Aberdeen lift Scottish Cup for first time since 1990 after tense penalty shootout against Celtic

Aberdeen have won the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1990, ending Celtic’s treble hopes with a penalty shootout win.

Alfie Dorrington’s own goal gave Celtic a first-half lead but the Dons levelled in the 84th minute when Kasper Schmeichel diverted Shayden Morris’ cross into his own net.

Neither side could find a winner in extra-time and, after a nail-biting penalty shootout, Aberdeen came out on top and delivered their first major silverware since 2014.

It marks an emotional end to a rollercoaster first season under manager Jimmy Thelin, where the Pittodrie side had highs and lows in the league before a fifth-place finish.

Now, the side can not only celebrate the cup triumph, but have guaranteed group stage football in Europe this season with an against-the-odds performance in a hard-fought final.

Celtic went into the game as heavy favourites, not least because they have found goals easy to come by against the Dons this season, most recently in a 5-1 win at Pittodrie less than two weeks ago.

Thelin, also mindful of the 6-0 thumping at Hampden from the same opposition in the League Cup, knew something had to change for his side and sprang a surprise with his starting line-up. The Swede made four changes in personnel but also adjusted the shape to an unfamiliar three-man defence with wing-backs.

Rodgers was able to name an unchanged side from the one that drew 1-1 with St Mirren on Premiership trophy day last week.

The opening stages saw Aberdeen well-organised and Celtic dominating the ball but finding little space for their attacking players. The first serious attempt on goal didn’t come until the 28th minute when Greg Taylor took aim from outside the box but saw his effort whistle narrowly over the bar.

In the previous meeting between the teams at Hampden this season, Celtic had enjoyed plenty possession but had to wait until the half hour mark when Cameron Carter-Vickers put his side ahead.

This time, it was the 39th minute when Celtic made the breakthrough and the American international was involved once again. A corner was swung in from the left and Carter-Vickers got a flick on it, only for the ball to come off Alfie Dorrington’s shoulder and go into the net off the post.

Aberdeen couldn’t muster a response in the final minutes of the first half, and Thelin opted to stay with the same team for the start of the second, with his subs unused.

The Dons had posed no attacking threat and a set piece looked to be their best way of getting back into the game but a free-kick taken by Leighton Clarkson from about 20 yards out was easily held by Kasper Schmeichel. It was a rare foray upfield but despite having plenty of the ball Celtic weren’t finding chances easy to come by either.

By the 57th minute, Thelin had seen enough and adjusted his plan, taking off Topi Keskinen and bringing on Papa Gueye to change the attack. His introduction prompted Aberdeen’s longest sustained spell in Celtic’s half but the holders were still in control overall and holding the advantage.

Despite that dominance, the lead was just one goal and just after the hour mark, Rodger prepares three Celtic subs. But before they could take the field there was arguable the best chance from open play as Arne Engels struck the post with a curling shot.

It was the Belgian’s last act of the game as he departed the pitch along with Adam Idah and Nicolas Kuhn, James Forrest, Luke McCowan and Yang joining the action.

The fresh legs helped Celtic stay on top but still clear-cut opportunities were in short supply and Aberdeen knew just one moment could turn the game on its head.

Thelin brought on Dante Polvara, Oday Dabbagh and Shayden Morris for Ante Palaversa, Leighton Clarkson and Kevin Nisbet in a final roll of the dice.

The change paid off quickly and Aberdeen drew level. With less than ten minutes left, Morris broke free on the right and drove in a low cross that Schmeichel dove to palm away, only for the ball to squirm under him and end up in the back of the net.

Celtic had a golden opportunity to win it in the third minute of injury time, when Premiership Player of the Year Daizen Maeda raced through on goal but Mitov blocked the Japanese forward’s shot.

Almost immediately, an Aberdeen counter-attack saw Morris force a corner and raise the hopes of the Dons support.

What had been a one-sided match had gone end-to-end as both sides aimed to deliver a decisive blow before extra time was needed but referee Don Robertson indicated that another 30 minutes would be needed to separate the sides.

The first half of extra time brought little in the way of goalmouth action but at the beginning of the second spell Celtic sub Jeffrey Schlupp smacked a powerful shot from distance off the face of the bar.

Aberdeen had a chance when a breakaway saw Gueye free to shoot from the edge of the box but he couldn’t get enough on his finish to beat Schmeichel.

Nobody could find the decisive moment, and penalties were needed to decide who would lift the trophy.

Celtic captain McGregor saw his effort saved before Dons skipper Graeme Shinnie nailed his effort. Johnny Kenny sent Mitov the wrong way to score his and Dante Polvara made no mistake in putting his penalty past Schmeichel.

Luke McCowan kept Celtic in it with his spot kick and Oday Dabbagh restored Aberdeen’s lead with another cleanly-taken effort. Daizen Maeda scored his penalty and Ante Palaversa stepped up to make it 4-3.

That meant Alistair Johnston had to score for Celtic but Mitov dived and saved low to spark wild celebrations in the red end of Hampden and end Aberdeen’s long wait to lift the trophy.