1. Having trouble logging in by clicking the link at the top right of the page? Click here to be taken to the log in page.
    Dismiss Notice

Rampant Ryan dumps Dons as Celtic clinch 18th League Cup

Discussion in 'TalkCeltic News' started by Mr. Slippyfist, Dec 4, 2018.

By Mr. Slippyfist on Dec 4, 2018 at 7:14 PM
  1. Mr. Slippyfist

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2009
    Messages:
    5,213
    Likes Received:
    7,333
    On-form midfielder Ryan Christie was the single goal scoring hero for the Hoops as Celtic secured their 18th League Cup title, and 7th trophy in a row against Aberdeen on a rain-soaked Hampden pitch.

    Having previously spent 15 months on loan at the Reds, Christie's pivotal goal for Celtic against his former team to secure the title was a dream come true for the young Scotland midfielder - and one described by manager Brendan Rodgers as being made by "the footballing Gods".

    Scott Bain started between the sticks for Celtic, with Rodgers sticking by the current no.2 who has started in every game up until now in the League Cup this season, Craig Gordon taking a seat on the bench. This was the only change from the previous game versus Rosenborg, with one major name being deemed fit enough to make the bench - influential leader and captain - Scott Brown.

    Odds-on favourites Celtic were stifled somewhat as Aberdeen attempted to play not so much a game of football, but a game of chess by marking out Celtic's most current influential and creative players in James Forrest, Kieran Tierney and Callum McGregor, and the weather conditions making it a less than ideal platform for Celtic's general free-flowing play, but Celtic enjoyed the majority of the possession and toiled away until they received their reward.

    The earliest effort of the game came from Aussie midfielder Tom Rogic (known very well to Dons fans) who hit a fierce left-footed shot that looked bound for the bottom corner of Aberdeen's net, only for Joe Lewis to get down well and get a strong hand on the ball and divert it off onto the post.

    A fine save by the English goalkeeper was quickly followed up by an unforced error, as his misplaced pass out ended up at the feet of James Forrest, only for the on-fire winger to put his cross high and wide.

    Odsonne Edouard was the next Celt to cause Aberdeen's defence more trouble, as he latched on to yet another unforced error by defender Andy Considine, but his effort was tame and was blocked.

    Aberdeen kept up the pressure on Celtic's midfield - particularly Lewis Ferguson who stuck to Callum McGregor's backside the majority of the game - and looked as though they were going to see out the remainder of the first half unscaved.

    But, just as the game was heading into the 40th minute, Aberdeen began to put pressure on Celtic. As the red wave surged forward into Celtic's defensive area, they swung in a cross from wide with Gary Mackay-Steven making an aerial challenge only for Celtic's Belgian centre half to make an excellent diving headed clearance - one which was due to change the course of the game. A horrific clash of heads between Mackay-Steven and the Belgian occured, with both men down particularly Mackay-Steven who appeared to suffer the worst out of the two. Both sets of players appeared to be sickened by the unconscious Mackay-Steven and the opposition Belgian who writhed in agony as the blood poured from both player's heads.


    [​IMG]



    During a 6 minute period where medics swarmed the pitch, the Belgian eventually made his way back up on to his feet, and heroically confirmed he was OK to play on the remainder of the game (head wound stapled and bandaged), but Mackay-Steven was not so fortunate as the medics prepared to stretcher him off. Thankfully though, the former Celtic midfielder began to regain consciousness as he was being carried off the pitch to rounds of applause from both sets of supporters in the stadium, and was taken off to hospital (where it was later confirmed that his injuries were not as bad as first feared).

    The 6 minutes taken out for the horrendous incident proved to be the turning point of the game, as Celtic began to plug away, and just going into the the 5th minute of injury time added on to the first 45mins of the game, Celtic put together an impressive 39 pass move with 9 out of the 11 Celtic players having a touch of the ball.

    The final pass came from Celtic's Belgian centre half who received the ball and lumped up a long range pass into Aberdeen's defensive area, Ryan Christie getting beyond the Aberdeen defence into a one-on-one with Joe Lewis with a shot that went straight down the Englishman's throat, BUT he could not handle it, and the rebound then fell at Christie's foot again and this time the young Celt would not be thwarted - BOOM! Into the roof of the net and Celtic were 1-0 up, the fans showing total elation and the players even more so!


    [​IMG]



    First half drawing to a close shortly after.

    The second half begun, and Celtic had upped the tempo. Shortly after, Celtic attacked the Aberdeen defence once again, and swung in a ball into the opposition half. Dominic Ball (former Rangers loanee) attempted a diving headed clearance, but - on the edge of his own penalty area - with his tame header actually coming off of his own arm. Referee Andrew Dallas blew his whistle, and after some slight deliberation gave a penalty to Celtic.

