2015 Scottish League Cup Final

The 2015 Scottish League Cup Final was the 69th final of the Scottish League Cup. The final took place on 15 March 2015 at Hampden Park, Glasgow. The clubs contesting the final were Dundee United and Celtic.

2015 Scottish League Cup Final
Official programme cover
Event2014–15 Scottish League Cup
Dundee United Celtic
0 2
Date15 March 2015
VenueHampden Park, Glasgow
Man of the MatchStefan Johansen (Celtic)
RefereeBobby Madden
Attendance49,259

Celtic won the match 2–0 for their 15th League Cup title, with goals in either half from Kris Commons and substitute James Forrest. Dundee United captain Seán Dillon was sent off, and Forrest later had a penalty saved by Radosław Cierzniak after being fouled by Paul Dixon.

Background

Celtic played their 30th Scottish League Cup Final, with a previous record of 14 victories (second to Rangers' 27) and 15 defeats. Their last final was in 2012, a 0–1 defeat to Kilmarnock, and their last victory was in 2009 when they beat Rangers 2–0 after extra time.[1]

It was Dundee United's seventh final, and they had a record of two victories and four defeats. Their last appearance was in 2008, when they lost to Rangers in a penalty shootout after a 2–2 draw. Dundee United's two previous victories came consecutively in 1979 and 1980, both 3–0 wins against Aberdeen and city rivals Dundee F.C. respectively.[1]

The only previous Scottish League Cup Final between the two clubs was in 1997, which Celtic won 3–0 for their 10th title.[1]

Route to the final
Main article: 2014–15 Scottish League Cup

Dundee United and Celtic were two of the five Scottish Premiership sides who entered the League Cup in the third round.

Dundee United
Round Opposition Score
Third round Dundee 1–0 (h)
Quarter-final Hibernian 3–3 (7–6 p) (a)
Semi-final Aberdeen 2–1 (n)

In the third round Dundee United faced a home tie against Scottish Premiership and city rivals Dundee. The Terrors progressed with a late goal from Jarosław Fojut.[2]

Dundee United drew Scottish Championship opposition in the quarter-finals in the shape of Hibernian. The game finished 3–3 after extra time and the Tangerines won 7–6 on penalties to seal their passage into the semi-finals.[3]

United beat Aberdeen in the semi-final with a late winner from Nadir Çiftçi. This sent the Arabs to their first League Cup Final since 2008.[4]

Celtic
Round Opposition Score
Third round Heart of Midlothian 3–0 (h)
Quarter-final Partick Thistle 6–0 (h)
Semi-final Rangers 2–0 (n)

In the third round Celtic faced a home tie against Scottish Championship opposition in the shape of Heart of Midlothian. Goals from John Guidetti and Kris Commons with an own goal from Adam Eckersley sealed Celtic's place in the quarter-finals.[5]

Celtic drew Scottish Premiership and city rivals Partick Thistle in the quarter-finals. Guidetti scored a hat-trick in a 6–0 win to ensure the Hoops progressed to the semi-finals.[6]

The Bhoys ran out comfortable winners against Old Firm rivals Rangers in the semi-final. Goals from Leigh Griffiths and Commons sealed Celtic's place in their first League Cup Final since 2012.[7]

Match

Pre-match

Prior to the final, The Sun released photos apparently showing Celtic captain Scott Brown drunk in Edinburgh on the night of 11 March. The club declined to comment on the alleged incident.[8]

Team selection

For Dundee United, striker Nadir Çiftçi was suspended, but Paul Paton's suspension for a red card against Celtic in the Scottish Cup was rescinded on case of mistaken identity.[9]

Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk had his red card from the same match rescinded. Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong were cup-tied, as they had played earlier in the tournament for Dundee United before joining Celtic. Charlie Mulgrew and Mikael Lustig were ruled out by injury, with Nir Bitton also doubtful, but Kris Commons returned from a thigh problem. Brown started despite the controversy involving him earlier in the week.[9]

Match
Dundee United goalkeeper Radosław Cierzniak saved a penalty from Celtic substitute James Forrest

