Daizen Maeda scores the winning penalty to inflict another derby defeat on Philippe Clement in a final for the ages.
Celtic have lifted the Premier Sports Cup in a thrilling 5-4 penalty shootout win over Rangers after an enthralling 3-3 draw in the Final at Hampden Park this afternoon.
Brendan Rodgers’ side move out in front on 119 major trophies but boy were they were made to work hard for it in a phenomenal final.
Rangers bossed the first half and went in at the break 1-0 up thanks to Nedim Bajrami’s finish after a mix-up at the back for Celtic.
Celtic’s never-say-die attitude came to the fore in the second half though, as they turned the game on its head with two goals in four minutes from Greg Taylor’s deflected strike and Daizen Maeda’s good finish, but Mohamed Diomande levelled it up with a clever effort from a corner kick routine.
Nicolas Kuhn has had a standout season so far and he thought he’d bagged the winner on 87 minutes with a calm finish past Jack Butland, but Danilo went up the other end and sent the game to extra time with a headed goal just a minute later.
After an extra-time period of little action, the match went to penalties and it was Daizen Maeda who kept his cool in the white-hot atmosphere to slot his side’s final penalty into the corner and win the cup after Ridvan saw his spot-kick saved by Kasper Schmeichel.
Philippe Clement’s wait for a maiden win in this fixture goes on, and his side gave everything this afternoon, but it’s Brendan Rodgers and his Celtic side who’ll be celebrating this evening.
