CELTIC beat Rangers to win the SFA Youth Cup in a game that literally had EVERYTHING.
There were a staggering ELEVEN goals at Hampden Park – and the one that ended up being the winner was the best of the lot.
Kenny RamsayDobbie scored an incredible backheel winner[/caption]
Kenny RamsayIt turned out to be the winner[/caption]
Kenny RamsayAnge Postecoglou was watching on from the stands[/caption]
It was a truly remarkable game at Hampden.
Six of them came in a blistering 25-minute first-half period.
Jack Roberts made it 1-0 to Rangers, before Mitchel Frame and Corey Thomson turned it around.
Roberts struck again to level it before Daniel Kelly put Celtic ahead once more.
But the Gers weren’t done and Archie Stevens made it 3-3 before half-time.
Findlay Curtis converted a penalty to put the young Gers 4-3 up on 52 minutes after Zak Lovelace had gone down in the box, before the Hoops levelled once more after an hour thanks to Daniel Cummings.
There was more penalty drama involving Lovelace – the former Millwall striker went down in the box twice more and on BOTH occasions was booked for diving.
He was dismissed five minutes before the end by Sean Murdoch – the former Hibs and Dunfermline goalkeeper-turned referee.
To extra time it went, and the advantage counted.
Cummings blasted home from close range to make it 5-4 and then a proper moment of magic sealed the cup for Celtic.
Lewis Dobbie, standing around six yards out with his back to goal, audaciously flicked the ball towards goal with an outrageous backheel.
Ex-Rangers defender Richard Foster described it as an “outrageous finish” on commentary.
Tyler Pasnik struck in the dying moments with the scoreline – remarkably – sitting at Rangers 5-6 Celtic.
And that’s how it finished.
It was yet more Hampden glory for Celtic, and Ange Postecoglou was in attendance.
The first team boss masterminded a derby win of his own on Sunday just gone, with Jota striking to send Celtic to the Scottish Cup Final.
Postecoglou was spotted in the stands alongside Hoops chiefs Peter Lawwell and Michael Nicholson.
And Hoops boss Stuart McLaren said that the Celtic kids had been inspired by a pep talk by the Aussie.
He said: “He’s obviously a very busy man but he certainly has his finger on the pulse and he knows how each and every one of the young players are progressing.
“There was a nice good luck message to the group from the manager, the first team staff and Callum McGregor too.
“So that was a nice touch for the boys and I think they really appreciate that.
“I’m just so proud of the boys.
“It was a great advert and both teams showed some real quality. I’m delighted for the boys.
“The good thing with our manager is that there is a real continuity with the way we work between the first team, the B team and ourselves through the Academy.
“And every game is an opportunity to try and impress him.”
Rangers manager Cameron Campbell said Zak Lovelace had insisted there was contact when he was sent off after two yellow cards for simulation.
He said: “It one hundred per cent turns the game. If you look at it, we are in the ascendancy and in my view I thought it could have a penalty.
“If you look at the nature of when it happened and the score when it happened, it totally turns the game, there is no question about that.
“Zak is saying there is contact. You have got to remember as well, when players are running at that speed, when someone comes into your path, unless you are wanting players to stand and take a massive contact, the players have to do something to try and avoid an injury.
“It is really difficult when you are running at that speed. I think it is a really harsh decision and it is something we will look to appeal.
“He is obviously hurting. Every single player in that changing room is hurting, for different reasons.”
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