2016-11-27: Celtic 3-0 Aberdeen, League Cup

Match Pictures | Matches: 2016 – 2017 | 2016-17 Pictures

Trivia

• Scottish League Cup Final; Betfred Cup
• First final & trophy for Brendan Rodgers, first part of the hoped for treble for the season.
• Brendan Rodgers: "We do it for you, the supporters."
• Celtic's 100th senior trophy (16 League Cups, 36 Scottish Cups, 47 Leagues, 1 European Cup).
• Celtic were knocked out of Europe earlier in the week in European Cup.
• 67th minute tribute with light show from Celtic fans flashing their camera lights (it's 50th anniversary of supper 1966-67 season). Looked very impressive.
• Aberdeen fans didn't sell out their 50% allocation sadly.
• James Forrest man of the match, great saves by Craig Gordon (back to best) and Rogic scored a cracker.
• Sinclair, Toure out injured.
• Liverpool legend Stevie Gerard retires, so finally & thankfully kills off rumours he will come to Celtic as a player (too old etc).
• Barcelona player Neymar who had an altercation with Lustig in the game last week crashed his €240k Ferrari today. Thankfully left unhurt, but he is not a popular figure and there is no sympathy.

Review

Brendan Rodgers: "We do it for you, the supporters."

(ASG of KDS)
We are so utterly dominant in Scottish football and there's no prospect of that changing any time soon.
Au contraire, if we can keep the CL money rolling in over the next 2-3 years the gap, gargantuan as it is, will increase substantially.
Aberdeen are the second best side in the country and they had plenty of time to prepare. All their players were well rested ahead of the match and yet still we squashed them with ease despite a hard fought match against the best team in the world on Wednesday night. And we were without our best player.
This is truly a golden age in the history of our club

(Torque of KDS)
I thought we were ordinary today but our ordinary is superlative by every other SPFL team's standards. Had we opened up, that could have been embarrassing for the sheep and, by extension, every other team in the league. I thought our fullbacks were terrible, though Izzy improved as the game wore on. In the first half, every feckin ball he hit went backwards. Lustig gave the ball away a hundred times.

Enough of the moaning. We strolled that, absolutely strolled it. Herself and m'self went out for a celebratory Guinness immediately after the match so I haven't heard McInnes — hope he was suffering. I reserve the right to amend this post if he was generous or magnanimous.

(jamiec of KDS)
I felt a bit nervy before the game but there is a resoluteness to this side that is very reassuring. Compared to some of the performances we've seen at hampden in recent years, I thought the team handled the whole event very well today. The media, the occasion, the fans, the poor pitch, the opposition… they took it all in their stride and made it look easy.

Aberdeen had absolutely no interest in trying to play us at football today. That, for me, was as big an indicator of how far we've come under the manager as the final scoreline. 61% possession in a cup final against our closest competitors in the league is incredible. I thought they had a good ten minutes at the start of the second half, and had one or two chances they could have converted, but this game was never really in doubt.

The transformation in this side over the past 6 months is unreal. A year ago we had sides like Molde and Malmo come to Celtic Park with the reasonable expectation that they could get a result, and that uncertainty trickled in to our league form. We were hard to watch, but we ground out results. We won the league, but as time went on our vulnerabilities became increasingly evident. Consistently poor team selection, one source of goals, zero creativity, pish in the cups, poor signings… Celtic fans are ultimately the best indicator of the quality of the side, and they voted with their feet. Seeing that empty top tier of the Lisbon Lions stand was the worst part of my week, and I hope I never have to check the ticket website to see if they've opened it up for 'big games' ever again. That's how bad it got. Without KT and the Griff last season would have been rough as toast from beginning to end.

If the 5-1 was the watershed moment for this side, the Man City game was absolute confirmation that we were on the right track. We were utterly fearless, and it filtered through to the fans. There have been disappointments since then in the CL, but this season was always going to be a big ask in that tournament. We haven't conceded a goal in the league since September, and we're turning up everywhere swinging dick, and heading up the road with all three points. We are absolutely dominant and everybody in the country knows it. Celtic are back and I am skipping down every street as a result.

