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Trivia
- Gordon Strachan wins his first trophy as a manager of Celtic.
- Minutes applause before the game in memory of Jimmy Johnstone who died days before.
- All Celtic players wear number 7 in tribute to Johnstone.
Review
There was to be no repeat of the 8-1 hammering at East End Park last month but Celtic did completely dominate the match and should have won by a greater margin.
Shunsuke Nakamura's crossing was causing the Pars problems, and his early corner struck a defender and came back off the underside of the crossbar from five yards.
Celtic 'keeper Artur Boruc finally had the ball in his hands in the 36th minute, but it was a comfortable save to stop a weak shot from Greg Ross.
Roy Keane connected with another great delivery from Nakamura but his header from eight yards was well saved by McGregor.
The goalkeeper, on loan from Rangers, was at fault when Celtic eventually made the breakthrough on 43 minutes. He failed to gather a clipped pass from Maloney and crashed into defender Aaron Labonte, spilling the ball at the feet of Zurawski, who stroked the ball into an unguarded net.
Dublin, on for the injured Keane, knocked the ball wide from just a few yards after Maloney had set up a golden chance with a fine low cross.
A deflected strike from Stilian Petrov hit the side-netting before Celtic doubled their lead with 13 minutes remaining.
Nakamura was obstructed on the edge of the penalty box and Maloney curled in a wonderful free-kick to settle the match.
Dion Dublin added a deft finish in the second minute of time added on.
Teams
Dunfermline:-
McGregor, Shields, Scott Wilson, Ross (Donnelly 77), Andy Campbell (Derek Young 62), Mason, Thomson, Daquin (Tarachulski 84), Labonte, Makel, Burchill.
Subs not used:- Halliwell, Tod.
Booked:- Mason, Makel, Daquin.
Celtic:-
Boruc, Telfer, Balde, McManus, Wallace, Nakamura, Keane (Dublin 61), Lennon, Petrov, Maloney, Zurawski.
Subs not used:- Marshall, Thompson, Pearson, Varga.
Goals:- Zurawski 43, Maloney 76, Dublin 90.
Att:- 50,090
Ref:- S Dougal.
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
- Match Report (BBC)
- Celtic win dedicated to Johnstone (BBC)
- Leishman absolves keeper McGregor (BBC)
Pictures
Articles
Dunfermline 0-3 Celtic
BBC
Gordon Strachan won his first trophy as a manager as Celtic brushed Dunfermline aside to lift the CIS Insurance Cup.
Celtic were gifted the opening goal on the stroke of half-time when Maciej Zurawski tapped in after goalkeeper Allan McGregor fumbled the ball.
The Pars posed no threat and it was a surprise that Celtic took until the 77th minute for Shaun Maloney to curl in a great free-kick from 20 yards.
Dion Dublin added a deft finish in the second minute of time added on.
There was to be no repeat of the 8-1 hammering at East End Park last month but Celtic did completely dominate the match and should have won by a greater margin.
Celtic win dedicated to Johnstone
Strachan's side, all wearing the number seven on their shorts in memory of the late Jimmy Johnstone, gained the upper hand immediately and had Dunfermline pinned back for long spells.
But Celtic's slow, studied approach made it all the easier for their opponents to pack men in defence.
Shunsuke Nakamura's crossing was causing the Pars problems, and his early corner struck a defender and came back off the underside of the crossbar from five yards.
Left-back Ross Wallace made a bright start and did well to burst into the penalty area but fired low at McGregor.
Dunfermline's Greg Shields then prevented Maloney from testing McGregor by heading the midfielder's stinging shot wide.
Celtic 'keeper Artur Boruc finally had the ball in his hands in the 36th minute, but it was a comfortable save to stop a weak shot from Greg Ross.
Roy Keane connected with another great delivery from Nakamura but his header from eight yards was well saved by McGregor.
