A lack of cutting edge cost Celtic dearly as a Hearts smash and grab sent them into the Scottish Cup final after spending most of the game under the cosh. A controversial last minute penalty by Craig Beattie put Hearts through after an equally controversial equaliser from Celtic four minutes from time.
Celtic completely dominated the first half but had nothing up front to exploit their possession or territorial advantage. Hearts best opportunity of the game came within the opening seconds when Kelvin Wilson was carless with a back pass which was collected by Elliot but Fraser Forster came to the rescue.
Celtic then took over and bossed Hearts comprehensively but could not find a way to open the Hearts defence. Lustig headed over from Kris Commons free kick after the full back was fouled. Midway through the half Commons and Samaras combined to release Mulgrew who crossed from the win for Hooper who should have scored with his header from 8 yards but could not find the target.
Commons nipped onto a short back pass 10 minutes from half time but his touch to take the ball behind goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald was too heavy. Commons had Celtic’s first attempt on target five minutes from the break with a shot from 23 yards but MacDonald saved comfortably.
Ki had two incredible chances in the game, both unmarked back post headers at the end of each half. With 44 minutes gone he struck the upright from 4 yards when he should have scored, an outcome that would be repeated towards the end of the game.
Craig Beattie was introduced at half time and immediately changed the pattern of the game. Two minutes into the second half he played-in Rudi Skacel, benefitting from a ricochet off Kelvin Wilson. Skacel rounded Fraser Forster and shot high into the net.
The goal seemed to break Celtic’s spirit as Hearts created several chances in the opening 20 minutes of the second half. Skacel shot from 35 yards, forcing Forster into a good save. The same player then shot wide after a knock down from Beattie.
Andy Driver dispossessed Michael Lustig just after the hour but Glenn Loovens came to the rescue and conceded a corner. Craig Beattie then played a one-two with Driver before shooting narrowly wide.
Neil Lennon changed Celtic’s shape in an attempt to get back into the game, replacing Samaras with Anthony Stokes and Celtic were soon back in the ascendency. Hooper linked with Stokes on 66 minutes but the Irishman’s shot was deflected wide.
Stokes then headed over from a Ledley cross and had an attempt from 13 yards after Mulgrew cut back to him.
On 82 minutes Ki should have levelled after Kris Commons chipped a free kick towards the back post by the Korean midfielder headed against the post again.
Anthony Stokes should have equalised with five minutes remaining when he got onto the end of a Mulgrew header but he could not turn the ball goal-wards.
A minute later Dylan McGeogh fed Joe Ledley who moved the ball onto Charlie Mulgrew. Mulgrew crossed for Gary Hooper who headed home from 4 yards but the Celtic striker was in an offside position when the cross was played.
In the 90th minute referee Euan Norris awarded Hearts a penalty kick when the ball struck Joe Ledley’s arm when struck from less than 2 yards from him while he was trying to turn his back on the ball to block. Ledley’s arm was not at his side but it was not in an unnatural position either, nor was there even the remotest suggestion of a deliberate act. Beattie struck the penalty straight down the middle as Forster dived to his left.
The last few frantic moments of the game offered further opportunities for Celtic. A Ledley volley was saved before the ball struck Andy Webster inside the Hearts box but the referee wasn’t interested on this occasion.
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Tommy J,
Ki has 6 goals this season not 8 or 9.I have my opinion on the player same as you ,fair enough.Again I ask where would you place him as regards player of the season and as they are all for sale how much do you think we will get in offers for him?
ki must stay
antrimkev – in this backwater you expect Barca football? What proves your point? Your are ignorant and show it with every typed word.
Q. Do you support Celtic?
Support typically means to back, encourage and defend from detractors. Where do you stand in this?
AoW
i dont get slaggin your own peeps , is that not a hun job?
OK…Here I go again!
For the benefit of bjmac,sandman,hamiltontim and it would appear quite a few others……mickbhoy1888 is a tim!!
You may disagree with his views, I know I do at times, but my best guesstimate is that he has attended probably more games(home and away) than 90+% of the people who regularly post on here.
