Reo Hatate netted a crucial equalizer late in the match, helping Celtic come back from a two-goal deficit to secure a 2-2 draw against Rangers in an exhilarating Old Firm encounter at Ibrox.
A stunning goal from Youssef Chermiti gave Rangers an early lead as they applied significant pressure, and the striker capitalized on some careless defending from Celtic to extend their advantage before the 30-minute mark.
After the break, Celtic showed significant improvement, with Kieran Tierney’s goal narrowing the gap, and they dominated the second half of the match.
For a better video player experience, please utilize the Chrome browser. Rangers forward Youssef Chermiti executed a stunning overhead kick reminiscent of Wayne Rooney’s iconic goal for Manchester United.
In the final moments, they received their reward when Daizen Maeda’s header hit Dujon Sterling’s hand. Hatate’s penalty and the subsequent attempt were initially saved by Jack Butland, but the midfielder eventually managed to push the ball into the goal.
Both teams had observed Hearts increase their advantage at the top the previous day and understood that a victory for either side was crucial to maintain the pressure on the league frontrunners in an exciting title contest.
The match commenced at its typical intense pace, but it was the home team that appeared to find their rhythm more effectively. Nico Raskin forced an early save from Viljami Sinisalo before being flagged for offside, indicating the mounting pressure from Rangers.
For a better video player experience, please utilize the Chrome browser. Youssef Chermiti takes advantage of an error by Dane Murray at the back to score his second goal in the Rangers vs Celtic match.
Just eight minutes into the match, they took the initiative with Andreas Skov Olsen delivering a cross into the heart of the box, where Chermiti executed a remarkable overhead kick, sending the ball past Sinisalo.
The hosts were full of confidence and almost scored again shortly after. Mikey Moore surged forward on the left flank, delivering a cross to the back post where Chermiti and Skov Olsen worked together to redirect the ball, narrowly missing as it hit the outside of the post and went out for a goal kick.
Celtic attempted to regain control of the match as Daizen Maeda’s cross slipped past Junior Adamu, before Tierney forced Butland into action with a threatening low delivery into the penalty area.
The Rangers posed a threat each time they entered Celtic’s attacking zone, and they extended their advantage after 26 minutes. Dane Murray struggled to clear Raskin’s lofted pass, allowing the tenacious Chermiti to seize the ball from Julian Araujo’s path, skillfully maneuvering around the defender to slot it past Sinisalo.
Goal: Kieran Tierney of Celtic nets to put the score at 2-1 against Rangers
Just five minutes before the break, the hosts nearly found themselves in an even better position when Moore’s cross was skillfully met by the towering Emmanuel Fernandez, but his header went narrowly wide.
At the interval, Martin O’Neill opted for a tactical shift, bringing on Sebastian Tounekti and Hatate to replace Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Junior Adamu, yet it was Rangers who began the second half with more intensity.
Skov Olsen had a shot that was deflected wide, while Tuur Rommens could have capitalized better on a Moore cross at the back post, but he directed his attempt right at Sinisalo.
For a better video player experience, please utilize the Chrome browser. Kieran Tierney’s impressive header brings Celtic back into the match early in the second half of the Rangers vs Celtic clash.
After that moment, Celtic began to establish themselves in the second half, gaining more possession and putting pressure on the home team. Benjamin Nygren had an opportunity but shot high over the bar from the edge of the area, while Hatate forced Butland into a solid save from long range.
"We mentioned that a score of 2-0 is always challenging because the opponent only needs a single moment to make a comeback. During the second half, we lacked precision in our possession, allowing them too many opportunities to regain the ball.
"At halftime, we expressed our desire to maintain our previous performance, but there were instances where we faltered and lost possession. They gained some momentum after the 2-1 scoreline and had nothing to lose. We feel quite let down today, but we must regroup and prepare for next week."
Rangers’ head coach Danny Rohl discusses his team’s 2-2 stalemate against Celtic, despite having a two-goal advantage at the break, and encourages the use of Chrome for a better video viewing experience.
"It was evident to me that we needed a 3-0 scoreline. We had opportunities to achieve this, but ultimately they had nothing to lose and managed to score the 2-1. We continued to battle for that point until the end, and it was fortunate for them to receive a penalty so late in the match."
Rangers’ head coach Danny Rohl discussed VAR and the penalty situation during an interview with Sky Sports:
"Perhaps, perhaps not; I believe this isn’t truly my responsibility.
"What truly matters is that each week you make sound choices, and although today and the previous week didn’t go our way, that’s just the nature of football."
