Hampden controversy as Celtic lose semi-final

By: Laura Brannan on 15 Apr, 2012 15:05

LAST minute drama at Hampden ended Celtic´s dreams of retaining the Scottish Cup, as a controversial 90th minute penalty secured a 2-1 win for Hearts. The Edinburgh side took the lead immediately after the second-half began through Rudi Skacel, but Gary Hooper provided what looked to be the crucial equaliser three minutes from the end.

That wasn't enough to send the match into extra-time, though, as substitute, Craig Beattie, then converted from the spot after Joe Ledley was deemed to have handled the ball inside the box. Celtic had their own shout for a handball waved away inside stoppage time when it looked as though Andy Webster handled the ball, but referee, Euan Norris, waved Celtic appeals away.

The match started in typically frantic fashion, with both sides playing crisp passes up the pitch. But neither Celtic nor Hearts could manufacture any real chances in the opening stages and as the game settled, the battle was fought mostly in midfield.

Last weekend´s two-goal hero, Charlie Mulgrew, sent a good ball curling into the box on 15 minutes but Georgios Samaras was crowded out and couldn't get on to the end of it.

Ryan McGowan had a chance at the opposite end eight minutes later when he sent a header just over the bar from a corner, but despite the scare Celtic immediately began attacking again.

Mulgrew was provider again on 26 minutes, this time sending the ball into Hooper six yards from goal. The striker´s glancing header went just past the post, though, and didn't trouble Jamie MacDonald. As the clock ticked towards half-time Hearts became increasingly more defensive, making it difficult for Celtic to break them down. Scott Brown was being allowed no time on the ball while Samaras´ good pass through for Hooper was blocked just before the Englishman could pull the trigger.

Kris Commons sent a shot directly at MacDonald from long-range but it was Ki Sung Yueng who had the best opportunity of the half on the 45th minute mark. Mikael Lustig, the only change from last weekend, whipped in a cross to the back post where the South Korean dived in to meet it. His header cracked off the upright, though, and the sides went into the break goalless.

But despite the promising end to the first-half it was Hearts who made the immediate impact after the break. The Edinburgh side took control of possession deep inside Celtic´s half and Beattie threaded the ball through for Skacel. The striker rounded Fraser Forster and despite Mulgrew´s attempts to clear it on the line, Hearts took the lead.

And it was Skacel who troubled Celtic again eight minutes later when he took a quick free-kick from outside of the box and forced Forster into a diving block. Substitute, Beattie, also looked dangerous after his arrival and he put an effort just past Celtic´s goal from 25 yards out.

Ki had another good chance on 81 minutes which almost replicated his opportunity at the end of the first-half. He dived in at the far post to meet a cross with his head and, again, the ball struck the post and went wide.

The drama was saved for the end, though, as Hooper provided Celtic with an equaliser three minutes from the end. Mulgrew sent in the cross and the striker headed it home past MacDonald.

But it wasn't over there, and on the 90th minute mark Hearts were awarded a penalty when the ball hit off Joe Ledley´s arm. Beattie converted from the spot, sealing the 2-1 win and ending Celtic´s Scottish Cup dream.

HEARTS (4-4-2): MacDonald; McGowan, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger; Robinson (Beattie 46), Barr, Black (Santana 65), Driver; Elliott (Prychynenko 78), Skacel
Subs not used: Ridgers, Templeton

CELTIC (4-4-2): Forster; Lustig (Wanyama 75), Loovens, K. Wilson, Mulgrew; Brown (McGeouch 82), Ki, Ledley, Commons; Samaras (Stokes 60), Hooper
Subs not used: Zaluska, Izaguirre

Website man of the match: Mikael Lustig