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Stats

Aberdeen – Celtic

Possession
Aberdeen 39%
Celtic 61%

Shots
Aberdeen 8
Celtic 15

Shots on Target
Aberdeen 2
Celtic 6

Corners
Aberdeen 5
Celtic 3

Fouls
Aberdeen 5
Celtic 14

Articles

Aberdeen 0 – 3 Celtic: Celtic win Betfred Cup final

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/league-cup/aberdeen-0-3-celtic-celtic-win-betfred-cup-final-1-4302378

Celtic have won their 100th major trophy and the first of the Brendan Rodgers era after defeating Aberdeen 3-0 in the Betfred Cup final.

Goals from Tom Rogic, James Forrest and a penalty from Moussa Dembele ensured a comfortable final 30 minutes from the Ladbrokes Premiership leaders, who looked just as potent in attack as we’ve become accustomed to seeing, despite missing Scott Sinclair through injury.

Celtic's Tom Rogic opens the scoring with a fine finish into the far corner. Picture: SNS
Aberdeen competed well with their much-fancied opponents in the middle of the park, but the age old adage of football matches being won in both boxes played true as Celtic were clinical in the final third while Aberdeen struggled to create clear-cut openings despite seeing plenty of the ball.

Dembele had the game’s first opportunity inside the opening 10 minutes. The Frenchman got on to the end of an Emilio Izaguirre cross and saw his header saved by Joe Lewis.

At the other end, James Maddison threatened on a couple of occasions and saw a shot from 25 yards blocked on an Aberdeen counter.

Rogic opened the scoring for Celtic on 16 minutes after receiving the ball on the corner of the Aberdeen penalty area. The attacking midfielder shifted on to his stronger left foot and arrowed the ball into the far bottom corner.
The goal came just as Aberdeen were playing their way into the match, having concentrated on limiting Celtic in the opening exchanges.

James Forrest celebrates having put Celtic 2-0 ahead. Picture: SNS
Derek McInnes’ side almost replied instantly through Andrew Considine. The defender headed Maddison’s free-kick goalwards, but was denied by Celtic stopper Craig Gordon.
Forrest almost scored a minute before he did find the back of the net. The winger’s snapshot from 22 yards fired just wide.
On the next Celtic attack, Forrest drove at the centre of the Aberdeen penalty area before dispatching the ball into the same corner as Rogic, giving Lewis no chance with a well-struck, low finish.
Dembele had a header saved at the beginning of the second half before Aberdeen enjoyed their strongest period of the game. Many cross balls were thrown into the Celtic penalty area – Kenny McLean went closest with a header deflected over – but Aberdeen couldn’t find a way through, and the game was over as a contest when Anthony O’Connor was penalised for a foul on Forrest inside the penalty area. Dembele stepped up and sent Lewis the wrong way.

Moussa Dembele scores Celtic's third goal from the penalty spot. Picture: Getty
Stuart Armstrong should have extended the advantage when he shot wide from inside the area, but his miss was nothing but a mere footnote as Rodgers collected the first major trophy of his managerial career.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers. Picture: SNS
James Forrest justifies selection with man-of-the-match award

James Forrest, left, is fouled by Aberdeen defender Anthony O'Connor inside the penalty area. Picture: SNS

Having been named among the substitutes for Wednesday’s defeat against Barcelona, there was no certainty James Forrest would start against Aberdeen in Sunday’s Betfred Cup final. In the end, the speedy winger got the nod ahead of Callum McGregor and produced a man-of-the-match winning performance as Celtic lifted the trophy.

Several Celtic players have improved under Brendan Rodgers, but none more so than Forrest, who netted the second goal against Aberdeen and drew the challenge from Anthony O’Connor which resulted in a penalty being awarded, allowing Moussa Dembele to wrap the game up. Celtic led for 74 of the 90 minutes after Tom Rogic netted early with a terrific left-footed strike.

One of the biggest criticisms of Forrest has been his perceived lack of final ball. That could not have looked further from the truth when he picked up the ball in the centre of the park on 37 minutes and drove right at the heart of the Aberdeen defence.

When O’Connor and Ash Taylor decided to back off rather than engage the threat, Forrest showed no hesitation in going for goal; firing into the opposite bottom corner from 16 yards which put Celtic firmly in the driving seat.
It was the high point of an electric performance full of purpose. Starting on the left wing with Patrick Roberts on the opposite flank, he was given license to drive inside, giving Celtic multiple options in central areas and overwhelming the Dons in the final third.

