Scottish League Premier Division/ Celtic 1; Motherwell 1: Celtic saviour Henrik Larsson came off the bench to maintain their 75-match unbeaten home record and their 16-point lead over Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League.
Terry Butcher's talented youngsters threatened to succeed where the likes of Barcelona, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Porto, Valencia, Lyon and Liverpool had failed when they took the lead through Derek Adams.
But Larsson rescued a depleted young Celtic side, who were missing the likes of Chris Sutton, Alan Thompson, Neil Lennon, Didier Agathe, Robert Douglas, Jackie McNamara and John Hartson, although he could not extend their 25-match winning run in the league.
Motherwell were given a lift prior to kick-off when they saw the teamsheet, which included seven Scots - including teenage goalkeeper David Marshall.
They would have snatched a surprise early lead after just four minutes but for the reactions of the youngster. Scott McDonald's cross found its way to Alex Burns and his fierce volley was pushed around the post by Marshall.
The home crowd were lifted in the 22nd minute when Celtic put together their best move of the first half.
Jamie Smith played a one-two with Momo Sylla and found Craig Beattie on the edge of the six-yard area and he did everything right with a powerful header into the ground. Motherwell goalkeeper Gordon Marshall would not even be able to explain how the ball hit him and bounce over.
Four minutes later Motherwell snatched the lead. Keith Lasley got to the by-line and pulled the ball back to Derek Adams and he drove a shot past Marshall.
Celtic came within inches of levelling in the 47th minute when Paul Lambert crashed a volley against the foot of the post after Steven Hammell had headed Ross Wallace's cross away.
The home side continued to press after Larsson replaced Beattie and Marshall again denied them in the 69th minute by turning Stephen Pearson's snapshot around the post.
But the pressure told from the resulting corner as Larsson forced the ball over the line at the near post, from Wallace's cross.
Celtic could have been given a penalty in the 76th minute but Tom Brown waved away the protests after Adams had appeared to foul Sylla in the box.
The woodwork again came to the visitors' rescue in the 85th minute when Pearson's long-range effort flicked the crossbar.
CELTIC: Marshall, Kennedy, Balde, Varga, Smith, Petrov, Lambert, Pearson, Wallace (Agathe 87), Beattie (Larsson 57), Sylla. Subs Not Used: Douglas, McNamara, McManus. Booked: Petrov. Goals: Larsson 70.
MOTHERWELL: Marshall, Quinn, Corrigan, Craigan, Hammell, Adams, Lasley, Fagan (Dair 89), S McDonald, Burns, Clarkson (Wright 70). Subs Not Used: Corr, Kinniburgh, Fitzpatrick. Goals: Adams 26.
Referee: T Brown (Scotland).
Two goals in the second half from Derek Lilley and Jamie McAllister saw Livingston win the Scottish League Cup - the club's first ever major trophy.
It was also the first time since 1998 that one of the three major honours in Scotland had not been won by either Celtic or Rangers.