    With Aberdeen players - probably justly - incensed at the referee's embarrassing decision, Scott Sinclair slowly made his way into the penalty box with the ball under his arm. The no.1 assigned penalty taker had been having yet another poor game, but this was his opportunity to score another important goal in his 2nd game in a row, having scored a vital headed winner the game previously against Rosenborg. When the melee had calmed down and all players lined up for the penalty, Sinclair ran up after the referee's whistle and hot the ball low to the Aberdeen keeper's right, but Lewis stole a few yards out off his line and managed to get a strong wrist to the ball sending the Aberdeen players into rapturous celebrations - some say justice was done...

    Celtic's Belgian stopper could no longer continue the game with a hamstring injury, and was replaced on the hour mark with Jozo Simunovic. The Bosnian defender didn't have long to wait before he almost became an influential part of today's story - and not for the right reasons if you're a Celtic fan!

    Aberdeen pressured Celtic and tried a penetrative pass in behind the Celtic defence, which bypassed the impressive Filip Benkovic, only for Simunovic to come across (facing toward his own goal) and sliced a clearance which sailed over the head of the onlooking Scott Bain, only for the ball to whack off the corner of the crossbar. Celtic fans let out a huge sigh of relief, and most likely one or two of them let off a follow through...


    [​IMG]


    Aberdeen's only other decent chance of the game came from a cross by Nial McGinn from the wing area, which evaded the majority of the Celtic defence only to fall to an Aberdeen player to the goalkeeper's right - but Scott Bain stood tall and spread himself as wide as possible (looked as though he had been taking tips from the Artur Boruc School of Block) and managed to do enough to put in a good save, although it turned out to be unnecessary, as the ref quickly blew the whistle for offside.


    [​IMG]

    Celtic toiled for a 2nd goal. Further chances fell to the feet of James Forrest, although the recently free-flowing goal-scoring Jamesy could only see his shot drag wide.

    Sinclair later done well surging forward on the left hand side and getting past a couple of Aberdeen defenders then finding himself out in a good goal-scoring area to the Aberdeen keeper's right, but could only hit off yet another tame effort which the goalkeeper easily dealt with, Edouard absolutely ragin off to the right as it was an easy square across centre from Sinclair that would have been almost a tap-in from the Frenchman.

    "French Eddie" was the latest to try his luck with Celtic's last proper chance at securing the game with another goal - using his power and close control, the forward easily bypassed the Red's backline and found himself one-on-one with Lewis, only for Eddie to put a pitiful excuse for a shot right into the Englishman's hands. An exceptional piece of individual brilliance finished off with a derisory finish - the story of Edouard's day...

    Scott Brown - having started every single cup final under Rodgers up until today - made his comback from injury and had replaced Tom Rogic soon after Simunovic's arrival also on the 60min mark was to be involved in a flashpoint of the game.

    Towards the end of the match, a tiring Aberdeen side saw their players go from defensively-minded to more increasingly frustrated as they began to put in less than legal challenges on the Celtic players, particularly Ferguson (son of Derek, nephew of Barry *you know who*) who came in from behind on Brown, resulting in a yellow card for the Dons dafty. This led to a bit of a barney between Brown and the greetin-faced Bampot that is Graeme Shinnie - who later accused Brown and Mikael Lustig of "lacking in dignity" for not shaking the hands of the Aberdeen players who were attempting to kick them off the park. Well boo-*-hoo ya wee * :55::55::55:


    [​IMG]



    Not much more action occurred from then on, and Celtic managed to hold on to their one-goal lead, then the final whistle was blown by Dallas. Celtic had won their third successive League Cup under Brendan Rodgers! :62::62::62::62:



    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]









    Celtic (4-1-4-1): Bain; Lustig, Boyata (Simunovic 60), Benkovic, Tierney; McGregor; Forrest (Ntcham 85), Christie, Rogic (Brown 60), Sinclair; Edouard.

    Subs not used: Gordon (g), Griffiths, Gamboa, Hayes.
    Booked: Forrest, Christie, Rogic.
    Goals: Christie 45+5.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Aberdeen (4-2-3-1): Lewis; Logan, McKenna, Considine, Lowe; Ball, Shinnie; Mackay-Steven (McLennan 45), Ferguson, McGinn (Wilson 70); Cosgrove (Anderson 78).


    Subs not used: Cerny (g), Gleeson, Wright, May.
    Booked: Cosgrove, Ferguson, Logan, Ball.
     
    JC Anton, Devlin and The Prof like this.