Celtic learn potential Scottish Cup final opponents as Hearts vs Aberdeen decided in extra-time

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The first Scottish Cup semi-final of the weekend has been decided after Hearts vs Aberdeen went all the way to penalties.

Celtic fans and staff alike will have been watching on with interest ahead of their own semi-final against St Johnstone at Hampden on Sunday.

Hearts beat Dundee 3-1 in the quarter-finals to progress, while Aberdeen dispatched of Queen’s Park after Rangers embarrassingly failed to beat the Championship side at Ibrox.

And the Edinburgh and Granite City sides clashed at Hampden on Saturday to determine who would be playing in the 2025 Scottish Cup final.

• READ MORE: Brendan Rodgers rules Hampden Park as dominant Celtic boss aims to further astonishing record

Celtic could face Aberdeen in 2025 Scottish Cup final

Celtic’s prize if they beat St Johnstone will be a Scottish Cup final against Jimmy Thelin’s Aberdeen.

The two Premiership sides played out a gruelling encounter in Mount Florida that saw two Hearts red cards, one in normal time and the other in extra-time.

Aberdeen opened the scoring after 18 minutes when Pape Habib Gueye’s header crashed off the bar and down onto Craig Gordon’s back, which ultimately put the ball in the net.

However, Hearts soon equalised through former Aberdeen striker Lawrence Shankland with a smart finish at the near post.

The Jambos went down to 10 men just before half-time as Michael Steinwender saw red for hacking down Topi Keskinen who was through on goal.

From thereon in, the game was deadlocked at 1-1 all the way to the 118th minute in extra-time when Oday Dabbagh fired in the winner for the Dons.

Just before that, Cammy Devlin was sent off for a second yellow card offence, although it was a harsh call from referee John Beaton.

Celtic’s record vs Aberdeen in Scottish Cup finals

Celtic have played Aberdeen in four previous Scottish Cup finals, the first dating back to the 1936/37 campaign when the Hoops recorded a 2-1 victory.

In the 1954 final, under the management of Jimmy McGrory, Celtic beat Aberdeen by the same scoreline with future boss Jock Stein starting for match for the Hoops.

Stein was manager when Celtic next overcame Aberdeen in a Scottish Cup final, which came during the 1966/67 Quadruple season.

Celtic are the only club in world football history to have completed the real Quadruple, which is winning the league title, both cup competitions and the European Cup, or Champions League as we know it now.

And more recently, the Bhoys were victorious over the Dons in the 2017 Scottish Cup final which sealed a historic Invincible Treble in Brendan Rodgers’ first season as boss.