Champions Celtic came from behind to clinch the Scottish Cup with a 3-1 win against Dunfermline courtesy of a Henrik Larsson double.
Playing in his last competitive game for the Glasgow giants, the super Swede bowed out in typical fashion after seven years at the club, with a brace to wipe out Andre Skerla's first-half opener.
A Stilian Petrov strike on 84 minutes wrapped up the game for Martin O'Neill's men but it was undoubtedly Larsson's show and he confirmed yet again how much he will be missed by the Parkhead club.
Dunfermline, playing in their first Scottish Cup final since winning 3-1 against Hearts in 1968, can take great credit for the way they went about their business and more than deserved their first half lead.
The game had started at a fast pace and both sides carved out scoring opportunities. Chris Sutton was first to try his luck when he found space in the box in the first minute, but his shot was straight at Dunfermline keeper Derek Stillie.
On five minutes the Pars won a free-kick 20-yards from goal and Gary Dempsey's fine effort went narrowly over. Stevie Crawford should have given Dunfermline the lead on six minutes when he found himself through on goal but he blazed his shot high and wide.
As the game progressed Celtic were enjoying the majority of possession but were struggling to create many clear-cut chances. Sutton had a penalty claim on 19 minutes when he tumbled in the box but referee Stuart Dougal correctly waved play on.
With 21 minutes gone Craig Brewster forced Celtic's David Marshall into a great save. The big striker brilliantly controlled a Barry Nicolson cross but his low drive was too close to the 19 year old goalkeeper who got down quickly to save.
Petrov was running the game in midfield with a blend of delightful touches and direct running. The Bulgarian international thought he had opened the scoring on 34 minutes when a Larsson pass allowed him to tap in from two yards out, but a push by the Swedish striker was spotted by the linesman and the goal was ruled out.
With 39 minutes gone Skerla's opener stunned the Celtic faithful. A deep corner from Gary Dempsey found the big Lithuanian unmarked at the back post and his looping header back across goal dropped into the net behind Marshall.
Predictably, Celtic started the second half in a determined mood and in 57 minutes their pressure paid off. A Dunfermline corner broke to Sutton on the edge of his own 18-yard box and, spotting Larsson scampering away from his marker, the Englishman played a great 40-yard pass into his path.
Unsurprisingly, the Celtic great displayed characteristically deadly finishing by placing the ball into the left hand corner of Stillie's net. Thirteen minutes later it was two for Celtic, and for Larsson.
An Alan Thompson pass found the Swede in the box and he controlled the ball instantly, escaped marker Aaron Labonte and smashed hard and low beyond Stillie.
Six minutes before full time Petrov put the icing on the cake. Substitute Ross Wallace played a simple pass across the 18-yard line and the Bulgarian international took a touch before firing past the helpless Dunfermline keeper.
Filed by Mark O'Neill-Cummins