The game was finished as a contest when Forrest showed his determination to nip in front of O’Connor as the centre-back looked to go to ground. The Aberdeen stopper was rightly criticised for the rash challenge, which effectively ended his side’s hopes of lifting the cup, but few players on the park other than Forrest would have had the quickness to get there before him.

As Stephen Craigan said on BT Sport after the match, Celtic did not miss the threat of Scott Sinclair. The Englishman, who’s netted 10 goals from midfield already this season, was absent from the game after picking up a hamstring injury against Barcelona. That Celtic looked just as powerful and potent as they’ve done throughout Rodgers’ tenure is a major compliment to the strength of depth in the Parkhead squad, and the diminutive Scottish winger who took his place.

BBC

By Tom English

BBC Scotland at Hampden Park

1 hour ago From the section Football 40

Celtic captain Scott Brown lifts the Scottish League Cup
Captain Scott Brown lifted the League Cup for Celtic

Celtic eased aside Aberdeen to lift the Scottish League Cup for the 16th time and secure their 100th major trophy – the first of the Brendan Rodgers era.

Tom Rogic's precise drive into the far corner – his third against the Dons this season – gave the Premiership leaders a 16th-minute lead at Hampden.

Fellow midfielder James Forrest extended it with an almost identical strike eight minutes before the break.

The Dons threatened only briefly before Moussa Dembele's second-half penalty.

Celtic had shown no ill-effects from their midweek Champions League defeat by Barcelona as they remained unbeaten domestically this season and secured a 10th straight win outwith their European ventures.

Aberdeen's fourth defeat in a row by their opponents – their third this season – denied Derek McInnes his second League Cup triumph as the Pittodrie side's manager.
Rogic the man again
Tom Rogic fires Celtic ahead
Tom Rogic put Celtic into an early lead at Hampden

Celtic were looking dangerous even before they scored, Dembele's header forcing a save from Joe Lewis.

It was Rogic who unlocked this final though. Having scored in Celtic's 4-1 win over the Dons earlier in the season at Pittodrie and also scoring the winner in the 1-0 victory at Parkhead, the Australian delivered once more.

It had much to do with Aberdeen's incredible inability to deny Celtic space. It was a curse that blighted them all day. They were easy meat far too often.

For the opener, Jozo Simunovic stepped forward into attack, slid a pass to Rogic, who had time to take a look, take aim and fire past goalkeeper Joe Lewis.
Dons blow their chance
Aberdeen's players look despondent
Aberdeen looked over-awed as Celtic won at a canter

Teams tend to live off scraps against Celtic in domestic competition, so when an opponent gets a chance, they'd better take it. Aberdeen didn't.

Trailing 1-0, Andrew Considine had a close-range header that he had to score from. Instead, he directed his effort too close to Craig Gordon and the goalkeeper beat it away.

Celtic kicked-on, owning large amounts of possession and threatening to exploit all the freedom Aberdeen were giving them. Scott Brown had the run of midfield, Rogic was excellent, Forrest was lively.

It was the winger who doubled the lead and again it was a catastrophe for underdogs.

The goal had its origins deep inside Celtic's own half, near their right-hand corner. When Forrest took possession, he was still inside the centre-circle.

He ran and ran. Aberdeen had enough bodies to deal with him but none of them took any kind of responsibility, as if transfixed by his on-coming presence.

Forrest got close enough to goal and whipped his shot across Lewis and into the corner of his net. A gorgeous finish.
Winning with style
Celtic's Tom Rogic and James Forrest celebrate
Tom Rogic and James Forrest scored Celtic's first two goals

Aberdeen had a bit more intensity at the start of the second half, but they fell further behind just after the hour when Anthony O'Connor took down Forrest and Dembele sent Lewis the wrong way from the penalty spot.

It was a rout now, on the pitch and in the stands, where Celtic's supporters lorded it and acclaimed their cup winners in song.

Forrest, who was excellent, teed-up Stuart Armstrong late on for what should have been a fourth, but the midfielder pulled it wide.

The Dons were lucky it was only three, but three was more than enough.

Rodgers didn't just win his first trophy as Celtic manager, he won it in a canter against a team sitting third in the Premiership that were over-run, and over-awed, almost from the first whistle.

