THERE was a distinct feeling of deja vu at Hampden this afternoon as Celtic beat Rangers in the Viaplay Cup final and completed the first leg of a prospective treble.
Two goals from Kyogo Furuhashi clinched victory for Ange Postecoglou’s side - just like last season when Hibernian were overcome at the same stage of the competition.
Michael Beale's team gave themselves a chance of coming from behind and recording a victory when Alfredo Morelos beat Joe Hart at a James Tavernier free-kick in the second-half.
However, the Parkhead club, who are nine points clear at the top of the cinch Premiership table, were comfortably the better side and will now fancy their chances of lifting every domestic trophy for the fifth time in seven years.
Here are five talking points from events in Mount Florida.
FURUHASHI FINAL
Celtic completed a quadruple treble a few years ago when they won all three competitions for the fourth season running.
Their striker Furuhashi did his very own double double this afternoon.
The Japanese internationalist shrugged off a hamstring injury last season so he could play in the League Cup final against Hibernian and promptly netted a second-half brace to secure a 2-1 victory.
He repeated the feat against Rangers today. He had the simplest of tasks to put the defending champions ahead just before half-time after good work by Aaron Mooy and Greg Taylor. He side-footed in from a couple of yards out.
His second, after Mooy had linked well with Hatate, in the second-half was a beauty. He hooked beyond Allan McGregor with his trailing left foot to take his tally for the season to 24.
Furuhashi, who hadn't scored against Rangers until his late equaliser at Ibrox last month, has been £4.6m rather well spent.
CCV DOMINANCE
There will be a few strong contenders for the assorted Player of the Year awards when they are handed out in May; Furuhashi, Hatate, Lawrence Shankland and GmTaylor will all be worthy winners.
But has any footballer performed as well or as consistently in his position as Cameron Carter-Vickers has in his during the 2022/23 campaign?
The defender was once again excellent today. He prevented Celtic falling behind in the first-half after Ryan Kent and Tavernier combined well to created a chance. The centre half slid in to deny Fashion Sakala a shot from a few yards out.
He is decent with the ball at his feet too. He then picked out Daizen Maeda on the right wing with an inch perfect diagonal ball from fully 50 yards.
Carl Starfelt had a good game alongside Carter-Vickers. But the United States internationalist could be the best centre half Celtic have had since Virgil van Dijk. There are sure to be eight figure bids tabled for him in the summer.
MIDFIELD MAESTROS
Beale had stated in the build-up to the final that the game would be won in the boxes - by the team which defended the best and posed the greatest threat in the final third.
But the midfield battle was certainly of great importance too.
Callum McGregor and Hatate were always going to start for Celtic if fit. But Postecoglou had to decide whether to field Mooy, Matt O'Riley or David Turnbull alongside them. He opted for the former.
The Australian internationalist has been in fine form since returning from the World Cup and was probably preferred to his more creative club mates because of his experience and physicality. He more than justified his selection.
Beale resisted the temptation to field his new signings Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin in his boiler room; he gave the nod to Glen Kamara, John Lundstram and Malik Tillman.
Lundstram had been sidelined with an ankle injury. But his manager clearly felt he was healthy enough to feature and it was worth taking a risk on his fitness.
So who had the best of it? It is fair to say Celtic came out on top in the crucial area.
They dominated possession during the opening 45 minutes. Mooy, who pinched the ball off Lundstram and Tillman, McGregor and Hatate showed their class throughout. Rangers only really threatened on the counter.
The yellow cards that Lundstram and Kamara picked up from referee Nick Walsh when Rangers fell 2-0 behind told a story. Cantwell, Ryan Jack and Raskin fared a little better than their club mates following a triple substitution. But they were ultimately found wanting.
RANGERS FIGHT
The Govan outfit may, as this encounter once again highlighted, lack the quality and strength and depth of their city rivals. They could have no complaints about the final outcome.
Beale clearly has much work to do to make them the dominant force in the country once again. Money must be spent on fresh talent in the summer and certain individuals moved on.
But Tavernier and his team mates cannot be accused of a lacking heart. They fought back well after Furuhashi had slotted his second, gave themselves a lifeline when Morelos pulled one back and battled to the final whistle for a leveller.
Their display was nowhere near good enough in the end. Celtic played the better football and could have prevailed by a more comfortable margin. Still, every player in a light blue jersey could hold their heads high at the end of the 90 minutes.
PYRO LUNACY
The striking tifo displays at both ends of the park enhanced the atmosphere and spectacle of the occasion no end before kick-off. So why did so many Celtic and Rangers fans feel the need to set off flares, smoke canisters and strobes during and after it? The use of fireworks in crowded areas is needless and dangerous.
But worse was to follow in the second-half. A series of rockets were fired above the pitch as play raged from the section which housed The Green Brigade ultras group. A player or supporter could have been seriously hurt by their idiocy. This growing problem must be snuffed out by clubs, police and the football authorities.
