Explained: How USMNT star Cameron Carter-Vickers ‘jinxed’ Joe Hart penalty – with Celtic goalkeeper digging himself out of a shootout hole in Scottish Cup thriller

The Hoops were involved in a Scottish Cup semi-final thriller with Aberdeen – with that contest seeing the Dons score in the final minute of normal and extra-time to force spot-kicks at the end of a stunning 3-3 draw.

Celtic were on course to prevail inside the regulation five penalties as ex-England international Hart stepped up. The former Manchester City star was a surprising choice for the Hoops, but was well fancied by his team-mates prior to firing the ball against the post.

Alistair Johnston, who converted for Celtic in sudden death, has said in the Daily Record of USMNT defender Carter-Vickers piling pressure on his shoulders: “I was just begging for the final whistle and then, of course, they scored. My first thought was, ‘I’m going to have to take a penalty'. I’m just happy that thing went it. There was relief when Joe made the save. He had the chance to win and big Cameron Carter-Vickers said, ‘this is going to be a fairytale for Joe’. I said, ‘you can’t say that out loud, you’ve jinxed it!’ Then, he hit the post. I knew I was going to take the sixth penalty and that I was next. Cheers mate! When he saved that final one it was relief. Joe is so good at those, he’s in great form.”

Hart saved from Killian Phillips to send Celtic to the final, with Johnston adding on why the 37-year-old was trusted to take on penalty duty: “Joe fancies himself as a penalty taker so that will hurt his ego a little that he’s dragged that one. He thinks he’s hit it well. He was always down to take the fifth penalty, that was always the plan. They gave us the list straight away. After that it was a case of ‘who wants one?’ To be fair, that’s all keepers do in training sessions, take penalties into each other. I was actually pretty confident when he went up. I thought he was just going to hit it like a goal kick and rip one. I was a little surprised when he went for the corner because in training he probably is our best penalty taker.”

Hart is in the process of bidding a long farewell to professional football, with the decision taken to hang up his gloves in the summer. He will be hoping to bow out with more medals to his name – with Celtic closing in on Scottish Premiership and cup final glory.