Daisen Maeda was Celtic’s penalty hero as they beat Rangers to win the League Cup in a furious final at Hampden Park that ended 3-3 after extra time.
The winger struck the winner after scoring in a dramatic encounter as Philip Clement continued to search for his first win against Old Firm rivals.
It was a match full of drama as Greg Taylor made up for Nedim Bajrami’s gift of the opener for Rangers to equalize after the break.
Maeda’s clinical finish put Celtic back in front only for Mohamed Diomande to pull Rangers back level.Nicolas Kuhn thought he had wrapped up Celtic’s victory, only for Gers substitute Danilo to react immediately to send the game into extra-time. for
Kasper Schmeichel denied Ridwan Yilmaz on the spot and Maeda secured the winner to maintain Brendan Rodgers’ winning Hampden record and keep the Hoops on course for a domestic treble.
Celtic’s domestic dominance continues
Both sets of fans missed the pregame pyrotechnics
The Glasgow derby classic was preceded by off-field incidents.
Both sets of fans set off pyrotechnics that engulfed the stadium in smoke, despite both clubs being investigated for similar behavior in their respective semi-finals.
It was the usual frantic start with the first chance going Rangers’ way as Yannis Hagi latched onto a loose ball at the back post but Kasper Schmeichel cleared his effort away before Cameron Carter-Vickers cleared the danger.
Jack Butland then pulled off a brilliant double save to deny Nicholas Kuhn and Reo Hatei, before Kyogo Furuhashi forced him into another save soon after.
Nedim Bajrami puts Rangers ahead in the Scottish League Cup final.
It was over and Schmeichel responded by keeping out Leon Balogun’s header as James Tavernier’s cross set up a brilliant chance for Rangers.
The opening half lacked real quality, but Nedim Bajrami opened the scoring before the break after a mistake by Greg Taylor allowed Bajrami to break forward and set up Hamza Igamane. The striker was denied by Schmeichel, but Bajrami was there to fire home the rebound.
Brendan Rodgers made an enforced change at half-time with Liam Scales replacing the injured Auston Trusty as Celtic looked for a place in the final.
The defender headed in just after Paulo Bernardo’s free-kick before another mistake by Taylor left Carter-Vickers with four Rangers men where he managed a last-ditch challenge to stop Igamane from doubling their lead.
Greg Taylor equalized for Celtic in the Scottish League Cup final
Butland then denied Kuhn and Kyogo went close before Taylor made up for his mistakes as his shot took a huge deflection past the Gers keeper and into the net.
That lifted Celtic and McGregor fired over the bar before Maeda’s sensational finish put Celtic ahead and the winger brought the ball down before firing low into the net.
But Rangers weren’t about to give up and after Ridvan Yilmas fired over and Schmeichel pulled off a brilliant fingertip save, they were back on level terms as Diomande’s shot was deflected past the Hoops keeper.
Nicolas Kuhn thought he had won it for Celtic when he latched on to Arne Engles’ ball in the 87th minute, only for Danilo to come off the bench to equalize again just 21 seconds later and send it into extra time.
“Celtic” won in extra time. Rangers looked on their feet but the goals dried up before the penalty.
Kasper Schmeichel converted Ridvan Yilmaz’s penalty to give Celtic victory in the Scottish League Cup final.
Schmeichel beat Tavernier, Hag and Danilo before he saved Yilmaz’s penalty, with Gers goalkeeper Butland also on target.
However, Celtic were not let down, with Adam Ida, skipper Calum McGregor, Engels and Hatay all in net before Maeda’s winner.
