought they had made the breakthrough after James Tavernier’s corner found its way to Abdallah Sima who headed it in to the net.
The celebrations were short-lived though, as a VAR review showed that Joe Hart had been fouled by Nicolas Raskin in the build-up and so the goal was correctly disallowed.
The Ibrox side carved out other chances in the second half but their inability to make them count, combined with Celtic’s determination in defence meant that they were unable to make the breakthrough.
The game looked to be heading for extra-time when, in the 89th minute, Paolo Bernardo, who had been brought on 10 minutes previously, went charging towards the Rangers penalty area with the ball at his feet.
The entire Celtic end of the stadium was willing him to shoot, which he duly did.
His shot was saved by Jack Butland but the rebounded ball fell to the feet of Adam Idah, who slammed it in to the net and sparked wild celebrations amongst the Celtic faithful.
The referee added eight minutes on at the end of the game, and although Rangers pushed desperately to try and find an equaliser, the resilience of the Scottish champions shone through, and proved to be the difference.
When the final whistle went, the sense of joy, relief and exhaustion amongst the Celtic support, players and management was palpable as the celebrations began.
It was also an emotional moment for Joe Hart, with today’s match being the last of his professional career, a career which now ends with him as a Scottish Double winner with Celtic.
Adam Idah’s name will now be etched into Celtic’s history as the man who won the Scottish Cup with a late goal against Rangers, but credit must go to the entire Celtic team, who dug deep and drove themselves to Scottish Cup glory in the 150th anniversary year of the tournament.
Celtic’s history contains so many dramatic late winners and moments which have inspired generations of fans to describe Celtic as a fairytale club.
The way that Celtic won and the outcome of today’s game will only heighten the aura of mystery surrounding this venerable team. It is also appropriate that Celtic wins the Scottish Cup and completes an incredible league and cup double on May 25, the most memorable day in the team’s history, and they achieve it in a characteristically theatrical Celtic way. As Celtic fans remember THAT Adam Idah goal and the day additional hardware was added to the illustrious history of Celtic Football Club, it is another incredible story that will be told and remembered for years to come.
Celtic: Hart, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor, O’Riley, McGregor, Hatate (Paulo Bernardo 78′), Forrest (Kühn 71′), Kyogo (Idah 62′), Maeda
Subs: Palma, Idah, Kühn, Nawrocki, Tomoki, Paulo Bernardo, Bain, Ralston, Welsh
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Balogun, Davies, Yilmaz, Diomande, Raskin (Lundstram 94′), Sterling (McCausland 81′), Cantwell (Scott Wright 74′), Fábio Silva (Matondo 74′), Dessers (Sima 45′)
Subs: Lundstram, Jack, Matondo, Sima, Dowell, Scott Wright, McCrorie, McCausland, McKinnon
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