2019 Scottish Cup final
The 2019 Scottish Cup Final was the 134th final of Scotland's premier knockout association football competition, contested between Celtic and Heart of Midlothian (commonly known as Hearts) on 25 May 2019 at Hampden Park in Glasgow.[1][2] Celtic emerged victorious with a 2–1 win, thanks to a brace from forward Odsonne Édouard—including a penalty in the 62nd minute and a decisive strike in the 81st—after Hearts had taken the lead through Ryan Edwards' finish from a backheel by Sean Clare in the 52nd minute.[1][2] The match, refereed by Willie Collum and attended by 49,434 spectators, marked Celtic's completion of a domestic treble (Scottish Premiership, Scottish League Cup, and Scottish Cup) for the third consecutive season, a historic achievement dubbed the "Treble Treble."[3][1][4] Celtic, managed by Neil Lennon on an interim basis following the departure of Brendan Rodgers earlier in the season, entered the final as overwhelming favorites after dominating the 2018–19 Scottish Premiership with a 1–0 victory over their Old Firm rivals Rangers on the final day to secure an eighth consecutive league title. Hearts, under Craig Levein, had qualified by defeating Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3–0 in the semi-finals, marking their return to the final since their 2012 triumph over Hibernian.[5] The game was a tense affair, with Hearts providing stout resistance in a first half notable for few clear chances, before Edwards' goal gave them a brief lead.[1][2] Celtic equalized when Hearts goalkeeper Zdeněk Zlámal fouled Odsonne Édouard in the box, leading to Édouard's spot-kick conversion and his subsequent match-winning goal after a header from Mikael Lustig, earning him the Man of the Match award.[1][2] The victory not only extended Celtic's record haul of Scottish Cup titles to 39 but also solidified their domestic dominance in the late 2010s, with Lennon being appointed permanent manager immediately afterward.[4] For Hearts, the defeat highlighted their ongoing challenges in challenging the Old Firm, though it showcased a resilient performance against a team that had won 34 of 38 league matches that season.[2] The final remains a landmark in Scottish football history for Celtic's unprecedented three-peat of trebles, underscoring their unparalleled success in the competition's modern era.[4]Background
The Scottish Cup
The Scottish Cup, formally the Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup, is the world's oldest national association football knockout tournament, established in 1873 by the Scottish Football Association to promote the sport across Scotland. The inaugural edition commenced in October 1873 with 16 entrants, primarily from the west of Scotland, and culminated in the first final on 21 March 1874 at the original Hampden Park, where Queen's Park defeated Clydesdale 2–0 to claim the trophy. Since its inception, the competition has grown to become a cornerstone of Scottish football, with the 2018–19 season representing its 134th iteration and continuing the tradition of crowning a champion through a series of high-stakes matches.[6] The tournament operates as a single-elimination knockout format, drawing participants from across the Scottish football pyramid. In the 2018–19 edition, 95 teams competed, encompassing all 42 clubs from the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL), all 18 teams from the Highland Football League, all 16 teams from the Lowland Football League, and 19 additional entrants from junior, amateur, and regional leagues. The competition kicked off with preliminary rounds in August 2018, featuring 19 non-league clubs in the first preliminary round (seven ties and five byes), progressing through six main rounds starting in September. Higher-ranked SPFL teams received byes into later stages—Premiership sides entered at the fourth round in January 2019—while earlier ties were resolved via replays if drawn, shifting to extra time and penalties from the fifth round onward. This structure ensured broad participation while favoring established professional clubs in the latter stages.[7][8] As the traditional season finale, typically held in May at Hampden Park, the Scottish Cup holds immense prestige in Scottish football, offering winners not only the iconic trophy but also a pathway to European competition the following year. It completes the domestic calendar and provides a prime opportunity for clubs to achieve a treble by securing victories in the league, League Cup, and this knockout event, a feat accomplished by dominant sides like Celtic, the defending champions from their 2018 triumph. The 2018–19 prize fund emphasized the competition's growing financial incentive, with £120,000 awarded to the winners and escalating payments at each round—such as £3,000 for preliminary participants up to £25,000 for semi-finalists.[9]Teams and historical context
