Aberdeen 3-4 Celtic: Scott Sinclair hat-trick helps the Hoops edge thriller
A Scott Sinclair hat-trick helped Celtic to a 4-3 victory over Aberdeen in a thrilling encounter at Pittodrie on Boxing Day.
After just six minutes, it was Celtic who took the lead. Ryan Christie found a pocket of space and released Callum McGregor down the left. McGregor raced towards the byline and fired in a low cross. Ball was at the back post and attempted to clear but his touch dropped for Scott Sinclair who tapped home from six yards.
In the 20th minute, Celtic had a good chance to make it 2-0 but Christie smacked the ball straight at the Dons goalkeeper after he had received a cross into the box from Lustig. However, that miss did haunt the visitors as Aberdeen equalised in the 24th minute. Aberdeen forward Stevie May scored from the spot after Emilio Izaguirre had clattered into Niall McGinn.
Just after the half-hour mark, Joe Lewis made a vital stop to save Scott McKenna’s blushes. McKenna’s wayward diagonal pass went straight to Sinclair, who slipped the ball to Christie on the left side of the area. Christie’s low shot was saved by Lewis before McKenna cleared the rebound away.
Brendan Rodgers took off Izaguirre and put in Jonny Hayes after the break, while Scott Wright replaced McGinn for Aberdeen. The Hoops started the second half with more possession but they were finding it really difficult to create chances as Aberdeen stayed compact and disciplined.
With just more than 15 minutes left in the game, Sinclair’s long-range free-kick was well kept out by Dons goalkeeper Lewis. But Lewis couldn’t do anything in the 76th minute when Sinclair converted a James Forrest cross.
But Aberdeen made it 2-2 from the penalty spot through Cosgrove after Lustig appeared to trip Shinnie inside the box. The parity, however, lasted until the 86th minute as substitute Odsonne Edouard lifted the ball into the right corner from 10 yards after McKenna had cut out a Forrest cross.
Two minutes later, it was 4-2 as Sinclair completed his hat-trick with a tap-in from an Edouard pass. However, Aberdeen weren’t done yet as Lewis Ferguson made it 4-3 in the 90th-minute to set up a thrilling three minutes of added time.
But Rodgers’ Celtic held their nerves and also clung onto three crucial points at Pittodrie.
Read more: Celtic signing this 6ft 4in giant in January would add an entirely different dimension to their attack
Delighted with the thriller, here’s how some Celtic fans reacted to the victory over Aberdeen.
Announce Sinclair statue
— Ciaran Ferry (@FerryCiaran) December 26, 2018
When Eddy is in full flow he is unstoppable. So happy for Sinclair! Just remember we don’t need penalties to win games, piling on the agony !
— ChristopherGillespie (@christopher1g89) December 26, 2018
My heart rates just back to normal. 🙄 They 3 added on min were brutal. But hey ho 3 points n still top 🍀🍀🍀
— Siobhan Barnes (@BarnesShevy81) December 26, 2018
Absolutely shambolic, but a huge GET IT UP YE to Derek McInnes and every other cunt involved with Aberdeen. Cheating thug tactics won’t prevail. GET IN THERE BHOYS!! 🍀💚
— Jacko (@RyanJackson_21) December 26, 2018
My heart still hadn’t settled down lol SUPERB win
— Stephen Walsh 🇮🇪 (@walshybhoy86) December 26, 2018
Great character from the hoops after two very very dodgy penalty decisions , scotty my hero is back 🍀🍀🍀🍀
— paul conlon (@rawchicken17) December 26, 2018
Superb performance from @Oedouard22 and well done @Scotty_Sinclair on the Hat Trick!
— Dylan Bruce (@Dylan_Bruce93) December 26, 2018
BHOYS done good, fantastic display HH💚🍀
— Tina (@9Trafferty) December 26, 2018
Well done Bhoys on top still 🍀🇮🇪
— BarryBhoy ⭐ (@Barrybhoy671) December 26, 2018
Amazing today @Scotty_Sinclair well done & well deserved 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼💚🍀
— Claire McGregor (@ClaireM36148668) December 26, 2018
Well In scotty!!! Hail Hail 🍀
— Andy Kelly l 4 l (@AndyKellyy04) December 26, 2018
Well deserved Scotty 👏
— yahmpy (@yahmpy) December 26, 2018
Well done Scotty Sinclair 💚💚💚
— Joanne weir (@Joanneweir21) December 26, 2018