Aberdeen 1-1 Celtic (24 May, 2025) Game Analysis
Aberdeen won their first Scottish Cup since 1990 after Dimitar Mitov’s penalty shoot-out saves denied Celtic a domestic treble at Hampden Park.
It looked like being a long day for Aberdeen when Tottenham Hotspur loanee Alfie Dorrington scored an own goal shortly before half time.
But Aberdeen were never out of the contest and their persistence paid off seven minutes from the end of normal time when Celtic goalkeeper diverted Shayden Morris’ cross into his own net.
In the shoot-out that eventually followed, Celtic captain Callum McGregor had his opening effort saved by Mitov before Aberdeen rattled off four nerveless spot kicks. Mitov then kept out Alistair Johnston to seal the team’s historic victory.
“We talked about it all week, we have to do it together with our fans,” Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin told BBC Scotland. “Everybody has to believe, and then anything can happen. We had to dream big in the final.
“The players fought so hard all week, and during the whole game, during extra time. There was cramp everywhere.
“You see how much it means to everyone.”
Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Brendan Rodgers said Celtic’s season has still been a successful one, despite the defeat.
“It wasn’t complacency, no. We had a real desire and hunger to win the game,” he told BBC Scotland. “It just happens, we were very safe in our midfield. Not penetrating enough with and without the ball in those areas.
“We came inside a little too often. It’s a cup final, it can happen. You have to earn it. [It] doesn’t matter what’s happened before in the league. You have to earn victories here at Hampden. Sadly we weren’t able to do it.
“That is football, that’s sport. We’re not robots. It shows you how incredible this club, and group of players, have been — to be so consistently good. Looking at the bigger picture, we won the league title, won the League Cup, sadly we just couldn’t go that next step.
“It’s been a really good season for us. This will hurt. That’s your motivation, that drives you going into next season.”