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Aberdeen ends 35-year wait for Scottish Cup by upsetting Celtic in shootout

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Aberdeen ends 35-year wait for Scottish Cup by upsetting Celtic in shootout
Sport

Sport

Aberdeen ends 35-year wait for Scottish Cup by upsetting Celtic in shootout

2025-05-25 02:49 Last Updated At:03:21

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — Aberdeen denied Celtic a treble and secured its first Scottish Cup triumph in 35 years after an extra-time final at Hampden Park on Saturday.

Bulgaria goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov starred by saving two penalties in a 4-3 shootout victory after a 1-1 draw.

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Celtic's Daizen Maeda, left, attempts a shot on goal during during the Scottish Cup final soccer match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)

Celtic's Daizen Maeda, left, attempts a shot on goal during during the Scottish Cup final soccer match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)

Aberdeen goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov, centre, celebrates with teammatesafter the Scottish Cup final soccer match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Aberdeen goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov, centre, celebrates with teammatesafter the Scottish Cup final soccer match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin celebrates with the trophy after the Scottish Cup final soccer match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin celebrates with the trophy after the Scottish Cup final soccer match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)

Aberdeen's team members celebrate after the Scottish Cup final soccer match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Aberdeen's team members celebrate after the Scottish Cup final soccer match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Mitov saved the first spot kick from Callum McGregor and denied Alistair Johnston while Aberdeen's players produced a perfect set of penalties.

Celtic goalie Kasper Schmeichel's 83rd-minute blunder canceled an earlier own goal from Alfie Dorrington. Dorrington’s unfortunate own goal gave Celtic the lead six minutes before the end of a scrappy first half but Schmeichel made a mess of dealing with a cross and gave Aberdeen life in the game.

Celtic hit the woodwork twice but could not find a winner and McGregor was in tears after the shootout prevented Celtic from clinching a sixth treble in nine seasons.

Aberdeen’s fourth Scottish Cup final win over Celtic emulated the 1990 side which beat the Hoops in an epic shootout.

The triumph also ensured Jimmy Thelin's first season as Aberdeen boss was a major success despite recent disappointments. The Dons matched Celtic in the first 11 games of the league but their form collapsed in spectacular fashion and they ultimately finished fifth after losing their final five matches.

They also conceded 19 goals in five meetings with Celtic and Thelin, who did not have Jamie McGrath or Jeppe Okkers in his squad, lined up with five at the back in a bid to keep things tight.

Celtic's Daizen Maeda, left, attempts a shot on goal during during the Scottish Cup final soccer match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)

Celtic's Daizen Maeda, left, attempts a shot on goal during during the Scottish Cup final soccer match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)

Aberdeen goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov, centre, celebrates with teammatesafter the Scottish Cup final soccer match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Aberdeen goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov, centre, celebrates with teammatesafter the Scottish Cup final soccer match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin celebrates with the trophy after the Scottish Cup final soccer match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin celebrates with the trophy after the Scottish Cup final soccer match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)

Aberdeen's team members celebrate after the Scottish Cup final soccer match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Aberdeen's team members celebrate after the Scottish Cup final soccer match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

A Ukrainian drone strike killed one person and wounded three others in the Russian city of Voronezh, local officials said Sunday.

A young woman died overnight in a hospital intensive care unit after debris from a drone fell on a house during the attack on Saturday, regional Gov. Alexander Gusev said on Telegram.

Three other people were wounded and more than 10 apartment buildings, private houses and a high school were damaged, he said, adding that air defenses shot down 17 drones over Voronezh. The city is home to just over 1 million people and lies some 250 kilometers (155 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

The attack came the day after Russia bombarded Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles overnight into Friday, killing at least four people in the capital Kyiv, according to Ukrainian officials.

For only the second time in the nearly four-year war, Russia used a powerful new hypersonic missile that struck western Ukraine in a clear warning to Kyiv and NATO.

The intense barrage and the launch of the nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile followed reports of major progress in talks between Ukraine and its allies on how to defend the country from further aggression by Moscow if a U.S.-led peace deal is struck.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday in his nightly address that Ukrainian negotiators “continue to communicate with the American side.”

Chief negotiator Rustem Umerov was in contact with U.S. partners Saturday, he said.

Separately, Ukraine’s General Staff said Russia targeted Ukraine with 154 drones overnight into Sunday and 125 were shot down.

Follow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

This photo provided by the Ukrainian Security Service on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, shows a fragment believed to be a part of a Russian Oreshnik intermediate range hypersonic ballistic missile that hit the Lviv region. (Ukrainian Security Service via AP)

This photo provided by the Ukrainian Security Service on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, shows a fragment believed to be a part of a Russian Oreshnik intermediate range hypersonic ballistic missile that hit the Lviv region. (Ukrainian Security Service via AP)

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, second left, listens to British Defense Secretary John Healey during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Danylo Antoniuk)

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, second left, listens to British Defense Secretary John Healey during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Danylo Antoniuk)

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