Daizen Maeda was Celtic’s penalty hero as they beat holders Rangers to win the League Cup in a frantic final at Hampden Park that finished 3-3 after extra time.
The winger scored the winning spot kick after scoring in a dramatic encounter as Philippe Clement was left still searching for his first win against their Old Firm rivals.
It was a drama-filled encounter as Greg Taylor made amends for gifting Nedim Bajrami the opener for Rangers by equalising after the break.
A clinical finish from Maeda put Celtic ahead again only for Mohamed Diomande to pull Rangers back level. Nicolas Kuhn thought he had wrapped up the win for Celtic, only for Gers’ substitution Danilo to respond immediately to take the game to extra time.
Kasper Schmeichel denied Ridvan Yilmaz from the spot, with Maeda securing the win to maintain Brendan Rodgers’ winning Hampden record and keep the Hoops on course for a domestic treble.
Celtic’s domestic dominance continues
Both sets of fans let off pyrotechnics pre match
A Glasgow derby classic was preceded by incidents off the field.
Both sets of fans set off pyrotechnics which engulfed the stadium in smoke, despite both clubs being under investigation for the same behaviour in their respective semi-finals.
It was the usual frantic start with the first chance falling Rangers’ way when Ianis Hagi latched onto a loose ball at the back post, but Kasper Schmeichel palmed his effort away before Cameron Carter-Vickers cleared the danger.
Jack Butland then produced a brilliant double save to deny Nicolas Kuhn and Reo Hatate on the rebound before Kyogo Furuhashi forced him into another save soon after.
Nedim Bajrami gives Rangers the lead in the Scottish League Cup final
It was end to end and Schmeichel reacted to stop Leon Balogun’s header as James Tavernier’s cross set up a brilliant chance for Rangers.
The match was lacking in real quality in the opening half but Nedim Bajrami opened the scoring before the break after Greg Taylor’s mistake allowed Bajrami to burst forward to set up Hamza Igamane. The striker was denied by Schmeichel, but Bajrami was there to fire in the rebound.
Brendan Rodgers made an enforced half-time change with Liam Scales replacing the injured Auston Trusty as Celtic looked for a way back into the final.
The defender headed just wide from Paulo Bernardo’s free-kick before another Taylor mistake left Carter-Vickers on four Rangers players – where he managed a last-ditch challenge to stop Igamane from doubling their lead.
Greg Taylor equalises for Celtic in the Scottish League Cup final
Butland then denied Kuhn and Kyogo went close before Taylor made up for his mistakes as his strike took a huge deflection and sailed past the Gers keeper and into the net.
That lifted Celtic and McGregor fired over the bar before a sensational finish from Maeda sent Celtic ahead, the winger bringing down the ball before firing low into the net.
But Rangers weren’t for giving up, and after Ridvan Yilmaz fired over and Schmeichel pulled off a brilliant fingertip save, they were back level as Diomande’s shot took a deflection past the Hoops keeper.
Nicolas Kuhn thought he had won it for Celtic when he swept home Arne Engles’ ball in the 87th minute, only for Danilo to come off the bench to level the match again just 21 seconds later and take it to extra time.
Celtic edged extra time – Rangers looked out on their feet – but the goals dried up before the penalty drama.
Kasper Schmeichel saves a penalty from Ridvan Yilmaz to earn Celtic victory in the Scottish League Cup final
Schmeichel was beaten by Tavernier, Hagi and Danilo before he blocked Yilmaz’s penalty, with Gers keeper Butland also scoring.
However Celtic did not fail from the spot, with Adam Idah, skipper Callum McGregor, Engels and Hatate netting before Maeda clinched the victory.
