We weren’t at our best, but we were the only side wanting to play football, and in the end the trophy went to the most deserving side…
I’m sure like me, most of you are still trying to recover from the nerves being put through the old emotional wringer. For me it was quite similar to last season’s Scottish Cup semi final win over Aberdeen. We went behind, went in front, pegged back, went in front again, pegged back again, and of course it finished with the same scoreline before going to the lottery that is a penalty shootout.
We weren’t at our best yesterday, far from it. We were the architects of our own downfall, especially with the first goal. We handed them the opportunity on a plate and they duly took it to take a one goal lead into the break.
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But to Celtic’s credit we came out all guns blazing in the second half and played the game the way it should be, creative and attacking football. Contrast that to theRangers who seemed to just hoof the ball up the park and kick our players at every opportunity, as the final caution count will tell you.
We got our reward through a bit of luck it has to be said when Greg Taylor fired us level through the aid of a deflection, but as they say if you don’t shoot you don’t score. They also benefited from a deflected goal yesterday so that evened itself out.
READ THIS…James Tavernier suffers more Beautiful Sunday disappointment against Celtic
There was nothing lucky about Daizen Maeda’s goal that put us in front. It really was a fine taken effort from the man who loves a Glasgow Derby day. Only Daizen could get an assist for his own wonderful goal!
We of course were pegged back when Diomande brought the Ibrox club level and we were all square once again. Nicolas Kuhn looked like he had won the game with a fine finish with just three minutes of normal time remaining, but as we were all still celebrating we shot ourselves in the foot by allowing Danilo to score a header unchallenged, it really was uncharacteristic poor defending from ourselves, although the cross should never have been allowed to come into our box.
READ THIS…Cup Final hero Kasper Schmeichel reflects on his whirlwind Celtic start
We were the much better side in extra time, but couldn’t find that elusive winner while theRangers seemed more than happy to hold on for the penalty shoot-out. So after 120 minutes plus added time it went to the lottery of spot kick shootout. .
Celtic prevailed and showed our character as we scored five times in a row, all in front of theRangers end while they missed one, a fie save from Kasper Schmeichel
Kasper and Daizen of course are being hailed as the heroes, but it’s a team game and each and every player played their part in a deserved victory.
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Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Celtic in the Thirties
By popular demand, both volumes of Celtic in the Thirties are now available on Amazon Kindle, with the links to order below. Signed copies of both volumes are available on hardback from Celtic Star Books and if you would like author Matt Corr to add a special Christmas dedication to your copies please let us know. Postage deadline for Christmas is next Wednesday. Order hardback copies HERE or for Amazon Kindle click on the links below…
As much as I was delighted that we finally got over the line, to win the cup, our overall performance on the day, left bit of a flat feeling also?
Course that didn’t hamper the celebrations, but was a massive mixture of emotions to endure throughout the whole game?
Still felt that way to much backwards and sideways passing was applied yesterday, that affected our tempo badly, for long periods of the game?
The scum set up, to contain us in the midfield areas, and we fell into the traps far too often, in allowing ourselves to be getting turned over to easily in possession?
Add in the long hoof and playing for second balls, is all the scum have to offer, but quite effective as it drags footballing teams down to there shite level?
We did produce limited moments of quality football, that got rewarded, but undone it all with the very costly mistakes in switching off and allowing the scum to score?
But will take any form of victory over the scum, even if it wasn’t the Hun scum skelping that I was expecting and hoping for all the same?