Scottish League Cup Semi-Final review
Celtic 2-0 Kilmarnock
Viaplay League Cup holders Celtic overcame a determined Kilmarnock side to book a place in the League Cup final for the sixth time in seven years. Inspired by the return of striker Kyle Lafferty, who was said to ‘have been doing jumping jacks’ to get a place in the starting line-up after his 10-match ban, Killie were desperate to emulate their League Cup success of 2012.
A dress rehearsal of this match was played on the 7th January in the Scottish Premiership – and with Celtic easing to a 2-0 victory, few people outside the Rugby Park club were giving Kilmarnock a chance in the semi-final.
Despite, a strong opening 15 minutes from Derek McInnes’ side, it was Celtic who took the lead as Daizen Maeda appeared to knock the ball past Sam Walker with his arm. Controversial decisions also threatened to overshadow the match as Reo Hatate had a goal dubiously disallowed for offside. Kilmarnock fans felt hard done by when Giorgos Giakoumakis, who looked to have brought down Joe Wright minutes beforehand, sealed the win for the Hoops with seconds left to play. This is perhaps a parting gift from Giakoumakis as the Greek talisman looks destined for a move away from Celtic Park this transfer window.
Rangers 2-1 Aberdeen
Kemar Roofe was the hero as Rangers came from behind to defeat Aberdeen in extra-time and set up an Old Firm spectacle in the Viaplay Cup final. When Michael Beale’s Rangers side scored two stoppage time goals to defeat Aberdeen back in December, Jim Goodwin described his sides loss as his ‘worst ever feeling as manager’. The Dons would be desperate to get revenge on Rangers, but with the Ibrox side motivated by the prospect of winning their first League Cup in over a decade, it was a match no one could predict.
Aberdeen drew first blood as Bojan Miovski turned in Matty Kennedy’s cross, but it was former Aberdeen captain, Ryan Jack who dragged Rangers back into it as his deflected effort skidded past Kelle Roos.
Despite both sides giving their all on the pitch, it was far from an ideal advert for the Scottish game due to the match being battled out on a field more suited to agriculture than a League Cup semi-final. To add to this, a fault in VAR communication resulted in eight minutes of the match being played without the technology.
Aberdeen captain, Anthony Stewart, was just as reliable as the VAR monitor after he was shown a straight red card for a reckless tackle on Fashion Sakala late into normal time. To add insult to the Pittodrie side’s injuries, it was another former Aberdeen academy graduate who would be the catalyst in Rangers securing a place in the final. Scott Wright teed up Roofe, who scored his first goal of the season to set up a must-see Old Firm final.