| Match Pictures | Matches: 2001 – 2002 | 2001-2002 Pictures |
Trivia
- Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park
- Celtic were denied a league and cup double after twice being ahead.
A last-minute strike by Lovenkrands gave the huns victory. - “F*cking Sutton! He was a striker! I have no idea why he was playing as a centre-half. I thought I would make it. But I was not fit for the first game, then the second one…” Claudio Caniggia (Rangers player) claiming a challenge by Sutton in Scottish Cup final 2002 ended his World Cup hopes (not all are convinced) (2018)
- Ex-Celt Jimmy Quinn III died prematurely RIP
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Review
Slack marking in the Rangers defence allowed Balde to knock down an Alan Thompson corner and Hartson to head the bouncing ball home from six yards.
with the introduction of Shota Arveladze, Rangers struck back within two minutes and again poor defending was to blame. Johan Mjallby and Sutton both challenged for the same high ball, but it fell to Lovenkrands and the Dane drove the ball low past Robert Douglas from just inside the penalty box.
Celtic were being clearly hampered by a less-than-mobile Lambert, who eventually had to be replaced with Jackie McNamara two minutes before the break.
That gamble failed to pay off, but taking a chance with Balde's fitness worked for Celtic when the big defender rose above a static Amoruso to power home a Neil Lennon free kick into the net from six yards.
Ferguson struck a curling free-kick into the corner of the net after Balde had fouled Amoruso on the edge of the box.
Celtic looked physically drained and McCann sent in a cross for Lovenkrands to steal in at the back post and win the game for the Ibrox side.
Teams
Celtic:-
Douglas, Mjallby, Sutton, Balde, Agathe, Lennon, Lambert (McNamara 44), Petrov, Thompson, Larsson, Hartson.
Subs not used:- Gould, Boyd, Moravcik, Guppy.
Goals:- Hartson 19, Balde 50.
Booked:- Balde, Hartson, Lennon.
Rangers:-
Klos, Ross, Moore, Amoruso, Numan, Ricksen, de Boer, Ferguson, Lovenkrands, McCann, Caniggia (Arveladze 20).
Subs not used:- McGregor, Vidmar, Nerlinger, Flo.
Goals:- Lovenkrands 21, Ferguson 69, Lovenkrands 90.
Booked:- Amoruso, Moore.
Att:- 51,138
Ref:- H Dallas.
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
- Match Report (BBC)
- O'Neill beaten but unbowed. (BBC)
- Moravcik in final salute. (BBC)
Pictures
Articles
Rangers win Old Firm final
BBC
Celtic 2-3 Rangers
Photo Gallery: See this story in pictures
A last-minute strike by Peter Lovenkrands gave Rangers victory in a stunning, energy-sapping Scottish Cup final against bitter rivals Celtic.
And they did it with a rare Old Firm comeback.
Celtic had twice been ahead thanks to goals from John Hartson and Bobo Balde.
But Lovenkrands produced the first equaliser, Barry Ferguson the second before the Danish striker grabbed the winner.
The victory brought Rangers their 30th Scottish Cup title, just one behind Celtic, before 51,000 at a Hampden Park complete with a newly-laid surface.
It denied Celtic a league and cup double and gave Rangers their second piece of silverware, having already lifted the CIS Insurance Cup.
Both managers had gambled with fitness to play what they considered their most lethal line-ups.
Celtic's Martin O'Neill decided that influential captain Paul Lambert, Chris Sutton and Balde had all recovered sufficiently from injury to start.
Rangers' Alex McLeish brought Ronald de Boer into midfield, despite the Dutch international's recent problems with a broken toe.
The Rangers manager went for speed up front, a strategy that had served him well in Old Firm matches since he took over at Ibrox.
His three-man front line had Celtic on the back foot from the kick off.
But Rangers suffered a blow after 16 minutes when veteran Argentine forward Claudio Caniggia had to go off injured after a blatant bodycheck from Sutton.
Not only had Caniggia been a major threat, but to make matters worse for Rangers, Sutton was not even cautioned and Celtic immediately used their one-man advantage to take the lead.
Slack marking in the Rangers defence allowed Balde to knock down an Alan Thompson corner and Hartson to head the bouncing ball home from six yards.
Back at full strength with the introduction of Shota Arveladze, Rangers struck back within two minutes and again poor defending was to blame.
Johan Mjallby and Sutton both challenged for the same high ball, but it fell to Lovenkrands and the Dane drove the ball low past Robert Douglas from just inside the penalty box.
Rangers took control from then on, Celtic being forced to change from a three-man defence to a four because of McLeish's three-pronged attack.
Celtic were also being clearly hampered by a less-than-mobile Lambert, who eventually had to be replaced with Jackie McNamara two minutes before the break.
That gamble failed to pay off, but taking a chance with Balde's fitness worked for Celtic when the big defender rose above a static Amoruso to power home a Neil Lennon free kick into the net from six yards.
Ferguson continued to dictate play in midfield for Rangers and sent a 25-yard drive crashing against the outside of the post.
He was not to be denied after 68 minutes, when he struck a beautiful, curling free-kick into the far corner of the net after Balde had clattered Amoruso on the edge of the box.
Rangers almost grabbed the winner after a goalmouth melee, but Mjallby cleared Ricksen's toe-poke off the line.
Celtic looked physically drained and McCann sent in a glorious cross for Lovenkrands to steal in at the back post and win the game for the Ibrox side.
Celtic: Douglas, Mjallby, Sutton, Balde, Agathe, Lennon, Lambert (McNamara 44), Petrov, Thompson, Larsson, Hartson. Subs Not Used: Gould, Boyd, Moravcik, Guppy.
