KASPER SCHMEICHEL was a Celtic hero when Brendan Rodgers’ side won the tense penalty-kick shoot-out to lift the Premier Sports League Cup at Hampden in mid-December last year.
Following a dramatic 3-3 extra-time draw, the Danish keeper swooped to his left to push away an effort from Ibrox left-back Ridvan Yilmaz to give the Hoops the advantage.
Daizen Maeda tucked his spot-kick low into the corner past Jack Butland with the decisive drive that won the silverware for the Parkhead men.
Schmeichel will be between the sticks again when the holders face Rangers in the semi-final of the competition at the same venue on Sunday November 2.
SPOT-KICK HERO…Kasper Schmeichel dives to save Ridvan Yilmaz’s penalty last season.
The veteran shotstopper will be aiming to deliver another pivotal performance, but he will have to produce a complete masterclass if he hopes to better the display of another former Hoops netminder against the Govan club in the showpiece League Cup encounter in 2019.
Fraser Forster was so impressive that afternoon that his ex-team-mate Mo Elyounoussi questioned his sanity!
The towering England international last line of defence was unbeatable on that occasion as 10-man Celtic – who had Jeremie Frimpong dismissed – repelled the raids of Steven Gerrard’s team throughout a hectic 90 minutes.
Forster constantly defied the opposition’s main dangerman Alfredo Morelos and even saved a penalty-kick from the controversial Colombian frontman.
The destination of the trophy was determined when Christopher Jullian touched in a left-wing free-kick from Ryan Christie at the far post on the hour mark – just three minutes before Frimpong’s red card when the Ibrox outfit were awarded their spot-kick.
SPOT-KICK HERO…Fraser Forster thwarts Alfredo Morelos’ penalty effort.
Elyounoussi, who was on loan from Southampton at the time, recalled: “I played with a lot of good goalkeepers, but that was the one who was like: ‘Wow, he’s insane.’
“He was the reason why we won that game.
“I remember we were really, really struggling. For myself, I shouldn’t have played at all. It’s a Cup Final, it’s against Rangers, so I forced myself. I wasn’t ready.
“Big Fraser, he deserves all the praise for that game. Obviously, winning a Cup Final against Rangers, that’s something you remember forever.”
The Norwegian international forward, who spent two years at the Hoops before returning to the south coast club, recalled the remarkable atmosphere ahead of the kick-off on the day Celtic lifted their tenth successive honour on their way to completing the phenomenal quadruple.
Elyounoussi, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “Before the game, suddenly my legs started shaking.
HE WENT THATAWAY…Mo Elyounoussi races away from Ibrox captain James Tavernier during Celtic’s dramatic 1-0 League Cup Final triumph at Hampden in 2019.
“I thought: ‘Wow, I haven’t been nervous for a long time.’ I realised it wasn’t me being nervous, it was just that the whole stadium was shaking.
“That was the first time I experienced that. Full Hampden Park, everybody jumping up and down, even the pitch was shaking.
“I thought it was me being nervous, but it was actually the stadium going nuts. That was a great experience.”
Celtic claimed their ninth consecutive title in the Covid-interrupted season and Elyounoussi revealed he was in another country when the decision was made to award the crown to Neil Lennon’s men who were runaway leaders at the time.
The forward, who scored 25 goals for the Hoops, added: “We won the league, but I remember I was at home. We all flew home afterwards, a few weeks later.
“I think there were a few players who got to take a photo with the trophy. We got awarded the league, so they got the trophy at their home.
“I was in Norway at that time, so I never saw the trophy. I never got to hold it.
“Strange times. It’s crazy that Covid was there for two years of our lives.”
Elyonoussi, 31, is now at FC Copenhagen where a team-mate is Jordan Larsson, son of Celtic legend Henrik.
