Event | 2008–09 Scottish League Cup | ||||||
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Date | 15 March 2009 | ||||||
Venue | Hampden Park, Glasgow | ||||||
Referee | Dougie McDonald | ||||||
Attendance | 51,193 | ||||||
The 2009 Scottish League Cup Final was the final match of the 2008–09 Scottish League Cup, the 62nd season of the Scottish League Cup. The match was played at Hampden Park, Glasgow on 15 March 2009, and was won by Celtic, who beat Old Firm rivals and Cup holders, Rangers, 2-0 after extra time.
Both teams had to play just three matches to reach the final because teams competing in Europe received a bye into the Third Round. In the semi-finals, Celtic beat Dundee United 11–10 on penalties after the match ended 0–0 following extra time. Rangers beat Falkirk 3–0 in their Semi-final
Celtic faced First Division Livingston at Celtic Park in their first match, a comfortable 4–0 victory was secured with goals from Glenn Loovens, Georgios Samaras and Scott Brown. Loovens headed into the net from a cross by Paul Caddis, Samaras added the second with a header from Loovens cross shortly after the hour. Brown added the third with a lob before Samaras got his second from the penalty spot, after Dave MacKay fouled Shaun Maloney in the penalty area. Celtic then travelled to Rugby Park to play Kilmarnock, Scott McDonald scored the opener after 10 minutes with a header, the matches first effort on goal from either side, Shunsuke Nakamura scored the second with a free-kick. Aiden McGeady ended the scoring from a Scott Brown pass, just 3 minutes after Danny Invincibile had given Kilmarnock a chance. The previous season's losing finalists Dundee United were Celtic's opponents in the Semi-final at Hampden, The match ended goalless after extra time and so was decided by a penalty shootout. An astonishing climax ensued with all 10 penalties being scored before going to sudden death. Lee Wilkie; who had missed the penalty in the previous season's final which allowed Rangers to win the cup, missed United's ninth penalty, Glenn Loovens therefore had a chance to win the match but could not score either. Another two penalties scored and it was goalkeeper time, Łukasz Załuska who would join Celtic the following season scored his and Artur Boruc did likewise, It was back to the first taker Willo Flood, who would join Celtic shortly after this match, could not convert and this time Celtic did take their chance to go through with Scott McDonald scoring the winning penalty.