Our new ‘on this day’ series begins with a look at the 2000 league cup final and Celtic’s 2-0 victory over Aberdeen, a game that has almost been forgotten because of what happened before and after it.
The 1999-2000 season is not one most Celtic fans will remember fondly, the John Barnes-Kenny Dalglish ‘dream team’ turned out to be a disaster and there was of course the nadir of ‘Super Caley Going Ballistic’. But we did win a trophy that year – the league cup. While it wasn’t won in the most distinguished of manners, it’s always good to win a trophy.
The road to the final began with a 4-0 win at Ayr, and then a stirring 1-0 win over Dundee with a last minute Morten Wieghorst goal, after Stephane Mahe had been sent-off in the first half. The semi-final was a very dull affair won 1-0 against Killie with a rare Lubo Moravcik header.
And so to the final, which was played on this day, 19th March 2000. By this time Kenny Dalglish was caretaker manager until the end of the season, and he had brought back the late great Tommy Burns to assist him. The team included such names as Johan Mjallby, Mark Viduka and Jackie McNamara, so it was an experienced side, against an Aberdeen game managed by the eccentric Ebbe Skovdahl. The game wasn’t the most memorable, but Celtic took the lead in the 16th minute when Vidar Riseth fired home from a Wieghorst cross. Tommy ‘banana’ Johnson then made it 2-0 after a fine pass from Mark Viduka in the 58th. Shortly after, Aberdeen’s Thomas Solberg was sent-off and Celtic squandered a load of chances to score more goals. So the game finished 2-0 – a victory at Hampden!
Any hope Dalglish had of getting the job vanished the week after this final, as Celtic suffered a pathetic 4-0 defeat. This eventually led to the appointment of Martin O’Neill and the rest is history…
Click on the link below to watch highlights of the game
embedded by Embedded Video
YouTube Direkt
I remember the match and being nervous because Celtic were overwhelming favourites. Aberdeen were a poor team and the Bhoys made heavy weather of it. The game against Rangers was the next week and it was the last time I got a ticket for Ibrox!