On a chilly Sunday afternoon, Celtic managed to secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory over their arch-rivals Rangers. This win not only solidifies Celtic's position at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, but it also sends a strong message to their competitors that they are serious contenders for the title this season.
The match was intense from start to finish, with both teams showing tremendous skill and determination. However, it was Celtic who ultimately emerged victorious thanks to a well-taken goal in the second half. The team's defense was rock-solid throughout the game, thwarting every attack that Rangers threw at them.
Rangers thought they had taken the lead midway through the second half at Hampden Park, when Abdallah Sima tapped in from on the line.
However, VAR came to Celtic's rescue, with the onfield referee overturning his decision to give the goal when the replays showed Nicolas Raskin had pushed Hoops goalkeeper Joe Hart, who was playing in his last match before retirement.
Celtic made their good fortune count, with Idah reacting sharply to slam home from close range after Jack Butland spilled a shot.
It gave Rangers no time to respond, as Celtic sealed their 42nd Scottish Cup crown.
Celtic have since lost just one of their last 24 games in all competitions, winning each of their final five league fixtures to finish eight points clear of Rangers in second.
Brendan Rodgers is now tasked with steering Celtic to a record-extending 42nd Scottish Cup and their eighth triumph in the last 10 years; the Northern Irishman has only lost one of his previous 17 meetings with Rangers as Hoops manager and believes that his side head into Saturday's final in "the ideal condition".
Celtic - who have beaten Buckie Thistle, St Mirren, Livingston and Aberdeen (on penalties in the semi-finals) to progress to Saturday's showpiece - will be confident of success against the Gers as they have not lost any of their four encounters with their Old Firm rivals this season, winning three times by an aggregate score of 5-2 and drawing once - a thrilling 3-3 draw at Ibrox in April.
After a goalless first half, Rangers thought they had scored from a corner when Abdallah Sima netted at the far post but it was chalked off following a VAR review which showed Nicolas Raskin had fouled Celtic keeper Joe Hart.
Celtic eventually took the lead when Paulo Bernardo dribbled into the final third and took a shot from the edge of the box that was palmed away by Jack Butland, but Idah was in the right place at the right time to fire home the rebound.
The win for Celtic not only secured their place in the next round of the Scottish Cup but also served as a morale booster for the team and their supporters. The atmosphere at Celtic Park was electric as fans celebrated their team's hard-fought victory over their bitter rivals.
Overall, the match between Celtic and Rangers was a thrilling display of footballing talent and passion. Both teams put on an impressive performance, but it was Celtic who emerged victorious on this occasion. The result will undoubtedly serve as motivation for both teams moving forward in their respective campaigns.
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