Celtic win Cup to complete domestic double
Gordon Strachan's side won by virtue of a late goal
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Saturday, 26, May 2007 08:48
Celtic have defeated Dunfermline Athletic 1-0 at Hampden Park in the Scottish Cup final today to complete a domestic double.
Jean-Joel Perrier Doumbe scored in the 84th minute to claim victory for the SPL champions, who had dominated for long periods of the game.
The Cameroonian right-back was a surprise selection in the Celtic line-up but boss Gordon Strachan was more than justified in his decision when Doumbe collected Craig Beattie's return pass to slot the ball home with only six minutes remaining.
The game was relatively one-sided and Celtic had the ball in the net as early as the 21st minute after a Shunsuke Nakamura strike, but Paul Hartley was adjudged to have fouled keeper Dorus de Vries.
Strachan's team then wasted another chance on the half hour when Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink sent a header wide after intelligent build up.
After half time Celtic continued to dominate and push for a goal and Kenny Miller should have done better on 51 minutes hitting his shot straight at de Vries from six yards.
Captain Neil Lennon, playing in his last game at the club after seven years service, was substituted with 25 minutes to go as Strachan began to ring the changes in search of victory.
The recently relegated Dunfermline continued to thwart Celtic and defend well until the last few minutes of the game when Doumbe popped up to claim victory for the Hoops and repeat the victory in 2004 and claim the domestic double.