Celtic triumphed over rivals Rangers to capture the 2024 Scottish League Cup title, clinching victory through penalties after a stunning 3-3 draw at Hampden Park on Sunday.
The match was electric, with the atmosphere heightened by fans waving flags and lighting flares, causing the kick-off to be delayed momentarily. This final brought significant tension, underscored by earlier reports of clashes between supporters in central Glasgow.
Rangers drew first blood when Nedim Bajrami scored just before half-time, tapping home after Kasper Schmeichel saved Hamza Igamane's initial shot. This gave Rangers a 1-0 edge heading toward the break.
Yet, Celtic roared back after recess, turning the game around remarkably within four minutes. Greg Taylor, redemption incarnate, leveled the score with a lucky deflected shot at the 56th minute before Daizen Maeda put Celtic up 2-1, finishing expertly after controlling the ball at speed.
The back-and-forth nature of the contest continued as Rangers responded with another equalizer. Mohamed Diomande's strike found the target following deflections, making it 2-2 at the 75-minute mark. Celtic added more drama when Nicolas Kuhn thought he had won it for them just three minutes from time, only to see Rangers equalize again through Danilo just seconds later.
After the excitement of normal time ended, the match progressed to extra time, where neither team could find the decisive goal. The players appeared exhausted, indicative of previous European commitments, but the determination on display was palpable.
The penalty shootout, full of anticipation, began with both teams converting their initial attempts confidently. Celtic's Kasper Schmeichel then made the pivotal save against Ridvan Yilmaz, deflecting his shot with great skill. Following this, Celtic's Daizen Maeda scored the final penalty, sealing the match and unleashing euphoria among Celtic supporters.
The final score stood at 3-3 after extra time, with Celtic winning the shootout 5-4 to claim their 119th major trophy. Manager Brendan Rodgers and captain Callum McGregor led the celebrations afterward, parading the League Cup trophy triumphantly before their fans at Celtic Park.
This dramatic victory cements Celtic's status as one of Scotland's dominant forces, reminding everyone of the historic importance of the Old Firm rivalry.
