Darren Mackie stunned Celtic at Parkhead as Aberdeen booked their place in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup.
Aberdeen secure semi spot with Parkhead victory
Darren Mackie stunned Celtic at Parkhead as Aberdeen booked their place in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup at the expense of the holders.
The Dons were forced onto the back foot for long periods in their quarter-final replay, but Celtic failed to take any of the chances they created, with Scott McDonald and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink particularly culpable.
Jimmy Calderwood's men defended superbly and had chances of their own before Mackie collected a deft Lee Miller flick to lash the ball beyond the helpless Artur Boruc in the 69th minute.
Celtic started the match strongly with Vennegoor of Hesselink heading over an early cross from the left from Lee Naylor.
Then Shunsuke Nakamura clipped a delightful ball towards the back post where the Dutch striker caught Alexander Diamond on his heels, but volleyed over when he should have at least tested Derek Soutar.
McDonald then saw a glancing header from a Nakamura corner deflected behind, with Celtic appeals for penalty ignored, before missing a glorious chance to open the scoring.
Incisive
The Australian side-footed wide from Vennegoor of Hesselink's deft back-heel after the busy Nakamura had played another incisive pass into the Dutchman's feet.
Aberdeen had a brief spell of pressure before the interval, although their best chance came from an under-hit backpass from Stephen McManus which only found Richard Foster, but he rushed his shot and allowed Artur Boruc to smother the ball.
The Dons were forced to make a change just after the hour mark when Alexander Diamond clashed with Vennegoor of Hesselink as they challenged for an aerial ball, with the defender accidentally caught by the striker's elbow and being forced out of the action with a nasty cut under his eye.
Aiden McGeady then volleyed wide when in acres of space before Aberdeen stunned the home side, with Mackie finding the net after a corner was only half cleared and Miller played the ball through.
Celtic poured forward in search of an equaliser with Soutar pushing a Nakamura free-kick away and then clawing the ball out from beneath his own bar under pressure from substitute Georgios Samaras.
Andrew Considine somehow deflected a Vennegoor of Hesselink header from Naylor's cross over his own bar, Soutar saved again from Samaras and fellow sub Derek Riordan missed a glorious opportunity at the far post.
Even the arrival of goalkeeper Boruc in the visiting penalty area in the closing seconds could not produce an equaliser as Aberdeen held out for a famous victory to secure a semi-final date with Queen of the South.