Heart of Midlothian, commonly known as Hearts, entered the 2019 Scottish Cup final having finished fifth in the 2018–19 Scottish Premiership season under manager Craig Levein.[10][11] This marked their 15th appearance in the competition's final, with the club having secured victory on eight previous occasions, the most recent being a 2–1 win over Rangers in 1998.[12][13] Hearts were seeking to end a 21-year drought without a Scottish Cup title, having reached the final for the first time since 2012, in which they won two of their previous three appearances (1996, 1998, and 2012).[1] Celtic, the defending champions, approached the final as the 2018–19 Scottish Premiership title holders, managed by Neil Lennon following Brendan Rodgers' mid-season departure in February 2019.[14] This was to be their 57th Scottish Cup final appearance, having triumphed 38 times previously and entering as heavy favorites with a chance to claim a third consecutive domestic treble.[13][14] The Glasgow club had already lifted the Scottish League Cup earlier that season, positioning them to achieve a historic "Treble Treble"—an unprecedented feat of winning all three major domestic trophies in three successive campaigns.[15] The matchup highlighted a longstanding rivalry between Celtic and Edinburgh-based clubs like Hearts, though the 2018–19 league encounters were split: Hearts secured a surprise 1–0 home victory in August, only for Celtic to respond with a dominant 5–0 away win in November.[16][17] For Hearts, the final represented an opportunity to disrupt Celtic's domestic dominance and claim a major trophy after two decades, while Celtic aimed to cement their era of supremacy with another historic achievement.[18][14]Route to the final
Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian began their 2019 Scottish Cup campaign in the fourth round with a narrow 1–0 victory over fellow Premiership side Livingston at Tynecastle Park on 20 January.[19] Sean Clare scored the decisive goal in the 48th minute, marking his first for the club and securing progression against a resilient opponent who had chances but failed to convert.[19] In the fifth round, Hearts hosted Junior side Auchinleck Talbot on 10 February and delivered a commanding 4–0 win at Tynecastle.[20] Christophe Berra opened the scoring with a header from a free-kick in the 10th minute, followed by Demetri Mitchell's deflected effort in the 31st, Steven MacLean in the 38th, and Aidan Keena in the 86th, showcasing clinical finishing against a determined non-league outfit that had caused upsets earlier in the tournament.[20] The quarter-finals pitted Hearts against Championship team Partick Thistle, starting with a challenging 1–1 draw away at Firhill on 4 March.[21] Christophe Berra gave Hearts the lead in the 17th minute with a composed finish, but Christie Elliott equalized for Partick in the 72nd, forcing a replay despite Hearts' dominance in chances.[21] In the replay at Tynecastle on 12 March, Hearts triumphed 2–1, with Uche Ikpeazu leveling the score in the 24th minute after Scott McDonald's opener for Partick in the 17th, before Sean Clare converted a penalty in the 40th to seal advancement.[22] Hearts' semi-final against Inverness Caledonian Thistle took place at Hampden Park on 13 April, resulting in a 3–0 victory that earned them a place in the final.[23] The game remained goalless at halftime, but Uche Ikpeazu broke the deadlock in the 49th minute with a powerful strike, John Souttar added a second in the 66th from a corner, and Clare scored from the penalty spot in the 74th after Ikpeazu was fouled, underlining Hearts' second-half dominance.[23] Throughout their run, Hearts demonstrated defensive solidity, conceding just two goals across five matches including the replay, while relying on key contributions from forwards like Naismith, Washington, and Ikpeazu, as well as midfielder Clare's three goals.[24] This progression came amid inconsistent league form, where they finished seventh in the Premiership, highlighting the cup's role in boosting morale under manager Craig Levein.[23]Celtic
