Joe Hart goes from Celtic penalty sinner to hero to keep double dream alive as Aberdeen sickened in epic - 5 talking points

Joe Hart became the Hampden shootout hero for Celtic – even after missing from the spot.

The Hoops keeper saved a crucial effort form Killian Phillips to sent his side through to the Scottish Cup Final on May 25. But the shootout was only part of the drama on an unbelievable afternoon at the National Stadium. This was a wild thrill ride from the start to very finish with Aberdeen sparking the thriller inside two minutes and notching TWO last minute levellers.

Bojan Miovski got the ball rolling before Nicolas Kuhn squared it and sub James Forest fired the Hoops 2-1 ahead. Ester Sokler pounced in the 90th minute to set up extra time and it was Angus MacDonald – after making an error for Celtic’s first goal – who repeated the feat in the 119th minute after Matt O’Riley thought he’s sealed it for the Hoops.

The mayhem continued in the shoot out and Hart stepped up to take the fifth spot kick to seal it – only to hit the post. But the keeper quickly made amends by stopping Phillips and securing the victory after a crazy clash. Celtic were looking to get out of the blocks quickly – but it was the Dons who got off to a sensational start when Leighton Clarkson picked up the loose ball and brilliantly slipped in Miovski to do what he does best by slotting past Joe Hart.

The Hoops responded though. Yang headed over and Kyogo stung the palms of Kelle Roos before they managed to haul level on 21 minutes. It was a nightmare for Angus McDonald with the defender having his pocket picked by Kyogo and while the striker was blocked by Stefan Gartenmann, Kuhn tucked away the rebound.

Celts pushed but Aberdeen threatened. Hart superbly blocked Gartenmann at point blank range then the Hoops survived a VAR scare when the ball flicked off the hand of Liam Scales but the replays suggested it was outside the box. The pressure piled on after the break but it took a moment of sheer class from Forrest to find a way through on 64 minutes when he darted in from the left and curled his low drive from the end of the box into the far corner.

The Dons weren’t down though and Junior Hoilett blew a glorious chance to level with 10 minutes to go when he race through on the break. Hart sped out to narrow the angle and the wide man’s touch was heavy before he lashed into the side netting but Celts were looking shaky.

And Hoilett went even closer again when Hart juggled a cross ball and needed Cameron-Carters to bail him out on the goalie. The warning wasn’t heeded as the Dons stuck with an incredible last minute leveller when Sokler arrived at the back post to not in Hoilett’s superb deep ball.

Yet Celtic could have snatched it again with Forrest, Luis Palma and then Adam Idah denied in stoppage time. Dons suffered a blow when Miovski limped off in the first period of extra time and it was the Hoops hogging the ball. And it was Celts who struck when Forest slipped in Johnston, who squared for O’RIley to take a touch and find the top corner through the crowd.

The chaos wasn’t done as Hoilett nicked in and took a boot from Carter-Vickers – but the spot kick was scrubbed out for an earlier shove on Johnston. Incredibly the thriller took another huge turn when Aberdeen stuck ANOTHER last minute leveller – when MacDonald pounced for a carbon copy of Sokler’s effort to set up the dramatic shootout.

Here's five talking points from Hampden

Celtic get the job done... but only just

It’s said winners find a way and Celtic did just that at Hampden. But boy they had to fight for it. This was not a vintage Hoops performance by any stretch of the imagination and it was impossible not to feel for Aberdeen after pouring in so much. The shootout was a lottery but Celts could – and should – have done the business in the regulation time. It was a horrible start but they looked set to see it out at 2-1 and 3-2. Yet the vulnerability at the back that has hurt them at times this season was in evidence again as Aberdeen twice pulled them back at the end of time. There were other issues in the wide areas again and while Celtic are still on course for trophy glory, this was a reminder the title race is not done yet either. There are fie games to go and if this is anything to go by, it’a going to be a nerve shredding end to the campaign.

Forrest fires on the big stage

Celtic fans have often taken him for granted, and it might take until long after he hangs up his boots until he is fully appreciated. But James Forrest is a genuine Celtic legend for the right here and now. The wide man’s appearances might be more fleeting these days but his impact should not be underestimated. Forrest was the Hampden hero yet again, just when his team needed it most. His goal got his side ahead and then he was involved again to carve open Dons for the third goal in extra time. And it should not have come as a surprise. Forrest has now scored six times in cup semi-finals and finals and he could add to his incredible Parkhead medal haul of 22. His place as one of the greats should be secure but he clearly still has a part to play this term.

Bright new dawn

Aberdeen’s manager-in-waiting Jimmy Thelin will have been watching with interest back in Sweden – and he must have been thrilled with what he witnessed. The outgoing Elfsborg gaffer is due to take charge in June but he will have seen he will have plenty to work with at the club. This might’ve ended in agony but it was a lot more like it from the Pittodrie men. Aberdeen’s squad is far better than their league standings suggest and no team with the likes of Bojan Miovski, Duk, Connor Barron and Leighton Clarkson should be milling around at the bottom of the table. There is work to be done as well though. The Dons backline held firm for long spells here but they continue to shoot themselves in the foot. Angus MacDonald gifting Celtic a leveller was case in point. Thelin will need to build from the back but the spirit and desire shown here suggests there could be better times ahead for the Granite City side.

Downbeat Dons

A lunchtime kick-off in Glasgow is an awkward one for Aberdeen at the best of times but they are used to being dragged all over the country at tricky times. The fact they only managed to shift 8,000 tickets for a Scottish Cup semi-final suggested plenty among the Red Army felt it wasn’t worth the hassle. It’s perhaps understandable.

Aberdeen’s league campaign has been a nightmare and the long drawn out managerial search has left the place in limbo. Still, this was a shot at salvaging something from the season and a lot of the punters weren’t holding out much hope. They missed a cracker. The ones inside Hampden made a heck of a din for 120 minutes and beyond They almost got their rewards but in general Dons fans deserve more. It’s the task of the Pittodrie board and incoming manager to recapture the imagination of the supporters.

VAR eye opener

It was inevitable VAR would get involved at one stage and sure enough there as a flashpoint just before halftime. The handball call against Liam Scales looked incredibly tight and it needed a other look. Video officials drew their lines and decided the ball hit the defender’s fist just outside the box. But it was interesting the stadium announcer informed the supporters that was the case, rather than just saying it was no penalty. It is a start, given fans are so often left in the dark over these big calls. The only gripe is a rule book issue. It was a handball but it wasn’t given at the time so Aberdeen didn’t get the free kick in a dangerous position, even though everyone learned it was a handball. Perhaps when the technology catches up, officials can make this decisions in real time to get marginal calls right on the spot, as it’s not just penalty kicks and red cards that can alter games.