Ten-man Dundee United left Hampden empty-handed as goals from Kris Commons and sub James Forrest secured the League Cup for Celtic.
After going down to nine men in the Scottish Cup quarter-final a week earlier, the Tangerines were depleted again in this final as skipper Sean Dillon was sent packing for a high tackle on Hoops defender Emilio Izaguirre with just 56 minutes on the clock.
It was a day when fortune deserted Jackie McNamara’s men, who lost the first goal during a six-minute injury absence for Dillon to receive treatment.
Kris Commons’ strike itself carried a bit of luck, as a brilliant save from Tannadice keeper Rado Cierzniak turned his first shot onto the post only for the rebound to fall nicely at the midfielder’s feet just a yard from goal.
United were also denied a stonewall penalty on 37 minutes when Ryan Dow was shoved by Celtic captain Scott Brown after he broke into the Hoops’ box.
Dillon’s ordering-off was the killer, though, as United began to wilt under the pressure piled on by the Parkhead men.
Sub James Forrest wrapped up the win with the second goal on 79 minutes before Cierzniak saved a penalty from the same player.
It wasn’t a bad performance from United and they fought like tigers to try to get back into the match.
However, the task was just too difficult.
Now they have to somehow pick themselves up and get revenge against the Celts at Parkhead on Wednesday night, when the sides will play the third part of their four-in-a-row in the Scottish Cup replay.
Win that one and they will be coming back to the national stadium to play Inverness Caley Thistle in the semi-final.
The Tangerines’ line-up was rather unexpected, in that it contained both skipper Dillon and Ryan McGowan.
One had been expected to make way for the return of Callum Morris to the centre of the backline following injury.
Instead, McNamara put Morris back in alongside Jarek Fojut but used Dillon at right-back, while McGowan moved into a right-sided midfield role.
The Australian joined John Rankin, Paul Paton and Calum Butcher, while up front there was Ryan Dow and Mario Bilate, the Russian-born Dutchman taking the place of the suspended Nadir Ciftci.
The 4-4-2 formation could be viewed as cautious, clever or both and only time would tell.
Celtic had the fit-again Commons in their team, while Nir Bitton also won his race to be ready on time. Right at the heart of the Hoops’ defence, of course, was Virgil van Dijk after he had the red card picked up in the previous Sunday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final between the teams rescinded by an SFA disciplinary panel.
Wearing their Celtic suits and ties but unable to play because they were cup-tied – were former Tannadice duo Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven, who were greeted warmly by their old pals in the United squad before the game.
The 18,000 United fans painted the west side of Hampden tangerine, black and white with a mural as the teams came out and were in fine voice in the build-up to kick-off.
The celebrity fans were also ready for a song, with Ricky Ross of Deacon Blue in the United end and Rod Stewart there to roar on Celtic.
With that 1-1 draw in the other cup seven days previously being such a torrid affair, the hope was that the ill-tempered stuff wouldn’t boil over into this match.
United had the first foray upfield in the first minute when Rankin ran into space before having his pass forward to Bilate cut out.
Fojut conceded a corner on three minutes when he booted a cross from Stefan Johansen over his own bar. The resultant corner was nodded goalwards by Van Dijk but Tannadice skipper Dillon was on the line to head the ball to safety.
Celtic were pinning their opponents back but there was some respite for United when Dow collected the ball deep in his own half and then ran all the way to the Hoops’ box before being challenged.
United’s hearts were in mouths on eight minutes when Morris got caught in two minds, played a short ball back to Cierzniak. Parkhead striker Leigh Griffiths got there before the Pole but could only shoot into the side-netting.
A foul on Dow by Ambrose then gave the Tangerines a great setpiece opportunity just outside the area but Dixon’s left-footed shot hit the wall.
Commons had to go off for treatment on 13 minutes after being caught by McGowan but was quickly back on.
Four minutes later, the Tangerines came close when a McGowan long throw from the left was nodded on by Bilate to Rankin. The ball fell too far in front of the midfielder, though, and Hoops goalie Craig Gordon dived to smother it.
Celtic were being allowed to come forward with the ball and Van Dijk sent a low shot flying past the post on 21 minutes.
A minute later, the Tangerines broke up the right and Dow fed Bilate, who played in McGowan. The United man tried to reach the ball but was outmuscled by Van Dijk.