Celtic entered the 2019 Scottish Cup as defending champions and favorites to secure another domestic treble, having won the competition in each of the previous two seasons. Under manager Neil Lennon, the team demonstrated consistent attacking prowess throughout their campaign, scoring 13 goals across four matches without conceding any, which underscored their dominance en route to the final. Key contributors included wingers James Forrest and Scott Sinclair, who provided flair and finishing, while midfielders Scott Brown and Tom Rogić offered control and timely strikes. In the fourth round, Celtic hosted League One side Airdrieonians at Celtic Park on 19 January and secured a comfortable 3–0 victory. Scott Sinclair opened the scoring in the 37th minute with a low 20-yard drive after a neat team move, before adding a second in the 56th minute following a precise cut-back from James Forrest. Timothy Weah, making his debut on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, capped the win with a curling 25-yard effort in the 83rd minute, marking an impactful introduction to the squad. The match highlighted Celtic's superior possession and pressing, with over 70% ball control limiting Airdrieonians to few chances.[25] The fifth round saw Celtic face Premiership rivals St Johnstone at home on 10 February, resulting in a resounding 5–0 thrashing that propelled them into the quarter-finals. Jonny Hayes struck first in the 21st minute with a deflected shot from the edge of the box, followed by Scott Brown's header in the 33rd minute—his first goal for the club in nearly two years—from a corner. Scott Sinclair then scored a hat-trick with goals in the 4th minute via a low drive, the 54th from a close-range finish, and the 89th with a late tap-in, while James Forrest added one in the 52nd from a quick counter. This performance exemplified Celtic's ruthless efficiency, as they capitalized on set-pieces and transitions to overwhelm a defensively organized opponent.[26] Advancing to the quarter-finals, Celtic traveled to Easter Road to take on Hibernian on 2 March, emerging with a 2–0 win despite a competitive first half. The breakthrough came in the 58th minute when James Forrest latched onto a loose ball and rifled a 25-yard shot into the top corner. Scott Brown doubled the lead in the 74th minute with a powerful 20-yard drive after intercepting possession in midfield, ensuring progression to the semi-finals. Facing his former club, Lennon praised the veterans' composure, noting their goals as pivotal in a match where Celtic's second-half intensity turned the tide. The semi-final against Aberdeen at Hampden Park on 14 April proved decisive, with Celtic prevailing 3–0 amid controversy for the Dons, who finished with nine men after red cards to Dominic Ball and Lewis Ferguson. James Forrest scored first in stoppage time of the opening period, finishing a cross from Jonny Hayes after Aberdeen's numerical disadvantage. Odsonne Édouard converted a penalty in the 61st minute following a foul on Ryan Christie, and Tom Rogić rounded off the scoring in the 69th minute with a free-kick after the second red card. This result maintained Celtic's clean sheet streak and set up a final clash with Heart of Midlothian, reinforcing their unbeaten run of 30 consecutive domestic cup ties at that point.[27]Pre-match
Venue, date, and ticketing
The 2019 Scottish Cup final took place at Hampden Park in Glasgow on 25 May 2019, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 BST.[28][29] Hampden Park, Scotland's national stadium with a seated capacity of 51,866, served as the neutral venue, a role it has fulfilled for all Scottish Cup finals since the current stadium opened in 1903 and hosted its first final in 1904.[6][30] Ticketing for the final saw an equal allocation of 20,220 seats to each finalist, Heart of Midlothian and Celtic, reflecting a 50/50 split decided by the Scottish FA to ensure fairness.[31][32] The remaining tickets were made available via general sale, and the entire event sold out well in advance, with Hearts reporting over 13,500 tickets sold on the first day alone.[33][34] Adult tickets were priced at £30, with concessions at £15, marking the third consecutive year of frozen prices by the Scottish FA.[35] Priority access for club sales was given to supporters based on loyalty points, followed by first-come, first-served availability for semi-final attendees.[32] The match day featured mild spring weather in Glasgow, with temperatures around 12°C (54°F) and periods of light rain and drizzle, though conditions remained playable.[36] The Hampden Park pitch was in excellent condition, benefiting from ongoing maintenance and upgrades to the stadium's facilities in the years leading up to the event.[1] Supporters were directed to utilize public transport for travel, with rail services enhanced to accommodate crowds arriving at nearby stations like Mount Florida and King's Park, a standard arrangement for Hampden events coordinated by transport authorities.Officials and team news
