Celtic win Scottish League Cup final as Rodgers stays on trophy trail

Ryan Christie was the hero as Celtic made it a magnificent seven successive trophy wins with a 1-0 victory over Aberdeen in the Scottish League Cup final at Hampden Park yesterday. The midfielder, who had two spells on loan at the Pittodrie club prior to this season, scored what proved to be the winner with a shot in added time at the end of the first half. Dons keeper Joe Lewis brilliantly saved Scott Sinclair’s controversial penalty in the 52nd minute of a pulsating second-half. Since taking charge of the Parkead club in 2016, boss Brendan Rodgers has won every piece of silverware on offer and this most recent victory — the 18th in the competition for Celtic — is the first step towards a domestic treble treble.Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes has now lost three cup finals to Celtic during the Hoops’ current period of domination, which shows no sign of abating. There were six added minutes at the end of the first half and just before they came to an end Celtic went ahead. Christie raced on to a long pass from Dedryck Boyata, forced his way past Dons captain Graeme Shinnie and slammed the ball high into the net after his first shot had been parried by Lewis. There was drama shortly after the break when Dons midfielder Dominic Ball was judged by referee to have handled a Christie pass inside the box. It looked not only accidental but outside the penalty area — but Lewis threw himself to his right to push Sinclair’s penalty behind for a corner.Rangers beat Hearts for top spot Ten-man Rangers beat Hearts 2-1 yesterday to climb to the top of the Scottish Premiership, with Alfredo Morelos grabbing a contentious winner for Steven Gerrard’s team. With leaders Celtic busy on League Cup final duty, the Ibrox men travelled to Tynecastle looking to grab the title race initiative against a side without a win in five games.Gareth McAuley put through his own net in the 27th minute but the Northern Ireland defender was bailed out when his centre-back partner Connor Goldson bundled home the equaliser and Morelos clinched the win shortly before half-time.Rangers found themselves reduced to 10 men when Scott Arfield was dismissed in the second half but they held on for the win. Hearts took a deserved lead when McAuley diverted the ball into his own net after a cross from Marcus Godinho.But the visitors were level just eight minutes later as Morelos nudged a James Tavernier corner to the back post where Goldson forced the ball past goalkeeper Zdenek Zlamal and over the line at the second attempt. Rangers scored again shortly before the interval following a Tavernier free-kick. Hearts were thrown a lifeline with 18 minutes left as Arfield got his marching orders for a challenge on Zlamal.