Celtic 2 - 0 Aberdeen

Aberdeen were subjected to heavy criticism in the media for this performance. The motto was 'They shall not pass', and for 65 minutes they didn't. The inevitable Larsson strike arrived and Celtic ran out easy winners with the Dons never threatning Douglas.

Celtic started the match strongly and were quick to test the Dons unfamiliar formation. Esson had to look sharp as early as the first minute when he rushed off his line to deny Larsson. Tebily tried a 25 yard shot in the 4th minute and it scraped inches wide of Essons right hand post. The Dons had their first opportunity in the 7th minute when McAllister took a quick free kick. Mackie steered the ball goalward, but Douglas was out quickly to deny Winters. Celtic headed back up the park and Esson did well to block a Larsson drive.

Celtic then had two Hartson headers cleared off the line. The first header was cleared by Mackie in the 10th minute and Darren Young was on hand four minutes later to keep the Dons in the game. In between, Zerouali had made a run wide right and fired a shot across Douglas but wide of his far post. Although Celtic clearly had the bulk of the play, Winters had two shooting opportunities in two minutes, but delayed too long and the chances went begging.

Celtic went close in the 24th minute when Larsson got a lucky break of the ball. He swung in a dangerous cross and Thompson headed inches wide. McAllister picked up a deserved booking in the 29th minute after a bad challenge on Sylla. Esson made another fine save in the 33rd minute. A free kick on the edge of the box was rolled to Lambert and his fierce drive was blocked by Esson. Petrov was first to react and drilled the rebound wide of the target.

Aberdeen rode their luck again in the 37th minute when Larsson headed a Sylla cross on to the post. The 42nd minute saw Larsson attempt to chip Esson from the edge of the penalty area, but the Swede didn?t get enough height on the ball. Zerouali made a break in the final minute and it took a last minute challenge from Mjallby to deny the Moroccan a shooting opportunity.

Celtic went close again in the 47th minute when Hartson met a Thompson cross and bulleted the header wide with Esson beaten. Three minutes later a deep cross into the Aberdeen penalty area was only partially cleared by Solberg and Larson lashed the ball over the cross bar. Aberdeen were struggling to get out of their own half and when they did they lost possession to easily. In the 56th minute Mackie almost anticipated a short pass back from Tebily. Douglas managed to intercept and clear. Anderson replaced McAllister on the hour mark when the defender had to be stretchered off after a collision.

Celtic took the lead in the 65th minute when they won a free kick on the right after Anderson had brought down Sylla. The cross was swung in and Larsson out jumped McGuire to head home. Winters picked up the second booking of the game two minutes later. Thornley replaced Winters a minute later. Zerouali picked up a booking in the 70th minute for what referee McCurry decreed was a two-footed challenge. In the 78th minute Celtic were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box when McGuire was adjudged to have tripped Larsson after winning the ball. Larsson took the kick himself and sent the ball high into the stand. After failing in the first attempt Mr McCurry gave the home side a second chance two minutes later. This time Larsson rolled the ball to Petrov and he blasted the ball beyond Esson.

Darren Young became the fourth booking of the match in the 86th minute and a minute later Dadi replaced Solberg. Aberdeen finished the match with a flurry, but the damage had already been done and Celtic were comfortable winners in the end.