Updated at 19.20
CELTIC CLAIMED THE first silverware of the Scottish season with a comfortable 2-0 win over 10-men Dundee United in the League Cup final on Sunday, with rock star Rod Stewart joining in the team’s celebration.
Kris Commons opened the scoring at Hampden in the 28th minute while United were temporarily reduced to ten men as captain Sean Dillon was off the park receiving treatment.
United’s task was then made harder when Dillon saw red for a reckless challenge on Emilio Izaguirre in the 56th minute.
Substitute James Forrest added a second in the 79th minute before Radolaw Cierzniak saved his weak 86th minute penalty.
The win, Celtic’s first in the competition since 2009, is the 15th time the Glasgow giants have lifted the cup and keeps them on course for a domestic treble while United’s 35-year wait to lift the trophy continues.
Both sides made a couple of changes from their 1-1 Scottish Cup clash at Tannadice last week with Nadir Ciftci’s suspension allowing Mario Bilate a first start for United since November while Commons and Nir Bitton returned for Celtic.
Celtic had the best of the early chances, with Jason Denayer having a looping header cleared off the line by Dillon before Leigh Griffiths took advantage of a slack back pass by Callum Morris to round Cierzniak but he sent his effort into the side netting from a tight angle.
The Terrors were dealt a blow when captain Dillon had to limp off for treatment in the 26th minute after a clash of shins with Virgil van Dijk and Celtic took full advantage of their temporary numerical advantage to claim the lead two minutes later.
Commons saw his first effort from an Anthony Stokes cross superbly turned on to the post by Ciernziak but the Scotland star was alert enough to blast home the rebound from close range.
Commons came close to a second minutes later when he made room for a shot from the edge of the box but Ciernziak produced a fingertip save low to his right to turn it out for a corner.
United players were screaming for a penalty in the 39th minute when Ryan Dow burst into the box at pace and was sent sprawling by Celtic captain Scott Brown, who appeared to nudge him in the back, but referee Bobby Madden ignored their pleas.
United’s task got tougher in the 56th minute when they were reduced to 10 men as captain Dillon was sent off for a late lunge on Izaguirre.
Celtic began to dominate possession and were inches from a second in the 67th minute when Stefan Johansen connected with a cross from Griffiths but his shot shaved the outside of the post.
Denayer then sent a header narrowly over the bar from six yards out as he got on the end of a Johansen delivery into the box.
Celtic finally added to their advantage in the 79th minute through substitute Forrest.
Johansen broke into the box and cut the back for John Guidetti who laid the ball into the path of Forrest with the winger curling a shot past Cierzniak.
Forrest had a chance to make it a double six minutes later when he was hauled down in the box by Paul Dixon but the Celtic forward saw his poor penalty blocked on the line by Cierzniak.
