Celtic 3 - 2 Aberdeen

Aberdeen instantly hit back with Muirhead causing all sorts of problems, but the move ended with McNaughton taking a fresh air shot. Celtic won their first corner in the 25th minute after Aberdeen had defended a dangerous free kick as the home side tried to turn up the temperature. A second corner was half cleared and Esson made another great save as he tipped a McNamara effort over the bar. The ball was then cleared off the line before Varga finally scored with a header to bring Celtic back into the game. Unsurprisingly the 50-50 decisions started to go against the Dons as the home side restored their confidence.

Aberdeen almost added a third in the 31st minute when a cross-come-shot hit the roof of the net from Muirhead. Aberdeen were under the cosh again in the 36th minutes before Esson managed a secure punch to clear the danger then an error by Diamond two minutes later produced another corner, which ended with Hartson firing over the bar. Hart conceded a free kick 30 yards out in the 44th minute but the wall held well and mopped up. Despite two minutes of injury time the Dons held out comfortably to the break.

Celtic came out after the break with all guns blazing as they looked to level the match although the Dons did break out in the 49th minute but were unable to penetrate the home defence. A minute later Esson made a great save from Bellamy but the danger wasn't cleared and Hartson pounced to level the game after firing in an Agathe pass to punish some sloppy defending. The great start had now been undone with still forty minutes of the match remaining. Aberdeen broke again in the 54th minute as Blaha moved forward but was halted for a very soft infringement. A minute later good build up play set up McNaughton but the midfielder chipped the ball over the bar with Marshall off his line.

If the second goal was due to sloppy defending then Celtic went ahead for the first time in the 57th minute with a wonderful strike from Craig Bellamy. A corner was played deep and the Welshman hit a decent volley into the other side of the net to put the home side ahead. Two minutes later Esson made a fine save as Hartson and Bellamy threatened. Blaha was booked on the hour mark and seconds later he was replaced by Foster. There were screams from the Celtic fans in the 62nd minute when Bellamy went down as Byrne made a challenge on the Welshman. The referee eventually had to speak to Bellamy as he continued his protest but no card was produced.

In the 67th minute Severin strode forward but failed to find Foster with his pass as the Dons looked for an equaliser. Two minutes later Esson easily gathered a Varga header before a poor pass from Heikkinen halted a potential attacking opportunity for the Dons. Seconds later another Severin cross caused problems for the home defence before Byrne was replaced by McGuire in the 72nd minute. Four minutes later a Muirhead cross just evaded Mackie as the Dons continued to probe for a way back into the game. Agathe was lucky to escape a booking for a late challenge on McNaughton in the 80th minute as the Dons continued to force the game.

With eight minutes remaining Aberdeen forced a period of sustained pressure as Celtic looked to desperately hang on to their lead. In the 83rd minute Mackie was found at the back post but his header back across goal was intercepted by Marshall. Then with two minutes left on the clock Calderwood replaced McNaughton with Jamie Winter as the Dons looked for another late goal in paradise. In the 90th minute Foster broke again and slipped the ball to Mackie but the ball was adjudged to have crossed the line before he delivered. In the closing seconds Muirhead had the chance of glory but fired well wide of the target.