You may disagree with him but he has paid his way.
I can assure you he was in the north stand today. I saw him with my own eyes!
You may disagree with a lot he says but can you really disagree with his post at 02.01…because I can’t.
Kingoh on 16 April, 2012 at 02:06 said:
———————————–
Can’t argue mate!
HH
antrimkev – in this backwater you expect Barca football? What proves your point? Your are ignorant and show it with every typed word.
Q. Do you support Celtic?
Support typically means to back, encourage and defend from detractors. Where do you stand in this?
AoW
and this proves what?
i said Ki was rubbish
and this is what you have come up with?
you should have scrolled past mate
all the best
hail hail
Art of War,
This discrimination in the dirty stinking hole that is Scotland has been going on for over 100 years.I have watched referees ten times worse than they are today yet still we overcame it.That is a fact of life that will remain.Nobody knows that more than me mate.I still worry that we are not good enough to overcome it.
Wanyama 1st vote for player of the Season
Mulgrew 2nd vote for player of the Season
Brown. 3rd vote for player of the Season
Ticket office Manager as Manager of the season for procuring all those tickets for those one game a season tims at Kilmarnock last week
so kingoh you be unhappy if your daughter came home with neil lennon?? pls explain. as i said is it cos I ginger?etc
‘the dirty stinking hole that is Scotland’
I feel privileged to be Scottish, an accident of birth perhaps, but an inhabitant of ‘the dirty stinking hole that is Scotland’? Naw i don’t think so.
Still racists come in all guises.
hail hail
estadio
estadio , nail , head
Nite all. Work tomorrow.
We might disagree at times but when i wake up tomorrow my team will still be champions.
HH
AoW
punkrockbhoy
I would be concerned as my daughter is half his age!!
I don’t really see your point. Feel free to get tore into mickbhoy as much as you like. I was simply pointing out that, despite what you may think, he is a tim.
Kingoh @ 02:06
Do me a favour m8 and gonny gonny gonny stop defending me I was enjoying the sport. Any way you know the real reason I had to leave Kilmarnock on the final whistle last week it was to to get up the road to see how my old college buddies from Cambridge were doing on the Thames
Ps Met Mcphail in the Ben Nevis last night and he was asking after you
night good celtic peeps
ftsfa
mickbhoy1888
Wisnae really defending you as I think you’re a dobber!
Need to catch up with the big man next time he’s over.
Punkbhoy
I don’t really have a daughter, well not one I am admitting to , but if I did have I would rather Neil Lennon came home for toast and cheese and more bevvy with my son rather than my daughter
Mickbhoy,
A helluva lot of people owe you a massive apology son.Seems if you criticise the manager or players on here yer a Hun.Pathetic.I had a bad feeling about the Killie game and the same today,Tells me something is not right.
Kinghoh
Is he too old to have an affair with the ferret as he took her out too dinner or am I just being a jealous auld man
Was too scunnered to comment on the game after the final whistle so just went back to sleep. Haven’t read back any comments but here goes; I thought the Bhoys played really well. Defensively we have got to get better and be able to deal with teams playing on the break. Hearts were dreadful in the first half, marginally better in the second, but thoroughly undeserving of a win. The penalty decision was shocking. No intent by Ledley to block with his arms and it is impossible to get out of the way when the ball is fired straight at you from 2 feet away.
We paid the price for Ki’s two misses. Fair play to the lad for getting into those positions but Hooper was playing far too deep instread of his usual poaching game. He or one of the other forwards should have been the ones on the end of those crosses. Big plus for me was Lutsig – thought he was excellent as was Charlie again. We will miss Charlie down the left when Izzy gets back on form but the centre of defense will be stronger with him in there. Hopefully with Rogne and then Loovens in a pinch.
