Celtic win Scottish League Cup final

GLASGOW, Dec 2, (AFP): Ryan Christie was the hero as Celtic made it a magnificent seven successive trophy wins with a 1-0 victory over Aberdeen in the Scottish League Cup final at Hampden Park on Sunday.

The midfielder, who had two spells on loan at the Pittodrie club prior to this season, scored what proved to be the winner with a shot in added time at the end of the first half.

Dons keeper Joe Lewis brilliantly saved Scott Sinclair’s controversial penalty in the 52nd minute of a pulsating second half.

Since taking charge of the Parkead club in 2016, boss Brendan Rodgers has won every piece of silverware on offer and this most recent victory — the 18th in the competition for Celtic — is the first step towards a domestic treble treble.

Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga kept out Chambers’ header 10 minutes after the break before the loose ball was cleared off the line by Pedro.

Then midway through the second half Kepa palmed away a powerful shot from Chambers.

Chelsea had a chance to seal all three points when Rico could only

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has now lost three cup finals to Celtic during the Hoops’ current period of domination, which shows no sign of abating.

There were six added minutes at the end of the first half and just before they came to an end Celtic went ahead.

Christie raced on to a long pass from Dedryck Boyata, forced his way past Dons captain Graeme Shinnie and slammed the ball high into the net after his first shot had been parried by Lewis.

There was drama shortly after the break when Dons midfielder Dominic Ball was judged by referee Andrew Dallas to have handled a Christie pass inside the box.

It looked not only accidental but outside the penalty area — but Lewis threw himself to his right to push Sinclair’s penalty behind for a corner.

palm an Eden Hazard deflected shot into the path of substitute Alvaro Morata but he skewed the ball horribly.

The Spanish forward was spared further embarrassment when England international Loftus-Cheek finished a lovely move by driving into the net from the right-hand side of the penalty area in the 82nd minute.

Fulham’s French defender Maxime Le Marchand (right), vies with Chelsea’s Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic (center), during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Fulham at Stamford

Bridge in London on Dec 2. (AFP)