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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 28 MAY 2017 63 Sport FOOTBALL Celtic win Scottish Cup SUBSTITUTE Tom Rogic's sen- sational injury-time winner gave Celtic a 2-1 William Hill Scot- tish Cup final success over Ab- erdeen and clinched a historic treble for the Hoops. In an open and thrilling en- counter at Hampden Park, winger Jonny Hayes volleyed the Dons into the lead in the ninth minute only for Parkhead mid- fielder Stuart Armstrong to level two minutes later. Celtic grew stronger as the sec- ond half went on and in the first minute of three added on by ref- eree Bobby Madden, Rogic - on in the first half for Kieran Tier- ney - fired in a close-range drive to ensure that Brendan Rodgers' side completed the whole do- mestic season unbeaten with the club's first treble since 2001. It was the Dons' sixth defeat of the season to Celtic but they more than played their part in a compelling match, only to find again that the Parkhead club this season are irresistible. Rodgers, who joined the club last summer, becomes the third Parkhead boss to do the clean sweep following Jock Stein, twice, and Martin O'Neill. It was a fitting achievement in the week that Celtic celebrated 50 years since becoming the first British club to win the European Cup. As excitement levels grew around Parkhead in the build- up to the final, Rodgers revealed that Moussa Dembele had re- covered from the hamstring in- jury that had kept him out for a month. In the event, the 20-year-old French striker started on the bench with Leigh Griffiths lead- ing the line. For his part, Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes had raised eye- brows earlier in the week by stripping outward-bound mid- fielder Ryan Jack of the captain- cy, with Graeme Shinnie leading the team out. Jack, though, was given a start- ing berth for the showpiece fi- nale which was preceded by a minute's silence in tribute to those affected by the Manches- ter bombing attack. The heav y burst of rain before the game slickened the surface and helped in a frantic start to the match. The Pittodrie men drew first blood when Niall McGinn's cor- ner to the back post found Hayes, who had escaped Griffiths, and his low volley f lew into the net with Celtic defender Tierney un- able to keep it out. However, the Hoops fought back immediately and two min- utes later Armstrong took a Cal- lum McGregor pass outside the box and fired a low drive past Dons keeper Joe Lewis. Midway through the first half, Tierney required lengthy treat- ment for a facial injury after a challenge by Aberdeen striker Jayden Stockley near the touch- line - it looked as if an arm was used - and had to be replaced by Rogic with McGregor dropping to left-back. The change disrupted Celtic and as Aberdeen rallied, Hoops keeper Craig Gordon saved ef- forts from McGinn, Jack and Stockley. But Celtic should have taken the lead deep into five min- utes added for Tierney's injury when Griffiths fired in a cross from the left but Scott Sinclair knocked over from just a few yards out. The second half also started at pace as Griffiths' def lected shot on the break missed the far post by inches before Lewis blocked a Sinclair shot on the turn from close range. At the other end, Hayes robbed McGregor on the touchline to drive through on goal but his pass to McLean was behind the midfielder and a great chance was lost. Lewis parried an an- gled drive from Armstrong just after the hour mark and then Aberdeen escaped when a Pat- rick Roberts drive from 20 yards came off the outside of the post. Back came the rain, cascading again but failing to dampen the growing excitement and tension. Gordon produced a wonder- ful save at full stretch, pushing Shinnie's 25-yard drive past the post, the Hoops defending the corner. As play raced to and fro, Lewis made crucial saves from Grif- fiths and then Sinclair. Aberdeen were visibly tir- ing and the champions began to swarm around their box and in added time Rogic sealed the win, and the treble, with an an- gled drive after dancing into the Dons box and the green and white half of the stadium ex- ploded in joy.