Aberdeen’s Hampden Hopes Fade After Celtic Demolition
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For Aberdeen, the next 10 days hinge on blind faith. Despite clawing out of a mid-season slump, Jimmy Thelin’s side has stumbled catastrophically ahead of the Scottish Cup Final. After dismal losses to St Mirren and Rangers, a return to Pittodrie brought no solace—just a 5-1 thrashing by a relentless Celtic. With their winless streak against the Glasgow giants now at 30 games, the Dons face a psychological mountain to climb before facing Celtic again at Hampden on May 24.

[Image: Celtic’s Maik Nawrocki celebrating his header; caption: Maik Nawrocki opened the scoring, capitalizing on shaky Aberdeen defending.]

The match exposed Aberdeen’s frailties. Celtic’s opener came via a poorly defended corner, as Nawrocki powered home his first goal for the club. Though Kevin Nisbet equalized with a clever header before halftime, Hyunjun Yang’s stoppage-time strike restored Celtic’s lead—a gut punch that deflated the hosts.

[Image: Hyunjun Yang slotting Celtic’s second goal; caption: Yang’s clinical finish just before halftime shifted momentum back to Celtic.]

The second half unraveled completely for Aberdeen. Luke McCowan curled in a superb third, followed by Johnny Kenny’s header for his maiden Celtic goal. Adam Idah added a fifth late on, compounding the misery after Alfie Dorrington’s red card. Aberdeen’s defending was chaotic, raising doubts about their ability to disrupt Celtic’s treble charge.

[Image: Luke McCowan celebrating his goal; caption: McCowan’s strike sealed Celtic’s dominance in a one-sided second half.]

Celtic’s Juggernaut Rolls On
Brendan Rodgers’ rotated side—featuring fringe players like Kenny and Yang—proved their depth. Youngster Kenny, fresh from a loan spell, shone brightly, while James Forrest terrorized Aberdeen’s defense all night. Celtic’s hunger remains undimmed, their eyes fixed on a sixth treble in nine years.

[Image: Johnny Kenny heading Celtic’s fourth; caption: Johnny Kenny’s header capped a breakthrough performance.]

Aberdeen’s Uphill Battle
Thelin now faces a mental rebuild. Despite securing European qualification via St Mirren’s slip-up, confidence is fragile. Toppling Celtic demands a tactical masterclass and defensive resilience sorely lacking here. For now, the Dons cling to hope—but unless they rediscover their grit, Hampden could be a harsh reckoning.

Final Score: Aberdeen 1-5 Celtic
Celtic scorers: Nawrocki, Yang, McCowan, Kenny, Idah
Aberdeen scorer: Nisbet

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