FootyChatter.com

Football

Aberdeen

vs Celtic. Scottish Cup Final.

3: 00pm, Saturday 24th May 2025.

Hampden Park.

Aberdeen win 4-3 on penalties. Report as Aberdeen beat Celtic on penalties to win Scottish Cup; Alfie Dorrington's own goal put Celtic ahead; Kasper Schmeichel palmed the ball into his own net as Dons levelled; Dimitar Mitov denied Daizen Maeda to take game to extra-time and then saved two Celtic spot-kicks

Digital Sports Journalist

@Alison GConroy

Saturday 24 May 2025 20: 31, UK Aberdeen goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov was the Hampden hero as he produced big saves before and during a penalty shoot-out to end their 35-year wait for Scottish Cup glory. He stood firm to deny Daizen Maeda in stoppage time before denying captain Callum Mc Gregor and Alistair Johnston in the shoot-out as Celtic's treble hopes ended in heartache at Hampden Park. It was a repeat of the last time the Dons lifted the trophy in 1990, when they beat the Hoops on penalties. Alfie Dorrington sent a Cameron Carter-Vickers header into his own net as Celtic closed in on a third domestic trophy of the season, but Kasper Schmeichel returned the favour as he palmed Shayden Morris' cross in as full-time approached. Mitov then produced a brilliant block to deny Maeda the winner to take the game to extra-time, where there was no splitting the sides. Dante Polvara missed from close range and Jeffrey Schlupp smashed an effort off the crossbar before the Dons broke Brendan Rodgers' unbeaten record at the National Stadium to end the season with silverware. The triumph also ensured Jimmy Thelin's first season as Aberdeen boss was a major success despite recent disappointments.

Latest Scottish football news

How the teams lined up

Transfer Centre LIVE!

Stream the Scottish Premiership with NOW

The Dons had matched Celtic in the first 11 games of the league season but their form collapsed in spectacular fashion and they ultimately finished fifth after losing their final five matches. They had also conceded 19 goals in five meetings with Celtic and Thelin lined up with five at the back in a bid to keep things tight. The tactic largely worked in a first half that featured zero shots on target. Aberdeen did not muster any attacks of note while restricting Celtic to very few chances despite the champions' 84 per cent possession. Greg Taylor sent a 25-yard effort narrowly over the bar then Celtic took the lead before the break, as Dorrington sent Carter-Vickers' header into his own net as the green and white side of the National Stadium erupted. The defender did recover to head Kuhn's effort behind for a corner before tempers flared, with Dons captain Graeme Shinnie and Carter-Vickers both picking up yellow cards. Maeda broke free just after the break as Celtic looked to extend their lead but Mitov easily saved. He then hauled Ante Palaversa down at the other end with Kasper Schmeichel called into action for the first time to halt Leighton Clarkson's curling effort. Arne Engels saw his effort smash off the post with Maeda's rebound saved by Mitov as Celtic looked to edge further as the nerves increased in both ends of the stadium. The Dons were caught out by a quick free-kick but Luke Mc Cowan's shot was blocked before Taylor sent another chance over. With full time approaching, Thelin's side found themselves level. Schmeichel has a howler as he palmed Morris' cross into his own net. Maeda then looked set to clinch it or Celtic in stoppage time, only for Mitov to produce a huge block to deny the prolific scorer. Aberdeen reverted to sitting deep during the first period of extra time. Luke Mc Cowan had a shot comfortably saved, Mc Gregor curled just over and Celtic suffered a blow when sub James Forrest went off for Johnny Kenny after receiving treatment. Both sides had chances in the second period. Dons sub Dante Polvara volleyed just over from 12 yards and Pape Habib Gueye shot straight at Schmeichel. Celtic replacement Jeffrey Schlupp rattled the crossbar from 20 yards and Kenny did well to meet Alistair Johnston's cross but could not get his header on target. Aberdeen repelled some late pressure to set up only their second major trophy win of the century. Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "All this week we have tried to visualise how we can win this game and create this belief inside the squad and how they compete. "Celtic are a really good team, Brendan is a really amazing manager, but the way the players compete today out there, how they defend together, they were cramped, they were tired, but they keep believing and I'm so proud how they also used the energy from our supporters to travel down here today when they were so tired. "They tried to take the extra step from each other and they were so strong in the penalties also, so what can I say? "I'm happy, relieved, tired and I'm going to enjoy this evening. " Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "Clearly, while we're very disappointed, we know that we didn't play anywhere near the standard needed. "Congratulations to them to win the trophy and take it back to Aberdeen. That's great for them. "For us, we can have no complaints, We didn't do enough in the game. "This is a team that's given me so much with their honesty and quality of their football. "There's been so many times when I've sat in here and it's been different. I've had 11 finals up here and down in England and this is my first loss. "You have to accept that, It's part of sport and part of football. "And as long as you can look at it and reflect honestly then we can say we weren't good enough in our quality. We've got no one else to blame. " On Kasper Schmeichel's own goal he added: "He's obviously apologetic to his team-mates, but he's been outstanding for us all season. "It was one of those moments in the game late on that can happen. We still had one or two other chances that we could have scored from. It's just unfortunate at that time in the game. " From next season, Sky Sports' Premier League coverage will increase from 128 matches to at least 215 games exclusively live. And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games next season are on Sky Sports. Tom from Southampton became a millionaire for free with Super 6! Could you be the next jackpot winner? Play for free!

© 2025 Sky UK