Celtic’s Giorgos Giakoumakis survived a late VAR penalty check after bundling over Joe Wright in added time of their Scottish League Cup semi-final against Kilmarnock.
Giakoumakis helped Celtic reach the Scottish League Cup final yesterday with his 95th minute goal sealing a 2-0 win over Killie.
Daizen Maeda opened the scoring after 18 minutes as he put the Bhoys on their way with Ange Postecoglou’s side set to return to Hampden Park with a sixth Scottish League Cup triumph in seven years on the cards.
However, it could have ended very differently as the eventual hero almost turned villain just moments before after bundling Kilmarnock defender Wright over in the box attempting to deny the defender the opportunity to level the game.
Referee Willie Collum and VAR rejected Derek McInnes’ side’s complaints despite the footage uploaded by Graeme Hanna clearly showing the clumsy attempt from the Greece international whose challenge from behind left the pair both on the deck.
TIF Thought’s on the VAR decision…
Kilmarnock will definitely feel aggrieved by the decision which clearly saw Giakoumakis run into the back of Wright and bring him down.
Despite VAR being present they suggested that no further action was required despite the obvious contact being overly aggressive from the 28-year-old.
After the game, pundit Ally McCoist claimed it shouldn’t have been a penalty, saying: “It is a crazy challenge from Giakoumakis as he is all over Wright, every day of the week it is a penalty.”
Celtic hero John Hartson also agreed with McCoist, saying: “Giakoumakis can’t get the ball there, it is impossible. I feel he has leant on him and Celtic have got away with one there.”
Celtic fans won’t care though and neither will Giakoumakis who bagged the clincher late in stoppage time, scoring what could be his final goal for the Bhoys as rumours around an imminent exit this month only become more frequent.