ABERDEEN 1 CELTIC 5 Scottish Premiership Wednesday 14th May 2025 Pittodrie Ref: Steven McLean Attendance: 17,089
A burst of three goals in nine minutes either side of half-time saw Celtic put the Dons to the sword in the season’s final game at Pittodrie. In an open game both teams had plenty of chances, but Celtic were clinical, Aberdeen were not.
After losing 4-0 at Ibrox on Sunday, Jimmy Thelin made six changes to his side with Nicky Devlin, Jeppe Okkels, Dante Polvara, Oday Dabbagh and Jamie McGrath all on the bench and Kristers Tobers out injured. In came Alexander Jensen, Alfie Dorrington, Ante Palaversa, Shayden Morris, Pape Gueye and Kevin Nisbet.
Celtic beat Hibs 3-1 at Celtic Park last Saturday but made eight changes, with Viljami Sinisalo, Hyun-jun Yang, Luke McCowan, Jeffrey Schlupp, Maik Nawrocki, Johnny Kenny, Paulo Bernardo and James Forrest replacing Kasper Schmechel, Liam Scales, Greg Taylor, Arne Engels, Reo Hatate, Nicolas Kuhn, Adam Idah, and Daizen Maeda.
It was a busy start from both sides before a high tackle from Dorrington on Yang had his name in the referee’s notebook after just two minutes, Yang galloping into space down the Aberdeen right. Three minutes later, Yang had a free header at the back post but got underneath Ralston’s cross and headed over.
Dimitar Mitov saw his first real action on 13 minutes, Bernardo on the end of a pull back from Yang, but his shot lacked conviction and Mitov saved comfortably at his near post. Moments later, Mitov was launching the ball downfield looking for Gueye, but Sinisalo was quick off his line to head clear some 35 yards from his goal.
Aberdeen mounted some real pressure in the 16th minute, culminating in Morris skinning the full-back and reaching the by-line. He stood the ball up for Gueye at the back post but Sinisalo clutched the ball low down to his right.
The Dons were on the counter-attack again on 18, Gueye playing the ball out to Leighton Clarkson on the right, but his low cross was cut out as the game went from end to end.
Bernardo lashed a good opening over the bar from 20 yards on 21 minutes after he had been found by a cushioned header from Kenny. Topi Keskinen did likewise a minute later after a good Aberdeen move down the left involving Graeme Shinnie and Gueye opened Celtic up.
Celtic were in front on 31 minutes, McCowan arcing a corner into the edge of the six yard box where Nawrocki rose above everyone to nod into the bottom corner.
The game was halted on 34 minutes as the medical teams from both sides were called upon to assist someone in the crowd, resuming some seven minutes later.
Within a minute of the restart, Aberdeen were level. Keskinen was away down the left and played inside to Gueye who chested the ball down and then produced a clever looping lob across goal and on to the head of Kevin Nisbet who generated enough power to glance the ball across goal and defeat Sinisalo to make it 1-1. A really good header.
Trusty might have restored the lead in the 46th minute, his flicked header at the near post cleared off the line by Jensen. Four minutes later, Gueye took a real whack above the knee from Nawrocki and needed treatment before continuing.
In the eighth added minute, Forrest went on a surging run down the right before drilling in a low cross. Mitov got a glove to it to push the ball away, but it caught Jensen in the six yard box and dropped perfectly for Yang to stab the ball into the net.
HALF-TIME: ABERDEEN 1 CELTIC 2
The Dons made a sharp start and within 30 seconds, Keskinen came close to an equaliser, his shot deflected wide. Aberdeen recycled the resultant corner, Dorrington fizzing in an angled drive from one corner of the box right across goal, but nobody was able to get the crucial touch as it went just wide of the goal.
But Celtic were straight up the other end through the pace of Forrest who blazed away into space and then pulled the ball back to McCowan. Knoester slipped in front of him giving him the time and space he needed to drive the ball past Mitov and in.
The Dons came right back at Celtic, Morris denied by a sharp save by Sinisalo at his near post, then 30 seconds later, Mitov was having to dive at Kenny’s feet to deny him another chance. Mitov then had to save with an outstretched boot as Forrest was again the threat with a fierce shot from 15 yards.
Kenny did make it 4-1 for Celtic on 54 minutes, a neat glancing header from close range after McCowan’s cross from the left picked him out. Gueye was booked for dragging down Schlupp three minutes later. The Dons then swapped Knoester and Shinnie for Jack Milne and Jack MacKenzie. Hatate and Johnston replaced McGregor and Ralston on 61 minutes. Nine minutes later, Aberdeen responded by introducing Oday Dabbagh and Jamie McGrath for Nisbet and Morris, while Celtic brought on Idah and Kuhn for Kenny and Yang.
Mitov had to be lively to get down to save a snapshot from McCowan after 71 minutes as the looked to get going again after the lull for those substitutions. The Dons were close on the counter-attack a minute later, Dorrington starting it off with a long ball, McGrath collecting and picking out Keskinen, but his shot was blocked by Nawrocki. MacKenzie was booked shortly after for a tackle on McCowan.
With a dozen minutes to go, Dorrington collected a second yellow card for clipping Idah as he ran on to a through ball and was off back to the dressing room. Aberdeen immediately replaced Keskinen with Devlin in their final change. Celtic then brought on McArdle for McCowan in 81 minutes.
Mitov made a terrific save on 83 minutes, the ball finding Idah eight yards out. He hit it sweetly on the volley, but Mitov was up to the test of his reflexes, pushing the ball to safety.
Hatate went down injured in a challenge with Gueye after 86 minutes and the Celtic man went off to bring both sides down to ten men.
Mitov made another good save in the 90th minute as McArdle tried to bend the ball beyond him, the goalkeeper going to his right to punch the shot away, but there was no denying Idah in the 94th minute, McArdle playing in a great pass to Kuhn. He turned and got a shot away which Devlin and Mitov stopped in the six yard box between them, but the ball fell loose to Idah to drive in, with virtually the last touch of the game.
ABERDEEN: Mitov, Jensen, Dorrington, Knoester (Milne 58), Shinnie (MacKenzie 58), Clarkson, Palaversa, Morris (McGrath 70), Keskinen (Devlin 80), Gueye, Nisbet (Dabbagh 70). Subs not used: Doohan, Okkels, Polvara, Boyd.
GOAL: Nisbet (41) SENT OFF: Dorrington BOOKED: Dorrington, Gueye, MacKenzie
CELTIC: Sinisalo, Ralston (Johnston 61), Trusty, Nawrocki, Schlupp, Forrest, Bernardo, McGregor (Hatate 61), Yang (Kuhn 70), McCowan (McArdle 81), Kenny (Idah 70). Subs not used: Schmeichel, Taylor, Scales, Engels.
GOALS: Nawrocki (31), Yang (45+8), McCowan (48), Kenny (54)