Maciej Zurawski was on target for Celtic
Zurawski broke the deadlock for Celtic
The goalkeeper, on loan from Rangers, was at fault when Celtic eventually made the breakthrough on 43 minutes.
He failed to gather a clipped pass from Maloney and crashed into defender Aaron Labonte, spilling the ball at the feet of Zurawski, who stroked the ball into an unguarded net.
Celtic opened up Dunfermline early in the second half but McGregor blocked a low strike from Zurawski with his feet.
Dublin, on for the injured Keane, then knocked the ball wide from just a few yards after Maloney had set up a golden chance with a fine low cross.
A deflected strike from Stilian Petrov hit the side-netting before Celtic doubled their lead with 13 minutes remaining.
No blame for Dunfermline 'keeper
Nakamura was obstructed on the edge of the penalty box and Maloney curled in a wonderful free-kick to settle the match.
McGregor got down smartly to deny Maloney a second goal in a minute and did well to kick away the loose ball, with Dublin closing in.
The busy Pars 'keeper failed to hold a shot from Nakamura but recovered to again thwart Dublin, with some help from Shields, who used his head from a prone position to stop the ball crossing the goalline.
But Dublin had the last laugh when he slotted in a last-minute goal from a Paul Telfer cross.
Dunfermline: McGregor, Shields, Scott Wilson, Ross (Donnelly 77), Andy Campbell (Derek Young 62), Mason, Thomson, Daquin (Tarachulski 84), Labonte, Makel, Burchill. Subs Not Used: Halliwell, Tod.
Booked: Mason, Makel, Daquin.
Celtic: Boruc, Telfer, Balde, McManus, Wallace, Nakamura, Keane (Dublin 61), Lennon, Maloney, Zurawski, Petrov. Subs Not Used: Marshall, Thompson, Pearson, Varga.
Goals: Zurawski 43, Maloney 76, Dublin 90.
Att: 50,090
Ref: S Dougal
Leishman absolves keeper McGregor
BBC
Dunfermline manager Jim Leishman refused to blame goalkeeper Allan McGregor for the CIS Cup final defeat.
He said: "The first goal was a mistake but Allan has been tremendous all season with some terrific saves. But these things happen in football.
"We conceded at exactly the wrong time – just before half-time. If we'd got to the interval goalless, there would have been a bit more pressure on Celtic.
"People predicted a whitewash but the players showed tremendous character."
Celtic win dedicated to Johnstone
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan thinks the late Jimmy Johnstone would have approved of the team's CIS Cup win.
"Some of the football was excellent, which the wee man would have liked," Strachan told BBC Sport.
"It is the first trophy I have won and the first as a new group so, hopefully, there will be more.
"When the second goal went away, I knew that was us on the way. The supporters are fantastic and it was good to see people enjoying themselves."
Reaction: Celtic win CIS Insurance Cup
Interview: Celtic manager Gordon Strachan
Johnstone, voted Celtic's greatest ever player, died this week and it has been an emotional week for everyone associated with the club.
And captain Neil Lennon admitted that Johnstone's death had added greater pressure to a game that Celtic controlled and won 3-0.
He said: "It was everything I thought it would be – a magic moment. I was really nervous.
"With the way the week has gone, there was extra significance on the game but the lads were brilliant and dominated the game.
"We scored three good goals and we couldn't ask for any more from the players.
"We will enjoy tonight and then regroup for the rest of the league."
Celtic are currently 14 points clear at the top clear of the SPL, with a game in hand.
And midfielder Stilian Petrov is firmly focused on wrapping up the title.
The Bulgarian international said: "This gives us a great lift for the rest of the campaign.
"The league has always been the main priority and we want to win it as quickly as possible."
Shaun Maloney scored the second goal, either side of efforts from Maciej Zurawski and Dion Dublin, and he was delighted to pick up his winners' medal.
"We all felt the pressure and knew we needed to win it and we played well to achieve that," he said.
"It is great to win a first trophy for the manager as well."