The Scottish Football Association appointed William Collum as referee for the 2019 Scottish Cup final on 13 May, marking his third time officiating the showpiece event after 2013 and 2015.[3] He was assisted by Alan Mulvanny and Ralph Gordon, with Don Robertson serving as fourth official; Kevin Clancy and Bobby Madden acted as additional assistant referees.[3] Hearts manager Craig Levein provided an optimistic update on team fitness in the build-up, confirming that midfielders Peter Haring (knock) and Arnaud Djoum (Achilles), along with forward Uche Ikpeazu (hamstring), had trained fully and were expected to be available despite recent doubts.[37][38] Midfielder Olly Lee was ruled out with injury, while captain Steven Naismith remained a major doubt after nearly three months sidelined.[38] Levein anticipated deploying a 4-4-2 formation, with Naismith potentially partnering Kyle Washington up front if fit, and stressed a tactical reliance on counter-attacks to exploit Celtic's possession dominance.[38] Celtic approached the final with near-full squad depth, though forward Ryan Christie was confirmed absent due to injury, and captain Scott Brown, defender Mikael Lustig, and winger Jonny Hayes were all racing against time to recover.[38] Defender Dedryck Boyata was in line for a possible start ahead of his impending transfer.[38] Manager Neil Lennon predicted a 4-2-3-1 setup, featuring Odsonne Édouard as the focal point in attack and James Forrest on the right wing, while emphasizing the importance of sustaining the club's unbeaten domestic run that season.[38] In pre-match press conferences, Levein described the occasion as "huge for Hearts" but downplayed personal pressure, acknowledging Celtic's superiority by stating, "things will need to go our way" for a victory.[39] Lennon, meanwhile, highlighted the mutual respect between the sides despite the high stakes, calling Levein "an outstanding manager" and framing the match as a chance to secure a third consecutive domestic treble.[40]Match
Summary
The 2019 Scottish Cup final, contested on 25 May at Hampden Park in Glasgow, saw Celtic secure a historic third consecutive domestic treble by defeating Heart of Midlothian 2–1, with the match pitting Celtic's pursuit of an unprecedented Treble Treble against Hearts' bid for their first major trophy in over a decade.[18][41] The first half was a tense, goalless affair marked by limited scoring opportunities, as both teams struggled to break through stout defenses amid cautious play and few clear chances.[1][2] Hearts gained the upper hand early in the second half, taking the lead in the 52nd minute through Ryan Edwards' close-range finish from a Sean Clare backheel, capitalizing on their growing momentum and promising start to the period.[42][4][2] Celtic responded resiliently, equalizing in the 62nd minute when Odsonne Édouard converted a penalty after being fouled in the box by goalkeeper Zdeněk Zlámal, before he sealed the comeback with a one-on-one finish in the 82nd minute, racing clear and side-footing past Zlámal.[42][2][41][1] Édouard was named Man of the Match for his brace, embodying Celtic's second-half resurgence that turned an early deficit into victory, while Hearts' initial promise ultimately faded against their opponents' relentless pressure.[42][41] The 2–1 final score highlighted Celtic's championship pedigree in completing the clean sweep of Scottish domestic honors for the third straight year.[18][4]Team line-ups and statistics
Heart of Midlothian lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Zdeněk Žlamal in goal behind a back four of Michael Smith, John Souttar, Christophe Berra (captain), and Aaron Hickey. The midfield consisted of Ryan Edwards, Peter Haring, Arnaud Sutchuin-Djoum, and Jake Mulraney, supporting forwards Sean Clare and Steven MacLean.[43][1] Celtic deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation, featuring Scott Bain as goalkeeper and a defensive line of Mikael Lustig, Jozo Šimunović, Kristoffer Ajer, and Jonny Hayes. Scott Brown (captain) and Callum McGregor anchored midfield, with Tom Rogić, James Forrest, and Mikey Johnston in advanced roles behind lone striker Odsonne Édouard.[43][1]| Position | Heart of Midlothian | Celtic |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Zdeněk Žlamal (1) | Scott Bain (29) |
| RB | Michael Smith (2) | Mikael Lustig (23) |
| CB | John Souttar (4) | Jozo Šimunović (5) |
| CB | Christophe Berra (6) | Kristoffer Ajer (35) |
| LB | Aaron Hickey (51) | Jonny Hayes (15) |
| RM | Ryan Edwards (22) | Tom Rogić (18) |
| CM | Peter Haring (5) | Scott Brown (8) |
| CM | Arnaud Sutchuin-Djoum (10) | Callum McGregor (42) |
| LM | Jake Mulraney (23) | Mikey Johnston (73) |
| RW | Sean Clare (9) | James Forrest (49) |
| ST | Steven MacLean (18) | Odsonne Édouard (22) |
| Statistic | Heart of Midlothian | Celtic |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 38% | 62% |
| Shots | 8 | 15 |
| Corners | 3 | 7 |
| Fouls | 12 | 10 |
| Yellow Cards | 3 (Žlamal 61', Sutchuin-Djoum 65', Ikpeazu 97') | 2 (Bain 91', Brown 97') |