There was a blow for United and Dillon on 25 minutes when the Irishman fell to the floor inside his own box, holding his shin. The injury came as he challenged Van Dijk, with the Dutchman catching him.
Dillon eventually made his way up the tunnel a minute later, leaving his team with only 10 men.
With the opposition a man short, Celtic scored.
Stokes nipped past Dow down at the left-hand corner and sent the ball over into the six-yard box. It was met by Commons, who side-footed the ball goalwards.
It deflected off United defender Fojut and Cierzniak dived to claw the ball on to his left-hand post.
However, Commons followed up and poked the rebound into the net with the Pole’s outstretched hand just an inch or two away from reaching the ball.
The game reached the 32-minute mark before Dillon reappeared an absence of six minutes.
By then a stripped Blair Spittal had made his way to the touchline, poised to come on to replace his skipper.
Poor Spittal, though, had to turn around and sit down as his captain ran past him.
McGowan picked up the first booking of the game for a late tackle on Brown before Cierzniak kept the Celtic lead down to one on 35 minutes when he leapt to push a low Commons shot around the post.
United had a serious claim for a spotkick two minutes later when Bilate sent Dow clear. The Tannadice frontman ran into the box only to be shoved off the ball by Brown. It was a blatant penalty but referee Bobby Madden, after taking a second or two to think, decided to take no action.
Dow got on the end of another long throw from McGowan on 43 minutes but his header was an easy catch for Gordon.
Celtic striker Griffiths was claiming for a penalty just before half-time as he attempted to reach a forward pass from Commons. He claimed he was clipped by Fojut but Madden said no again.
Just before the whistle Cierzniak got his body and hands behind a Commons strike to make it 1-0 to the Hoops at the interval.
The Tangerines were unchanged for the second period, as were Celtic.
United had a go on 51 minutes when a long ball upfield from Dixon looped over Jason Denayer and fell kindly for Bilate. The striker tried a snap-shot from outside the box that was deflected but didn’t fool Gordon, who saved.
Dillon’s game was then over on 56 minutes when he was sent off for a high-footed challenge on Izaguirre.
The ball went loose and the Irishman went in on the Celtic defender and was shown a straight red card.
United’s task, already huge, was now mountainous.
Paton was then fortunate to avoid sanction for a late challenge on Ambrose as the needle that had been on show the previous Sunday came into this match.
The now 10-man United brought on sub Henri Anier for Bilate on 59 minutes as they looked to get back into the match.
The Tangerines were defending valiantly and looking to stream forward whenever they could but it was hard enough troubling the Hoops with a full team never mind just the 10.
Stefan Johansen sent a shot just wide on 68 minutes as United breathed a huge sigh of relief, then Denayer nodded over United’s bar.
John Guidetti and James Forrest replaced Commons and Griffiths for Celtic, while the Tangerines also made a switch, bringing on Chris Erskine for Paton.
Van Dijk sent a corner by the post as the Hoops continued to press but United showed great spirit to hang on in there.
With their fans roaring them on they tried their damnedest to get level but instead fell 2-0 behind on 79 minutes.
The Hoops broke forward and the Tangerines were left exposed. After a last-ditch challenge from Morris the ball reached Forrest just outside the box. Instead of blasting it the winger placed his shot nicely and it beat Cierzniak as it floated inside the goalie’s right-hand post.
As the 10 men picked themselves up off the floor, Erskine had a chance to get them back into the match but sliced his shot and the ball flew over.
On 85 minutes, the Hoops were awarded a penalty when Forrest went down in the box under the challenge of Dixon.
It was the second game in a row that Dixon had conceded a spotkick against Celtic and history would repeat itself again as Cierzniak saved the kick just as he had done at Tannadice the week before.
That was a nice wee bit of personal satisfaction for Cierzniak but he was as disappointed as all of his teammates as the whistle went.
Dundee United: Cierzniak, Dillon, Dixon, Fojut, Paton (Erskine 72), Rankin, Morris, McGowan, Dow, Bilate (Anier 59), Butcher. Subs not used: Szromnik, Souttar, Telfer, Connolly, Spittal.
Celtic: Gordon, Izaguirre, Ambrose, Van Dijk, Bitton (Henderson 81), Brown, Stokes, Commons (Forrest 69), Denayer, Johansen, Griffiths (Guidetti 69). Subs not used: Zaluska, Scepovic, Fisher, McGregor.