SNS GroupHolders Celtic have reached the Scottish Cup final after coming out on top in a dramatic match against Aberdeen that needed a penalty shoot-out to separate the teams.
Killian Phillips saw his penalty saved to give Celtic a 6-5 win in the shoot-out after the teams had drawn 3-3 after extra-time.
Bojan Miovski opened the scoring for the Dons early in the game but Celtic drew level through Nicolas Kuhn to ensure the sides were level at the break.
James Forrest came off the bench in the second half and scored from outside the box to put his side ahead. Celtic held the lead until the 90th minute when Ester Sokler scored a header that rescued Aberdeen’s hopes and forced extra time.
O’Riley hit what looked to be the winner at the end of the first period of extra-time with a composed finish but in the 120th minute Angus MacDonald headed in another late leveller.
That forced a penalty shoot-out that ended with heartache for the Dons and jubilation for Celtic .
Aberdeen had arrived at the national stadium hoping to continue a cup run that has been a bright spot amidst a disappointing league campaign.
They enjoyed the perfect start when they took the lead after just two minutes.
Leighton Clarkson was the architect, threading a perfect ball through the Celtic defence and allowing Bojan Miovski to race through. The North Macedonia striker showed his trademark composure to fire his shot off the onrushing Joe Hart and into the net.
Celtic were level after 21 minutes. Aberdeen defender Angus McDonald was caught dwelling on the ball and Kyogo Furuhashi stole the ball from the stopper before racing in on goal. He looked to be one on one with Dons keeper Kelle Roos but Stefan Gartenmann got across to block just as the Celtic striker let his shot fly.
The ball cannoned off Gartenmann and fell to the feet of Kuhn who just slotted a straightforward finish into the empty net.
Aberdeen had a penalty appeal just before half time when Miovski claimed handball by Liam Scales as the defender cut off a promising attack. VAR reviewed the incident and ruled that contact had taken place outside the box.
Brendan Rodgers waited until just after an hour before making changes to his side, replacing captain Callum McGregor with Tomoki Iwata and taking Yang off for Forrest.
Forrest delivered for his manager immediately.
Seconds after coming on to the park, the veteran winger took possession on the left and cut inside across the front of the Aberdeen box before opting for accuracy over force, putting a shot out of Roos’ reach and into the opposite corner of the goal.
Aberdeen had a solid opportunity to restore parity with ten minutes left on the clock when a quick-fire breakaway saw Miovski play in Junior Hoilett but the Dons substitute’s first touch forced him wide and his shot went well past Hart’s far post without troubling the Celtic keeper.
Celtic had chances to put the game to bed, while Aberdeen threw everything they had forward in pursuit of a leveller. They got their reward just as the clock hit 90 minutes.
Hoilett found himself in acres of space on the left and he raised his head before lifting a cross to the back post that substitute Ester Sokler met with a firm downward header that Hart couldn’t stop.
Both sides had chances in injury time, a Luis Palma header going across the face of the Aberdeen goal before the Dons went to the other end of the pitch and saw a Hoilett shot blocked but the whistle went soon after to indicate another 30 minutes of action.
After the restart, Sokler had a chance to put the Dons in front when Jamie McGrath split the Celtic centre-backs with a pass but the striker’s finish was fired past the post.
Celtic struck at the end of the first period of extra time. An attack down the right saw Forrest slide the ball in to the path of Johnston and his cut-back found O’Riley in the centre of the box and with time to place a finish high into the net and put his side 3-2 ahead.
There was still drama to come, with Aberdeen claiming a late penalty when Hoilett went down under a challenge from Cameron Carter-Vickers. Referee Don Robertson instead awarded Celtic a free-kick for an earlier challenge and a VAR review backed the match official.
Soon after, a high ball into the box gave Sokler another half chance but he was stretching for it and prodded a finish past the post.
Aberdeen were running out of time but with just a minute left on the clock, they clawed their way back into the game again.
The goal was almost a carbon copy of their previous leveller. Hoilett swung a ball to the back post but this time it was McDonald who rose highest at the back post to score a header that send the Dons fans into a frenzy.
Three additional minutes passed without further drama and triggered a nail-biting penalty shoot-out.
Idah took the first spot kick for Celtic and sent Roos the wrong way before Jamie McGrath converted Aberdeen’s first penalty.
Palma placed his effort low into the corner of the net and MacDonald stepped up for the Dons and rifled a powerful shot under Joe Hart to make it 2-2 in the shoot-out.
O’Riley made no mistake with his penalty and Sokler made it three out of three for Aberdeen.
Paulo Bernardo squeezed his shot just out of Roos’ reach for Celtic’s fourth and the keeper stayed down with cramp for a minute before the shoot-out continued. That meant a wait for Ryan Duncan to take his kick and when he did step up, he saw his powerful shot cannon back off the post.
Celtic had the advantage and Hart then surprisingly stepped up to take a penalty of his own. The goalkeeper hit a thunderous effort but hit the post, giving Aberdeen a lifeline. Hoilett nailed his penalty to make it all square.
Alistair Johnston tucked his penalty away to make it 5-4 to Celtic and Jack Milne took responsibility for Aberdeen’s next kick, his kick squirming under Hart and into the net.
Tomoki Iwata showed his cool to put Celtic in front again, putting Killian Phillips under pressure and the Aberdeen player saw his kick stopped by Hart.
Celtic fans celebrated wildly and the holders go through to face the winners of Sunday’s match between Hearts and Rangers in next month’s final.
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