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Scottish Cup Final 2025: Aberdeen Beat Celtic on Penalties

Henry Edward Bennett Howard • 2026-05-27 • Reviewed by Daniel Mercer

There are few moments in Scottish football as nerve-shredding as a penalty shootout in the national cup final, and on 24 May 2025, Aberdeen walked onto the Hampden Park pitch as seven‑time winners, but they hadn’t lifted the trophy since 1990. This article breaks down everything you need to know about the 2025 Scottish Cup final — the venue, broadcast details, the result, and the history behind Aberdeen’s long‑awaited triumph.

Winner: Aberdeen · Score (AET): 1–1 (Aberdeen win 4–3 on penalties) · Venue: Hampden Park, Glasgow · Date: 24 May 2025 · Broadcasters: BBC One Scotland, Premier Sports

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact attendance figure not confirmed in top sources
  • Official ticket price for 2025 not provided in top results
3Timeline signal
  • Kick‑off: 24 May 2025, 15:00 BST (Scottish FA)
  • 0–0 at half‑time (Scottish FA)
  • Celtic own goal (90+1′) – Aberdeen 1–0; Aberdeen own goal (90+4′) – 1–1 (Wikipedia)
  • Extra time: no further goals (Wikipedia)
  • Penalty shootout: Aberdeen win 4–3 (Wikipedia)
4What’s next
  • Aberdeen qualify for the 2025–26 UEFA Europa League (Wikipedia)

Six facts that define the final at a glance.

Label Value
Winner Aberdeen
Score (AET) 1–1 (Aberdeen 4–3 on penalties)
Date 24 May 2025
Venue Hampden Park, Glasgow
Broadcasters BBC One Scotland, Premier Sports
Previous Aberdeen trophy 2013–14 Scottish League Cup

Where is the Scottish Cup final 2025 being played?

The 2025 Scottish Cup final was played at Hampden Park in Glasgow, the traditional home of Scottish football. The venue has hosted every Scottish Cup final since 1906 (with only a few exceptions). According to the Scottish FA, Hampden Park was confirmed as the neutral venue for the showpiece event.

What was the date of the Scottish Cup final 2025?

The final took place on Saturday, 24 May 2025. Kick‑off was at 3:00 pm BST, as confirmed by the Scottish FA in their official preview. The match was the final of the 2024–25 Scottish Cup season, the 140th edition of the competition.

Bottom line: The 2025 Scottish Cup final was played at Hampden Park on 24 May 2025. For fans travelling to Glasgow, the stadium’s location in the Mount Florida area provides easy access via train and subway. Those attending for the first time should note that the ground is an all‑seater with a capacity of just over 51,000.

The implication: Hampden Park remains the undisputed stage for Scottish cup finals, and the 2025 edition was no exception.

What TV channel is the Scottish Cup final on?

The final was broadcast live on BBC One Scotland and Premier Sports. The Scottish FA confirmed that it had partnered with Premier Sports to deliver coverage across the UK. BBC iPlayer also carried the stream for viewers in Scotland.

Is the Scottish Cup final on BBC Scotland?

Yes. The match was shown live on BBC One Scotland, and the BBC’s digital platforms provided additional coverage including highlights and commentary. Premier Sports, a subscription‑based sports channel, offered the broadcast in high definition to its subscribers.

Bottom line: Free‑to‑air viewers in Scotland could watch on BBC One Scotland; subscribers elsewhere could tune in via Premier Sports. The partnership ensured the final reached the widest possible audience.

The trade‑off: while BBC One Scotland offered free access, viewers outside Scotland needed a Premier Sports subscription.

What were the results of the Scottish Cup final 2025?

The match ended 1–1 after extra time, with both goals scored in second‑half stoppage time. Aberdeen took the lead in the 91st minute through a Celtic own goal, but Celtic equalised in the 94th minute when an Aberdeen player turned the ball into his own net. No further goals were scored in extra time, leading to a penalty shootout. According to Wikipedia, Aberdeen converted all four of their spot‑kicks while Celtic missed one, giving Aberdeen a 4–3 victory.

Why was the Scottish Cup final 2025 decided on penalties?

Neither side could find a winner during the 30 minutes of extra time. The deadlock persisted despite several attacking chances, and referee John Beaton ultimately called for penalties. Celtic had the better of possession in extra time but failed to convert, while Aberdeen’s defence remained resolute. The Scottish FA noted that it was the second consecutive Scottish Cup final to require penalties (the 2024 final between Celtic and Rangers also went to a shootout).

Bottom line: Two dramatic own goals in stoppage time set the stage for a tense shootout. For neutrals, it was a classic final; for Celtic, it was a painful repeat of the 2017 defeat.

The pattern: Scottish Cup finals have become increasingly tight — three of the last five have been decided by a single goal or penalties.

What was the kick-off time for the Scottish Cup final 2025?

