Celtic prepare for final with Aberdeen rout, Rangers beat Dundee United.
There were triumphs for both Celtic and Rangers on the penultimate matchday of the Scottish Premiership season on Wednesday.
Celtic trounced Aberdeen 5-1 in a dress rehearsal for the Scottish Cup final, while Rangers rallied to defeat Dundee United in the Premiership season’s penultimate game. Celtic, who had won their fourth consecutive league title over two weeks ago, had little to play for against an Aberdeen side still hoping to finish third place. But that did not appear on Wednesday as Brendan Rodgers’ squad earned a dominating victory. Maik Nawrocki stood highest to nod in Luke McCowan’s corner for a 31st-minute goal, and while Kevin Nisbet briefly pulled Aberdeen level, Hyun-Jun Yang’s close-range strike had Celtic back in control by halftime. That goal took the wind out of Aberdeen’s sails, and Celtic were 3-1 up within three minutes of the restart, McCowan rifling into the roof of the net after good work from James Forrest.
McGowan had his third goal involvement shortly afterwards, teeing up Johnny Kenny for his first Celtic goal on his maiden start for the club, while Adam Idah added a late fifth to finish the scoring. The victory moves Celtic to 91 points ahead of their last game of the Premiership season, at home to St. Mirren on Saturday. They will then face Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park a week later, hoping to complete their sixth domestic treble in nine years. Aberdeen’s defeat means they can no longer finish as the best of the rest, while Hibernian’s 2-2 draw at St. Mirren gives them an unbeatable four-point lead in third.
Celtic are 17 points ahead of Rangers, despite Barry Ferguson’s side rallying to defeat Dundee United 3-1 in what could be his final home game as manager. Ferguson appeared to be in for another low point in a disastrous season when Samuel Cleall-Harding scored in the eighth minute, but Cyriel Dessers quickly levelled. Dessers got his second from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute when Mohamed Diomande was stopped by Will Ferry inside the area, then a venomous Nicolas Raskin finish made sure of the points. Data debrief: Celtic warm up against favourite opponents. Though Celtic will expect a much improved Aberdeen in the cup final on May 24, they can be confident they have the Dons’ number.
Rodgers now has 14 league victories over Aberdeen, the most against any opponent in his managerial career. Celtic have won their last away encounter only twice in the last seven seasons, defeating Kilmarnock 5-0 the previous season.
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