Match ends, Aberdeen 0, Celtic 3.
Full Time
90'+3'

Second Half ends, Aberdeen 0, Celtic 3.
90'+1'

Foul by Wes Burns (Aberdeen).
90'+1'

Mikael Lustig (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
90'+1'

Substitution, Celtic. Leigh Griffiths replaces James Forrest.
88'

Attempt saved. James Maddison (Aberdeen) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
86'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.
86'

Delay in match James Maddison (Aberdeen) because of an injury.
84'

Attempt missed. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
81'

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ash Taylor.
79'

Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).
79'

James Maddison (Aberdeen) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
79'

Substitution, Aberdeen. Wes Burns replaces Adam Rooney.
Substitution
77'

Substitution, Celtic. Callum McGregor replaces Tomas Rogic.
76'

Attempt missed. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is just a bit too high.
Booking
73'

Nir Bitton (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
73'

Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).
73'

James Maddison (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
71'

Substitution, Aberdeen. Niall McGinn replaces Jonny Hayes.
70'

Attempt blocked. Ryan Jack (Aberdeen) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
68'

Attempt missed. Mikael Lustig (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
67'

Attempt blocked. Moussa Dembele (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
67'

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Kenny McLean.
Substitution
65'

Substitution, Celtic. Nir Bitton replaces Patrick Roberts.
Substitution
65'

Substitution, Aberdeen. Jayden Stockley replaces Anthony O'Connor.
Goal!
64'

Goal! Aberdeen 0, Celtic 3. Moussa Dembele (Celtic) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
63'

Penalty Celtic. James Forrest draws a foul in the penalty area.
63'

Penalty conceded by Anthony O'Connor (Aberdeen) after a foul in the penalty area.
62'

Attempt saved. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
61'

Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Celtic).
61'

Shaleum Logan (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
59'

Foul by Patrick Roberts (Celtic).
59'

Andrew Considine (Aberdeen) wins a free kick on the left wing.
58'

Attempt missed. James Forrest (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
57'

Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by James Forrest.
55'

Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Erik Sviatchenko.
55'

Attempt blocked. Kenny McLean (Aberdeen) header from the centre of the box is blocked.
52'

Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Emilio Izaguirre.
51'

Mikael Lustig (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
51'

Foul by Kenny McLean (Aberdeen).
50'

Foul by Tomas Rogic (Celtic).
50'

Kenny McLean (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
48'

James Maddison (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
48'

Scott Brown (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
48'

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
48'

Attempt saved. Moussa Dembele (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Second Half
Posted at

Second Half begins Aberdeen 0, Celtic 2.
Half Time
45'+1'

First Half ends, Aberdeen 0, Celtic 2.
44'

Foul by Erik Sviatchenko (Celtic).
44'

Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
42'

Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Mikael Lustig.
42'

Attempt missed. Adam Rooney (Aberdeen) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
38'

Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Jozo Simunovic.
38'

Attempt blocked. James Maddison (Aberdeen) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Goal!
37'

Goal! Aberdeen 0, Celtic 2. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tomas Rogic.
36'

Attempt missed. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
34'

Attempt blocked. Moussa Dembele (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
32'

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
32'

Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen) wins a free kick on the left wing.
30'

Foul by Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic).
30'

Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen) wins a free kick on the left wing.
28'

Attempt blocked. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
28'

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ryan Jack.
22'

Foul by Mikael Lustig (Celtic).
22'

James Maddison (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
22'

Foul by Patrick Roberts (Celtic).
22'

James Maddison (Aberdeen) wins a free kick on the right wing.
18'

Attempt saved. Andrew Considine (Aberdeen) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner.
17'

Foul by Patrick Roberts (Celtic).
17'

James Maddison (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
16'

Goal! Aberdeen 0, Celtic 1. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jozo Simunovic.
16'

Attempt blocked. James Maddison (Aberdeen) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
14'

Attempt blocked. Kenny McLean (Aberdeen) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
13'

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
13'

James Maddison (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
13'

Attempt missed. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
12'

Attempt saved. Moussa Dembele (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
8'

Tomas Rogic (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
8'

Foul by Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen).
7'

Foul by Tomas Rogic (Celtic).
7'

Kenny McLean (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
4'

Mikael Lustig (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
4'

Foul by Andrew Considine (Aberdeen).
Kick Off
Posted at

First Half begins.

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.