After a reflective night following the exhilarating Celtic victory over Aberdeen at Hampden, the emotions have shifted from tense anticipation to sheer delight.

As the game unfolded, with early setbacks, promising lead gains, and heart-stopping twists courtesy of late Aberdeen goals, it felt like being on a rollercoaster ride with more surprises than anticipated.

In the midst of this exhilaration, a pivotal moment during extra time had the Celts and defender Cameron Carter-Vickers on the edge of their seats, convinced a penalty was imminent. A challenge on Aberdeen’s Junior Hoilett raised hopes of a spot-kick, but to the relief of the Celtic faithful, the referee’s whistle indicated a foul in favor of Alistair Johnston, not a penalty.

During the ensuing VAR review, an anxious Carter-Vickers, in a mix of confusion and prayer, acknowledged the uncertainty, admitting to thinking it was a foul and expecting the worst. The eventual decision favoring Celtic added a touch of drama before the nerve-wracking conclusion that saw Aberdeen pushing the game to penalty shootouts.

Despite the nail-biting finish, Celtic’s triumph and their spot in the final were secured in the end, marking this remarkable game as a standout, etching its place in the annals of the competition’s most unforgettable semi-final encounters.