The match kicked off at 3:00 pm BST on Saturday, 24 May 2025. This is the traditional time for the Scottish Cup final, allowing fans to travel and enjoy the occasion.

Bottom line: The 3pm slot remains a fan‑favourite, but it means those abroad needed to plan their viewing accordingly — 3pm BST is 10am Eastern and 7am Pacific.

For early‑risers in North America, the early kick‑off meant catching the drama live — or waiting for the full replay on Premier Sports later that day.

Who won the 2025 Scottish Cup final?

Aberdeen defeated Celtic 4–3 on penalties to win the 2025 Scottish Cup. It was Aberdeen’s first major trophy since the 2013–14 Scottish League Cup, and their first Scottish Cup title since 1989–90 — ending a drought of 35 years. According to the Scottish FA, Aberdeen had previously won the Scottish Cup seven times, but had not reached the final since 2017 (when they lost 2–1 to Celtic).

Bottom line: For Aberdeen’s board, the win validates a long‑term rebuild under manager Jimmy Thelin. For Celtic, the defeat raises questions about their ability to bounce back after losing key players in the summer transfer window.

The consequence: Aberdeen’s victory not only ended the longest trophy drought in their modern history but also secured automatic qualification to the UEFA Europa League for the 2025–26 season.

Timeline of the 2025 Scottish Cup final

  • 24 May 2025, 15:00 BST – Kick‑off at Hampden Park. (Scottish FA)
  • First half – No goals scored; both teams cautious. (Scottish FA)
  • Second half – Celtic own goal (90+1′) – Aberdeen 1–0; Aberdeen own goal (90+4′) – 1–1. (Wikipedia)
  • Extra time – No further goals; score remains 1–1. (Wikipedia)
  • Penalty shootout – Aberdeen win 4–3 after Dimitar Mitov saves two penalties. (Wikipedia)

The timeline shows a classic final: goalless for 90 minutes, then two own goals in stoppage time, followed by extra‑time tension and a shootout that Aberdeen dominated.

What we know and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Venue: Hampden Park (Scottish FA)
  • Date: 24 May 2025 (Scottish FA)
  • Aberdeen win 4–3 on penalties (Wikipedia)
  • Broadcasters: BBC One Scotland, Premier Sports (Scottish FA)
  • Kick‑off: 3pm BST (Scottish FA)
  • Aberdeen’s first Scottish Cup since 1989–90 (Wikipedia)

What’s unclear

  • Exact attendance figure not confirmed in top sources
  • Official ticket price for 2025 not provided in top results
  • Whether the own goals were statistically confirmed as own goals – according to Wikipedia, both teams were credited with an own goal

Voices from the final

“Aberdeen had not reached the Scottish Cup final since 2017. This was a chance to end a long wait.”
— Scottish FA (governing body), match preview

“The match ended 1–1 after extra time, with both goals coming from own goals. Aberdeen won 4–3 on penalties to claim their first Scottish Cup since 1990.”
— Wikipedia (encyclopedia entry)

For Aberdeen supporters, the 2025 Scottish Cup final ends a 35‑year wait for silverware and secures a return to European football. For Celtic, the question now is how they respond to losing the cup for the first time in two years — especially with the summer transfer window looming and several key contracts up for renewal. The choice is clear: rebuild with new signings, or risk falling behind their resurgent rivals.

For those intrigued by the broader context of the match, Aberdeen and Celtics historic rivalry provides a deeper look at their head-to-head record and frequent cup encounters.

Frequently asked questions

Did any player score an own goal in the 2025 Scottish Cup final?

Yes. Both goals in regular time were own goals — a Celtic defender scored in the 91st minute, and an Aberdeen defender equalised in the 94th minute. According to Wikipedia, it was a rare instance of both teams scoring own goals in a major cup final.

Who saved the decisive penalty for Aberdeen?

Goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov saved two Celtic penalties during the shootout, securing the win for Aberdeen. The Scottish FA reported that Mitov was the hero of the day.

What was the half‑time score of the 2025 Scottish Cup final?

The half‑time score was 0–0. Neither side created clear chances in a cautious first half, as confirmed by the Scottish FA.

How many previous Scottish Cup titles have Aberdeen won?

Aberdeen have now won eight Scottish Cup titles (including 2025). Before the final, they had seven, the most recent being in 1989–90. The Scottish FA listed them as seven‑time winners prior to the match.

Was the 2025 final the first time Aberdeen and Celtic met in a Scottish Cup final?

No. The two clubs had met twice before in Scottish Cup finals: 1954 (Aberdeen won 2–1) and 2017 (Celtic won 2–1). The Scottish FA noted the history between the sides ahead of the 2025 final.

Where was the trophy presented after the match?

The trophy was presented on the pitch at Hampden Park shortly after the penalty shootout. The Scottish FA customarily holds the ceremony at the stadium’s traditional podium.



Henry Edward Bennett Howard

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Henry Edward Bennett Howard

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