Shame our season is now done. The Bhoys should have won the treble but the main prize is secure. With the central defence sorted out, and maybe another good forward we have the makings of a very good side.
mickbhoy
good luck to him if he is! doubt it.
gloryoh gloryoh to the bold neil lennon
god bless ye neilly
god bless the celtic fans worldwide
i thank my parents and i always remember johnny doyle
viva le quinte brigade
gbnl
Ach well roll on the next 5 games because I know that god willing I will be there for all of them
Hail Hail, The Celts are here,
What the hell do we care,
What the hell do we care,
Hail Hail, The Celts are here,
What the hell do we care now …
For its a Grand Old Team to play for,
For its a Grand Old team to see,
And if you know the history,
Its enough to make your heart go,
Nine-in-a-row.
We don’t care what the animals say,
What the hell do we care,
For its all we know,
Is that there going to be a show,
And the Glasgow Celtic will be there.
after todays game ki will know to go across the goalie
he is a phenomenal football player who will realise he’s that good
as he matures . realdealetc
nally81 03:05
After his first heider you would have thought he would know to ‘go across the goalie’ for the second one.
The bhoy needs a haircut.
EN
Have only watched part of the game,but at 4mins 35,the scene is set.
The ball has run away from Broonie and as he endeavours to chase it , he is whacked in the back and goes down.This is 5 metres away from the ref.
Play on.
The expression on the face of the Hearts player says it all.
Ki Sung-Yueng is an outstanding footballer.
That is all i have to say.
.
When Paul67 wrote..
Words to the Affect..
We Might have to Accept 3rd Place this Season..
There would be Not a Man on Here that would have Taken a League Championship.. Coupled with Rangers Winning He Haw..
Not One Man..
Lets Celebrate Our Season..
Summa
.
Just had a Gander @ Korean Quick News to see What the thought of Ki’s Performance..
..
Don’t know if the Translation is Acurate..
NotAFanOfKi…on 16th April 2012. said:
Yet again Ki has cost us in a big game, He was running about like a Headless Spoon-billed Sandpiper.
NAFOKi
We are the champions & the season is over. It’s time to rest some players. I’d go with this for the remaining games.
L.Zaluska
M.Lustig
M.Fraser
C.Mulgrew
E.Izaguirre
E.Juarez
D.McGeouch
V.Wanyama
R.Ibrahim
P.Brozek
T.Watt
Subs
M.Bangura
P.McCourt
A.Blackman
F.Twardzik
P.Twardzik
Funny how Lennon, Thomson and co. are not complaining about Celtic’s offside goal being allowed. Suppose that’s what happens if you have a persecution complex – you see everything and eveyone as being against you. No doubt they will spend hours and hours looking at the slo mo of Celtic’s “penalty” and will still be convinced that it should have been a penalty!
Gutted to be beaten by the softest penalty since we were robbed in Turin. Gutted, but not in the least bit surprised.
Team played well, dominated possesion and created chances that should have been taken. Wilson is a bombscare but Glenda is improved.
Glad to see Neil and Alan continue not to take it on the chin…
W.W.
S.P.L. is all that matters to me.
And thereby ,entry to Europe.
What possible kudos are to be gained by winning either of the cups in a footballing backwater ?
Why pander to the same aspirations as bigots, while funding them at the same time?
Let`s treat their wee irrelevant trophies with the contempt they deserve.
The S.P.L. is all.
And the cup winner is…………….Yawn.
Let them squabble over the scraps.
I’d be happy to see both Rangers & Hearts wiped off the footballing map. I despise them both. Just read about the Petrov banner, If true Celtic fans should never step foot inside Swinecastle ever again. Having been punched and spat on there i will never give cash towards that filth for the remainder of my life. Good luck to Hibs in the final.
Serge on 16 April, 2012 at 05:19 said
Serge,I like your thinking.
However probably some of your choices are already earmarked for the off.
Juarez eg. ?
Good morning friends from East Kilbride. Expected a horrible wet morning but surprisingly there’s not a cloud in the sky and the sun is already shining.
League Champions.
Jobo
Macjay1
That’s so that he can put himself in the window mate, He needs to play if he wants to move. If he plays and plays well it goes well for him and the club. He either plays himself back into our team or we will get a decent fee for him. I’d offer him & Ki for James McCarthy ;-)