Celtic secured the League and Cup double with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Rangers at Hampden Park, which went into Extra Time. Greig Spence opened the scoring for Celtic after 70 minutes, before an equaliser three minutes from time by Rhys McCabe gave Rangers hope as the game went into extra time. And when it looked like the match would be destined for penalties, substitute Liam Gormley struck from 25 yards out with 10 minutes remaining to ensure that Stevie Frail’s side secured back to back Youth Cup Final wins.
[singlepic id=1137 w=320 h=240 float=left]Celtic began the game with an attacking formation, while Rangers reverted to using a lone striker in a 4-5-1 formation. Rangers carved out the first real chance of the game. Gordon Dick picked out Kane Hemmings with a nice through ball, but the Englishman’s shot was weak and it rolled past the post.Celtic dominated possession, but they rarely threatened Inglis’ in the Rangers goal, but came out hungry in the second half. Good work down the right from Stephen O’Donnell almost produced the opening goal, but his cross went across the face of goal.
Frail was utilising his full backs well as they were getting forward more and more into the game, with great effect. Left back Kieran Brennan struck a fierce ball that hit the crossbar, but it was a prelude of things to come as Patrik Twardzik hit the crossbar also, before O’Donnell found space on the edge of the box to lay the ball off to Spence, who turned his man and chipped the ball over Inglis from 12 yards out.
Losing a goal, fired Rangers up and Naismith forced Feely in the Celtic goal to make a superb finger tip save. And when it looked as though Celtic had done the job, McCabe scored the equaliser with three minutes remaining. A Kyle McAusland punt up field found Chris Hegarty who headed the ball into the box for McCabe to head past Feely and send the game into extra time.
With the first half of Extra Time saying barely a chance on goal, Stevie Frail sent on substitute Liam Gormley to try to snatch a late winner and he duly delivered. The substitute had been on the pitch for a matter of seconds when, with his first touch he scored the winner. Gormley picked the ball up 25 yards out before he sent a looping strike over Inglis and into the back of the net.
[singlepic id=1172 w=320 h=240 float=left]And with a couple of minutes remaining, it looked like Rangers had scored another equaliser against the run of play. But as Chris Hegarty celebrated, the flag went up for offside much to the delight of Celtic, and to the anguish of Rangers.By the time the Full Time whistle had gone, the Rangers fans were already making their way out as their players crashed to the deck in despair at seeing them lose their third Youth Cup Final in a row. For Celtic however the celebrations could start and after they collected the trophy and went on a mini lap of honour the party continued in the changing rooms, with many a Celtic song being sung with much gusto, as Billy Kirkwood was being interviewed by the press next door.
Post Match Press Conference
Celtic Under 19 Coach Stevie Frail: [audio:http://www.scotzine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/frail.wav]
Rangers Under 19 Coach Billy Kirkwood: [audio:http://www.scotzine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/kirkwood1.wav]
Match Information
Scottish FA Youth Cup Final
Celtic 2-1 Rangers (AET)
Wednesday 27 April 2011
Hampden Park
Goalscorers: Spence 71, Gormley 110; McCabe 87
Team Line-ups
Celtic: Feely, Toshney, Brennan, Hughes, O’Donnell, Bagshaw, Irvine, P. Twardzik (Gormley), Spence (Atajic), F. Twardzik, McGregor
Unused subs: Thomson, Fraser, Feruz.
Rangers: Inglis, McAusland, McIntyre, Cole, Hegarty, Hunter, Fotheringham (Crawford), Dick (McNeil), Hemmings (Mitchell), McCabe, Naismith.
Unused subs: Mitchell, Wiktorski, Drummond.
Attendance: 9427
