Celtic don finish di season as double-winners, wey dem beat Dunfermline Athletic 3-1 for di Scottish Cup final for Hampden Park. Di victory come just one week after dem win di Premiership title, wey make am di club’s 14th league and cup double.
Di game start with some early drama, as Dunfermline nearly score for di first minute. Calumn Morrison get chance, but Liam Scales clear di ball off di line after mistake between Alastair Johnston and goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo. Dat save set tone for Celtic to build from.
Daizen Maeda open scoring for Celtic for di 20th minute. He run onto long ball, lift am over stranded Aston Oxborough. Na im ninth goal for seven games, and e fit be im last match for Celtic shirt. Arne Engels double di lead for di 35th minute, with powerful shot from edge of area wey fly past Oxborough.
Dunfermline manager Neil Lennon make triple substitution at half-time, wey bring Zak Rudden, Chris Kane and Shea Kearney. Dem improve di team, and Alfons Amade nearly score with dipping shot. But Celtic hold firm.
Kelechi Iheanacho think he score for di 70th minute, but di goal dem rule out for offside against Hyun-Jun Yang. E no wait long before e score proper goal for di 78th minute. E show nifty footwork inside box, weave through Dunfermline defence, and slot ball into empty net. Josh Cooper score consolation for Dunfermline with im first touch for di 82nd minute.
Celtic finish season with nine consecutive wins for league and cup. Di club don win seven of di last 10 Scottish Cups. Di victory mean Hibernian go enter Conference League second qualifying round, while Rangers take Europa League third qualifying round spot.
Martin O’Neill, di 74-year-old interim manager, no wan talk about im future. For BBC Scotland, e say: “If di season was to start tomorrow, I couldn’t do am. But di season no start tomorrow. I get passion for di game. I don do learning for di last three or four months.” E add say e go talk to owner Dermot Desmond next week.
Celtic players dey praise O’Neill. Captain Callum McGregor say: “Martin O’Neill don be fantastic since e come back. I sure e go dey involved for some capacity.” Goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo say: “What e do for di whole group for terms of instilling confidence and belief na job like no other. We all love am.”
Former Celtic captain Scott Brown say: “E all depend if e get di energy. E dey talk about dat for di past. E dey get older. Na up to Martin wetin e do.” Former Dunfermline manager Stephen Kenny say: “You no fit do more dan wetin e don do. Na exceptional achievement.”
Di season wey Celtic don pass through na turbulent one. Dem get managerial flux and fan discontent. But O’Neill still manage to steer di side to double. Di club don win 23 trophies from di last 30 available.
Dunfermline start di game well, but dem no fit convert early chance. Neil Lennon say dem deserve goal, but na only consolation. Di Championship side go now prepare for next season.
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