Booked: Balde, Hartson, Lennon.
Goals: Hartson 19, Balde 50.
Rangers: Klos, Ross, Moore, Amoruso, Numan, Ricksen, de Boer, Ferguson, Lovenkrands, McCann, Caniggia (Arveladze 20). Subs Not Used: McGregor, Vidmar, Nerlinger, Flo.
Booked: Amoruso, Moore.
Goals: Lovenkrands 21, Ferguson 69, Lovenkrands 90.
Attendance: 51,138
Referee: H Dallas.
Moravcik in final salute
BBC
Lubomir Moravcik says he will leave Celtic immediately after Saturday's Scottish Cup final against Rangers.
The Slovakia international, who has become a hero to the Parkhead crowd, has asked not to play at Aberdeen in the final Scottish Premier League game of the season a week on Sunday.
I would like to spend some time to go all around the stadium and say goodbye properly but I will only do that if we win
Lubomir Moravcik
Moravcik will enjoy a family holiday before heading to Japan with mentor and former Hoops boss Josef Venglos at J-League outfit Ichihara.
Moravcik told the Daily Record: "I don't want to play in the last league game at Aberdeen so I will be leaving Celtic and Scotland after the Cup final.
"Because I am going to Japan I will have to start pre-season training at the beginning of June and, before that, I need a holiday.
"I won't have any special message for the supporters at Hampden. There will be no T-shirts or anything like that.
"I would like to spend some time to go all around the stadium and say goodbye properly but I will only do that if we win.
"If that is not the case, I will give a quick wave and go away quietly.
"This is not a time to be sad. I would be sad if I had never played for Celtic."
O'Neill beaten but unbowed
By Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Online
At Hampden
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill insisted the disappointment of losing out to rivals Rangers in the Scottish Cup final would not outweigh his delight at another successful season.
O'Neill admitted his side had been second best at Hampden but stressed that having won the league, he felt his side were still the team to beat.
"Obviously I'm disappointed to lose the game in the last 10 seconds, but that's part of the game," he said.
"Some of our players just didn't have the energy and that was understandable, but needs must.
"On reflection, though, I'll be disappointed tonight and tomorrow morning, but the players have been fantastic again this season.
"We've won the league and that means we have another crack at the Champions League."
He denied that he had miscalculated in playing Paul Lambert, who passed a late fitness test.
To come back against Celtic twice speaks volumes for the players
"Paul wanted to play and it wasn't a hard decision for me to play him," he added.
"I was prepared to take that gamble and Paul is blameless."
O'Neill also defended his decision not to make substitutions towards the end of the game, with the scoreline at 2-2 but Rangers dominating.
"I thought, and I'm sure Alex McLeish thought as well, that the game was heading for extra-time and I was conscious of the fact that some of our players were tiring.
"But I have no regrets. Rangers are a good side and they played well."
Triumphant Rangers manager Alex McLeish paid tribute to the 12 players who secured a cup double for the Ibrox club.
McLeish admitted that he had enjoyed a more successful start to his career as boss at Rangers than he could have imagined.
But he acknowledged that the real test of his managerial strength and the quality of his team would be measured in next season's league campaign.
"It was a fantastic game," said McLeish.
"To come back against Celtic twice speaks volumes for the players.
"Not many teams will do that, I don't know if any team has done since Martin O'Neill took over.
"It was a stunning performance and we deserved it."
Of the opening five months of his Rangers career, he added: "It's been hectic, but it's exceeded my expectations.
"I expected to win silverware with Rangers but this has been more than I had hoped."
Celtic v Rangers
5th May 2002
SCottish Cup Final
Match preview
http://www.100megsfree3.com/celticcrazy/rep2/5may2002.html
A real disappointment for Celtic fans as a last minute goal gave the cup to Rangers. Martin O'Neill had taken a chance on the match fitness of long term injury victims Sutton and Balde and had put them straight into the starting line up. Lambert also started but clearly hadn't recovered from his foot injury and was substituted just before half time.
Celtic set out to frustrate Rangers fast forward and deny them clear runs at the defence. Their attacking strategy was to pump long balls to Larsson and Hartson.
Celtic went ahead when Balde got to a corner and header it back across goal. It bounced and reached Hartson at the far post and he headed home.
Only 2 minutes later Sutton and Mjallby challenged for the same ball allowing Lovenkrands the chance to shoot and score.
Lovenkrands had another shot in the first half but Douglas dived to his right to make a good save.
Celtic had McNamara on for Lambert but still couldn't find any passing rhythm though looking dangerous at set play. When Lennon flighted a free kick into the Rangers box, Balde rose to head home.
There was a let off for Celtic when Ferguson curled in a right foot strike which hit the post.
Balde was the sinner shortly afterwards. He clattered into the back of Amoruso and from the resulting free kick Ferguson flighted the ball over the wall and into the net.
Celtic continued to let Rangers come at them and showed little ability to keep possession.
There were some bookings during the game but a high challenge on Hartson by Moore went unpunished for reasons best know to referee Dallas. Moore did receive a booking later when he cynically hacked down Hartson outside the box denying him a clear goal scoring opportunity. The referees decision was a yellow card.
Just as it looked as it would go to extra time, McCann sent in cross for Lovenkrands to score and give Rangers the cup.
Celtic: Douglas, Mjallby, Sutton, Balde, Agathe, Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Thompson, Hartson, Larsson.
Substitutes: Gould, Boyd, McNamara, Moravcik, Guppy.
Rangers: Klos, Ross, Moore, Amoruso, Numan, Ricksen, De Boer, Ferguson, Caniggia, Lovenkrands, McCann.
Substitutes: McGregor, Vidmar, Flo, Nerlinger, Arveladze