Celtic set up with Kris Commons and Anthony Stokes as wide attackers behind Leigh Griffiths and had chances early on: Jarosław Fojut cleared a cross over the Dundee United crossbar and captain Seán Dillon deflected a Virgil van Dijk header off the goalline. Dundee United had a break when Stefan Johansen gave the ball away to Ryan Dow who ran up the pitch, but did not have enough support to create an opportunity at goal.[10] Griffiths intercepted a backwards pass from Callum Morris, but hit the side netting. When Dillon was off the pitch receiving treatment following a collision with Van Dijk, Celtic opened the scoring. Commons' shot was saved by goalkeeper Radosław Cierzniak, but he got to the rebound quicker than Fojut. Dillon returned to the pitch only just before a planned substitution to replace him with Blair Spittal. Near the end of the first half, Dow got into the Celtic box and was challenged from behind by Scott Brown, but no penalty was given.[9]

In the second half, Dillon was given a straight red card for a challenge on Emilio Izaguirre, which enraged Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara who was then spoken to by referee Bobby Madden.[11] Morris prevented two Celtic shots with blocks before substitute James Forrest doubled the lead from 20 yards out. After being fouled by Paul Dixon, Forrest took a penalty despite his teammates wanting fellow substitute John Guidetti to take it and the Celtic fans wanting Brown to take it; eventually, it was saved by Cierzniak.[9]

Details
Dundee United0–2Celtic
Report Commons  28'
Forrest  79'
Attendance: 49,259
Referee: Bobby Madden
Dundee United
Celtic
DUNDEE UNITED:
GK1 Radosław Cierzniak
RB2 Seán Dillon (c) 56'
CB14 Callum Morris
CB5 Jarosław Fojut
LB3 Paul Dixon
RM16 Ryan McGowan
CM20 Calum Butcher
CM6 Paul Paton 72'
CM18 Ryan Dow
LM8 John Rankin
CF19 Mario Bilate 59'
Substitutes:
GK26 Michał Szromnik
DF4 John Souttar
FW17 Chris Erskine 72'
MF21 Charlie Telfer
MF22 Aidan Connolly
MF24 Blair Spittal
FW30 Henri Anier 59'
Manager:
Jackie McNamara
CELTIC:
GK26 Craig Gordon
RB4 Efe Ambrose
CB22 Jason Denayer
CB5 Virgil van Dijk
LB3 Emilio Izaguirre
CM8 Scott Brown (c)
CM6 Nir Bitton 82'
RW15 Kris Commons 69'
CAM25 Stefan Johansen
LW10 Anthony Stokes
CF28 Leigh Griffiths 69'
Substitutes:
GK24 Łukasz Załuska
FW9 John Guidetti 69'
FW12 Stefan Šćepović
DF41 Darnell Fisher
MF42 Callum McGregor
MF49 James Forrest 69'
MF53 Liam Henderson 82'
Manager:
Ronny Deila

MATCH OFFICIALS

MATCH RULES

  • 90 minutes
  • 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level
  • Seven named substitutes
  • Maximum of three substitutions

Post-match

Celtic captain Scott Brown was presented with the trophy by rock singer and Celtic fan Rod Stewart.[9]

References
  1. "Scotland - List of League Cup Finals". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  2. "Dundee Utd 1–0 Dundee". BBC Sport. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  3. "Hibernian 3–3 Dundee Utd". BBC Sport. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  4. "Dundee Utd 2–1 Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 31 January 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  5. "Celtic 3–0 Hearts". BBC Sport. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  6. "Celtic 6–0 Partick Thistle". BBC Sport. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  7. "Celtic 2–0 Rangers". BBC Sport. 1 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  8. "Scott Brown: Celtic offer no comment over 'drunk' pictures". BBC Sport. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  9. Wilson, Richard (14 March 2015). "Dundee Utd 0-2 Celtic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  10. "Ronny Deila targets trophy treble after Celtic lift Scottish League Cup". Daily Telegraph. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  11. "Celtic see off Dundee United to seal Scottish League Cup final glory". Guardian. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
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