Celtic blew their chance to win a domestic Treble as Aberdeen won 4-3 on penalties to lift the Scottish Cup.
Despite all of their dominance, the Hoops were poor and a shadow of the team they have been for much of the domestic 2024/25 season.
Celtic went ahead via an Alfie Dorrington own goal in the first-half and it seemed they would coast to a ninth domestic Treble against a shoddy and lifeless Aberdeen.
But they failed to further their advantage as the Dons scored a dramatic equaliser out of nowhere in the 83rd minute courtesy of a Kasper Schmeichel own goal.
The game went to extra-time and penalties where Celtic’s tiredness and lack of depth off the bench showed, with Aberdeen looking the fitter side.
In the end, it was a lottery to decide the winner of the cup as captain Callum McGregor and right-back Alistair Johnston seeing their spot-kicks saved.
Here are three things 67 Hail Hail learned from a gutting afternoon at Hampden.
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Celtic registered zero first-half shots on target
The first-half went exactly as we expected as Celtic completely dominated possession of the ball with almost all of the play in Aberdeen’s half.
The Dons were set up well, however, and made things extremely difficult for the Hoops to pass through them and make that final decisive blow.
In fact, the only way Celtic could take the lead was via an own goal from a corner. The ball was whipped in and Cameron Carter-Vickers flicked it onto Alfie Dorrington.
The ball took a massive deflection off the Dons defender and the ball bounced off the post and into the corner of the net.
Despite Celtic’s total control, the Bhoys were not firing on all cylinders and were described by Neil Lennon on Premier Sports at the interval as “ponderous” and like a “training game”.
Poor Celtic squad depth stretched to limit in extra-time
It just seemed like the game would just fizzle out at 1-0 to Celtic with the second-half going much the way of the first period.
Aberdeen were better though and got hold of the ball more. Whether that was Celtic complacency or not is up for debate – likely a bit of both.
Chris Sutton has been adamant this season that winning Trebles is not easy, and he was proven right by Aberdeen’s shock equaliser with just seven minutes of normal time to go.
Kasper Schmeichel was purely at fault for this one as Shayden Morris’ cross from the right was deflected into the net off the big Dane. It was an uncharacteristic error that sent the final to extra-time.
Aberdeen actually looked like the fitter team in the first period of extra-time, as James Forrest having to be subbed off with a knee problem and Greg Taylor pushed into midfield with Jeffrey Schlupp at left-back.
Johnny Kenny came on for Forrest and it really showed Celtic’s squad depth, for this game certainly, was stretched to its limits.
Kasper Schmeichel has a day to forget
The Celtic stopper had enjoyed a near perfect debut season at Parkhead, but disappointed at the final hurdle against Aberdeen.
His own goal was a howler and nobody saw it coming. All the big Dane had to do was parry Morris’ cross away from danger – it seemed routine for him.
But he misjudged the flight of the ball and it ricocheted into the net.
Then during penalties, Schmeichel failed to save a single effort from 12 yards. Yes, Aberdeen’s finishes were immaculate and probably no goalkeeper would have saved them.
But for him to have the chance to redeem taken away from him like that in the shootout was absolutely heartbreaking.
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