Celtic on this Day in 1967, Celtic beat Dundee 5-3 in the Scottish League Cup final as Jock Stein’s side triumphed in the competition for a third successive season…
Despite the match being a major national cup final, Celtic’s eyes were elsewhere. The Hoops had won their Intercontinental Cup controversial first leg 1-0 at Celtic Park versus Racing Club, and seemed to be more focused on their upcoming trip to Buenos Aires for the return tie which would take place a few days after the League Cup final battle with Dundee.
Jimmy Johnstone was suspended
For the Cup Final clash, Stein was missing his star man, Jimmy Johnstone, who was still serving a domestic suspension. As a result, Stevie Chalmers started on the wing, and the Celtic manager went with an unchanged side to the one that had comfortably beaten Motherwell 4-2 in the league four days prior.
Dundee manager John Prentice was suffering from an injury headache heading into the final. First choice goalkeeper Alistair Donaldson was absent, likewise Bobby Cox, with the Dens Park duo missing out through injury.
The McLean Brothers
Meanwhile, Celtic’s opposition had two brothers starring in their side. Those were the McLean brothers, George and Jim. Jim McLean, who would go onto become an iconic Dundee United manager, scored Dundee’s second on the day. His brother, George, netted a double. Prentice’s team were defiant at Hampden, having reduced the deficit to 3-2 and 4-3, but were punished with Celtic’s quality in the end.
Three in a Row
The Hoops were two up inside 10 minutes through Chalmers and Hughes. In the second half, Chalmers was on target for his second of the match, with Lennox and Wallace adding to a fine eight goal thriller in front of 70,000 spectators at a packed Hampden Park.
Celtic won the Scottish League Cup for the third consecutive time and continued their trophy-laden spell in the late sixties.
Racing Club next up
After the match, celebrations for the players and management were subdued as they boarded the first flight to South America with focus shifting immediately onto Racing Club for the World Club Championship match in Argentina’s capital.
Jock Stein’s starting XI 57 years to the day; Simpson, Craig, Gemmell, Murdoch, McNeill, Clark, Chalmers, Lennox, Wallace, Auld, Hughes.
Conor Spence
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