CELTIC WILL play Rangers in the Co-operative Insurance League Cup Final on March 20th after Walter Smith’s side beat Motherwell 2-1 at Hampden today.
Yesterday Kris Commons inspired Celtic as they destroyed Aberdeen with four goals in the opening 33 minutes to breeze into the final.
New signing Commons – who revealed his friend former Celt and ex-Ranger Kenny Miller had persuaded him to go to Parkhead instead of Ibrox- scored the opening goal with a sublime chip into the far corner after five minutes.
Former Aberdeen defender Charlie Mulgrew headed the second four minutes later and Thomas Rogne rose to finish for the third after 20 minutes.
Anthony Stokes made it 4-0 before Scott Vernon’s headed reply.
Many of 12,000-odd Aberdeen fans had taken Celtic’s fourth goal as a signal to desert Hampden with their dream of a first final since May 2000 having already virtually disappeared.
Celtic dropped the pace, sparing the Dons the spectre of a repeat of that historic 9-0 Scottish Premier League defeat in November, safe in the knowledge that they will face Motherwell or Rangers in the final.
Commons had come straight into the Celtic starting line-up after his transfer from Derby County, replacing the injured James Forrest on the wing.
Rangers play Motherwell on Sunday in the other semi-final