It was the hosts who started on the frontfoot not allowing Derek McInnes' side to get a hold of the ball. On 6 minutes Flood took out Stokes, and the referee (William Collum) correctly blew for a freekick. Commons whipped in a dangerous looking ball that was cleared by the stern looking Aberdeen defence. The cleared ball fell to Pawlett who burst away with pace, racing past his Celtic opponent to drive on. He played the ball wide to Hayes who had got himself into a promising position on the left wing, but the Irishman couldn't keep the over hit passs in play. Then Aberdeen lived the nightmare they dreamed. A beautiful clipped ball from Samaras up front to Stokes allowed the striker to bring the ball down with one touch and fire past Langfield. The Celtic forward should however have been booked following his antagonising celebration to the Aberdeen fans. Consistently inconsistent they say about referees these days.
About five minutes or so later, Celtic looked to double their advantage through a Van Dijk free kick. Despite showing his skill from a familiar position several weeks before against Hibs, the Dutchman's free kick was low and half hit and left a lot to be desired. Following a poor 20 minute period for the Dons, they were now growing into the game naturally as more of the ball was being retained. Pawlett fired in a cross from the left that fizzed past everyone in the box reaching Izaguirre who appeared to handle inside the area. No penalty given though.On 27 minutes a neat flick down the wing to Hayes from Robson put the winger in behind the Celtic defence, before he was halted unfairly by Brown who was booked for his challenge. The resulting free kick was a smart one as McGinn passed the ball to Robson who had pulled off his man at the edge of the box. The midfielders shot was deflected wide for a corner though but keeping up the Aberdeen pressure on Celtic for the time being. The corner which was put in by Robson was met by Considine who rose well at the edge of the penalty box to head towards goal. Rooney standing pretty much on the line looked to flick the ball past Forster, but it was deflected over and onto the bar.
Aberdeen were now sprouting in confidence and were unlucky not to be ahead following the run of play. Another Aberdeen attack resulted in another corner once again being swung in by Robson. The same scenario ensued. Considine met the ball knocking it down inside the area. Anderson of all people the Dons skipper was quickest to react smashing home on the half volley to send the travelling Aberdeen fans mental. The keeper had no chance. The goal was also the first that Celtic and Fraser Forster had conceded since playing Aberdeen back in November. As the Dons had done in the league, they went in at half time scoring just before the break to level the score at one a piece.
It was the visitors who came flying out the traps in the second half starting the second period as they ended the first, as with only four minutes played Aberdeen doubled their lead. A poor clearance from Johansen let Robson control the ball at the edge of the Celtic box. Pawlett made a run pointing to where he wanted the pass played. Robson obliged. Pawlett fired low and hard past the Celtic keeper to put the Dons into the lead sending the whole of Celtic Park into silence except the Red corner as chants of "Peter Pawllet baby" rang out. They say you are most vulnerable when you have just scored, and this phrase came to mind for Aberdeen just after the goal. A delicate cross from Forrest gave Van Dijk a free header, but he failed to convert sending his header sail inches over the bar. Agonisingly close for both Celtic and Aberdeen fans.
A couple of minutes after another Aberdeen break away was unleashed. Flood passed wide to McGinn just outside the box who rode the challenge of Van Dijk to chip the ball back across goal to Rooney. He lined up for the shot, but in the nick of time it was taken away from his toes by Mathews. The ball however then fell into the path of Pawlett again right in front of goal. Somehow, somehow he failed to convert watching his effort dribble onto the post and then cleared. Aberdeen should have been two goals ahead. Celtic for the remainder of the match really failed in attempting to open up the Dons defence. To try and solve this problem Lennon brought on new signing Griffiths, making his return to Scottish football. It was the substitute who got Celtic's best chance finding himself unmarked at the edge on the box. He set himself for the shot only to drag it wide. Disappointing from his standards. The hosts were trying to get some momentum going, but Aberdeen were doing terrifically in breaking up any attempted attack. In the last minutes it was Aberdeen who broke away again which saw Rooney one on one with Forster but he skied his shot miles over the bar. The Dons did magnificently well to hold on for the win dumping out the favourites for the Scottish Cup, now taking on that title for themselves.
FT: Celtic 1-2 Aberdeen
Celtic
- 01 Forster
- 02 Matthews Booked
- 03 Izaguirre
- 08 Brown Booked
- 04 Ambrose Emuobo
- 05 van Dijk
- 49 Forrest
- 25 Johansen Booked
- 10 Stokes (Balde - 76' )
- 15 Commons Booked (Boerrigter - 84' )
- 09 Samaras (Griffiths - 63' )
Substitutes
- 06 Biton
- 11 Boerrigter
- 17 Balde
- 20 Pukki
- 24 Zaluska
- 28 Griffiths
- 41 Fisher
Aberdeen
- 01 Langfield
- 29 Logan
- 05 Considine
- 08 Flood
- 04 Anderson
- 06 Reynolds
- 10 McGinn (Shaughnessy - 92' )
- 15 Robson
- 17 Rooney
- 16 Pawlett Booked (Vernon - 77' )
- 11 Hayes Booked
Substitutes
- 02 Shaughnessy
- 07 Zola
- 09 Vernon
- 14 Smith
- 18 Low
- 20 Weaver
- 28 Tate
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